Petersburg (Va.) church member, Joseph “Joe” Bendall, Jr. recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Pastor Richard Harris baptized Joe into the Petersburg Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1954. Joe’s parents were Petersburg members at that time and Joe quickly became an active member by serving as a deacon and youth leader.
In 1967, Joe took a position at the Potomac Conference and moved his family to Staunton, Va. as a mover and maintenance worker. Joe retired after more than 30 years of service to the conference, whereupon Joe and his wife Sue returned to Petersburg.
At that time, Petersburg was building a new church. Joe worked with the contractor, his brother Henry Bendall, on the construction of the church alongside two other brothers, Richard and Lee. These days Joe’s talent for working with his hands keeps him busy with carpentry and woodworking in his own workshop, Pop’s Shop. He continues to glorify God as he shares his stories and testimonies with others. Joe and Sue look forward each Sabbath to participating in Sabbath School and Church at Petersburg.
To celebrate Joe’s birthday, Pastor Jesse Nascimento and church members along with Joe’s daughter, Petersburg Church member, Cynthia Bendall Cupp and her husband Dr. Dale Cupp planned a service to honor Joe and other longtime members. The church service included Joe’s favorite scripture (Psalm 34:7-8) and songs with presentations by Joe’s children, grandchildren, a great-grandchild and a niece and nephew. Frank Cox, Potomac’s director for information technology, shared a welcome from the conference and spoke about Joe’s 33 years of service.
Longtime friends and former Potomac Conference Youth Ministries Leader and Pastor, James D. Pimentel and his wife Konimi flew from California to participate in presenting the sermon hour and singing Joe’s favorite song “Jesus Loves Me.” Pastor Nascimento presented a slide show reflecting over 60 years of longtime members including the Bendall, Williams, Greenberg, Philligane, Joyner, Ford, Wayner and Kitchen families and other members.
Story by Cynthia Cupp
