PHOTO PROVIDED Pastor Dan Longmore and his wife, Marty, are the pastoral couple at Marsh Creek Brethren in Christ Church. Dan recently celebrated 30 years of being a pastor in the BIC denomination.

MARSH CREEK — The congregation at Marsh Creek Brethren in Christ Church honored their pastor on his 30th year of being in the ministry.

The Sunday morning events were a complete surprise to Pastor Dan Longmore. After delivering his morning message, Pastor Dan was expecting to join the congregation in singing a familiar hymn, but he was shocked to hear that the congregation had joined (without him) in a joyful rendition of “For He’s a Jolly Good Pastor.”

During the celebration for Pastor Dan’s 30 years in the ministry, several of the congregation took to the microphone to express their appreciation, admiration and support of their pastor (and his wife, Marty) during the joyful and fun loving “roasting” which was then followed with a potluck lunch meal.

Pastor Dan and Marty first met in Arizona where he managed the radio station that Marty worked at, and have been married for over 36 years. After leaving the west and moving to Pennsylvania, they lived in Lewisburg and Scranton, where they both worked for WSCR. Eventually they settled in Hunlock Creek, (about 20 miles from Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) where Pastor Dan began his pastoral career with the Hunlock Creek Brethren in Christ Church. They were the pastoral couple there for 11 years, before accepting the invitation to become the pastoral couple at Marsh Creek.

They have served the Marsh Creek and local community in their current ministerial position for the past 19 years.

Like every person, Pastor Dan’s had trials and triumphs during his lifetime. One particular struggle has been losing his eyesight.

Pastor Dan lives the Bible verse found in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight,” since he is legally blind, and often can be found sporting dark glasses and using his White Cane to navigate in unfamiliar places. His lack of eyesight hasn’t kept Pastor Dan and Marty from frequently visiting with their congregation in their homes or hospitals, and also visiting with individuals living in the community.

Pastor Dan still enjoys reading (with the help of an app that reads the books to him). They both enjoy traveling, sticking mostly to one day trips or church conventions, but they’ve also been to Hawaii and last year they drove to San Antonio, Texas, to visit friends.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Dan also hosts a daily music show, Refresh and Renew, on WRGN, FM 88.1, that airs from 2-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To listen to Refresh and Renew on your computer, go to wrgn.com.