THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
Headquarters: Monongahela, PA
November
2004
Apostle Joseph
Bittinger
Vacancy in the Quorum of Apostles: Apostle Joseph
Bittinger Has Gone on to His Reward after a Century of Service
Apostle
Joseph Bittinger celebrated his 100th birthday on Tuesday, August 20, 2002. He
was recognized and honored at the Faith’s Conference
Center in Greensburg
at services Saturday evening and Sunday morning, August 24 and 25, 2002.
Born
on August 20, 1902 on a
farm near Swanton, Garrett County, Maryland, he was the eldest of twelve
children of Harrison and Alice Bittinger. There were no schools near the
Bittinger home, which deprived him of several years of formal education.
Later when a school was constructed nearby, he was able to get started on the
learning process which was terminated when, at the age of 15, he had to start
working in the coal mines with his father. Subsequently, he began a
lifetime of self education and later church training.
Joseph Bittinger married
Lydia Platter Duckworth, a widow and mother of six children, Elsie, Russell,
Thomas, Lawrence, Nellie and William in 1920. He continued working as a
coal miner, struggling severely and fighting against the hardships of
poverty. He left Maryland
leaving his family behind with the hopes of finding a better way of life.
He became employed by the H.C. Frick Coke Company Coal Mine located in Smock, Pennsylvania
in May, 1929. In July he was able to acquire a company house in Bitner,
Pennyslvania, which enabled his family to join him. From this union they
had three children, Lester (Buzz), Huldah, and Evelyn who died in
infancy. Through the acquaintance with John W. Edwards, who was the
company foreman and manager for the Bitner plant and an Elder in The Church of
Jesus Christ at Smock, Pennsylvania
he learned of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the start of
a lifetime commitment. Joseph’s wife, Lydia,
was baptized April 4, 1930;
he was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ on August 10, 1930. They became members of the
Mission established at Bitner under
the Monongehela Branch of the Church. Within a short time, he was
ordained a Deacon; a few months later, a Teacher; and on April 11, 1931, an Elder. He served in this
capacity from 1933 to 1956. Brother Bittinger was ordained an Evangelist
on September 29, 1940, and
an Apostle on April 19, 1953.
He served as Second Counselor of the General
Church for eighteen years.
The Church of Jesus
Christ does not have a paid ministry. Therefore, he would have to
continue gainful employment in order to support his family. His
employment as a coal miner terminated in 1939. This was a great blessing
because he had injured his back, suffering much pain for many years. In
time, God interceded. He operated his own trucking business for 18 years
until it began to fail. The business was gradually dissolved in the early
50s and he then went to work as a carpenter on heavy construction. This
work took him away from home and even out of state. He continued this
work until 1970 when he completely retired. This extended his time to
pursue the work of the Church and permitted him to travel whenever necessary
without being hindered.
On March 7, 1964, Sister Lydia died after being ill
for over a year. She was of great encouragement and inspiration, an asset
in every respect, especially in the work of the ministry. Brother Joseph,
Sister Lydia, along with Brother William and Sister Sadie Cadman traveled much
together working diligently in the Church. Brother Bittinger then married
widow, Edna Barnhart on November 28,
1964. They lived in his home at West Leisenring,
Pennsylvania, until December
1979, when they moved to Vero Beach, Florida.
In 1985 they returned to Pennsylvania
because Sister Edna was seriously ill; she died on November 22, 1986.
Brother Bittinger has
been active in missionary ministry, nationally and internationally and has been
chairman of The Church’s Mission Board for many years. Brother William H.
Cadman and Brother Bittinger made a trip to Six Nations Reservation, Oshweken, Ontaria, Canada during 1937 endeavoring to spread the
Gospel. This would fulfill the longing Brother Bittinger had in his heart
to perform the work of a missionary. In May, 1953, they visited Cheyenne
River Indian Reservation, South Dakota, Wakpala in the Standing Rock Reservation. Another trip was
made in August 1953 to Cheyenne Agency,
South Dakota, traveling to LaPlant, Ridgeview, and an area
called Green Grass. Many trips were made over a period of years to South Dakota.
Traveling to Nigeria, West
Africa in 1954 with the
then General Church President, William H. Cadman of Monongahela, established
The Church of Jesus Christ (Monongahela, PA) in that nation and proved to be the forerunner of
International missionary expansion which has spread to many nations
today. Brother Joseph made three additional trips to Nigeria, in 1958, March 1974 and June 1978. He also
visited Ghana in 1978. This was his last trip abroad.
Brother Joseph
Bittinger and Brother William Cadman developed a perpetual enduring
relationship. Brother William did not drive a car. It became
Brother Joseph’s lot and privilege to drive Brother William far and near in
travels with him to perform his labors as President of the General Church. Brother Bittinger expresses his feelings toward Brother
Cadman, and I quote, “Our relationship was one that only death could
separate. I loved him dearly. I respected him. The time I
spent with him had a tremendous impact and influence in my life as he was to me,
the greatest example of a saint. His example was one of eminent worth.”
The impact and sorrow
was intense and produced heaviness and anguish almost unbearable for Brother
Bittinger at the death of his beloved William H. Cadman on April 15, 1963.
Apostle Bittinger
currently resides at West Leisenring, Pennsylvania in the loving home of his daughter and son-in-law,
Sister Huldah C. and Brother Edward P. Stroko, where they are all members of
the Vanderbilt, PA Branch.
He was honored at
Saturday’s service with having at least 75 members of his family and scores of
church members in attendance. There was a thirty-minute power point
presentation prepared by Sister Connie Frankenbery and narrated by Brother
Bittinger’s grandson, Brother Thomas Stroko, of his life and travels.
Brother Bittinger ended the hour and fifteen minute observation by singing a
solo, This World Is Not My Home, an amazing feat for a man of his age.
On Sunday, he was
presented with plaques from the Americas and Foreign Missionary Operating Committee of The
Church of Jesus Christ, the Penn-Mid-Atlantic Region, and the Quorum of Twelve
Apostles who were at the service in his honor after which he expressed his
gratitude to God for the ability and longevity which enabled him to carry on
his duties.
A loveable man, his
life and determination to serve the Lord has been highly exemplary and
inspirational.
General Church Presidency
Quorum of Twelve Apostles
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