Pastor Herb still working in ministry at age 91

“My family influenced me,” said Hoover, of his faith.

Hoover grew up in Dayton and graduated from Patterson High School in 1937, before attending Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. He earned a liberal arts undergraduate degree and a graduate degree in religion from the famed university.

While in South Carolina, he also met Florence, his wife of more than 60 years. Florence went on to earn her undergraduate degree from Bob Jones University and returned to teach English classes.

“I led praise and worship at Bob Jones,” said Hoover, a talented singer and pianist.

Hoover’s musical talents resulted in a unique evangelization mission that had him traveling around the country.

The Hoovers moved to Centerville in the 1960s with their two sons’, Tim, who currently lives in Indiana, and Herbert Jr., who lives in Springfield.

In Centerville, Hoover served as a worship leader at the First Baptist Church until a split resulted in Hoover leaving with a group of members to form Christ Community Church.

The independent denomination met in a Dayton high school for 17 years before buying property in 1980. They constructed the church building that now stands on Upper Bellbrook Road adjacent to Bellbrook High School.

With a dwindling congregation, Hoover was delighted when Pastor Paul Santoro of Christ the King Church in Xenia suggested a merger.

“What was unusual about the merger is that in this day of splits in churches, you had two independent denominations with two different cultures successfully coming together to form one,” said Santoro, whose congregation consisted primarily of younger families.

“It was a fit with an unusual mix of generations. We have a lot of spiritual moms and dads and grandmothers and grandfathers for people in the church. We find the mix very healthy. I think people are looking for permanence and stability like this,” said Santoro.

The congregation currently consists of about 200 parishioners with only 10 percent from the original Christ Community Church and 20 percent from Christ the King Church in Xenia. The remainder of the congregation joined after the merger.

“Pastor Herb’s experience and commitment to the Lord over the years has been a real blessing,” said Santoro, of Hoover, who is a grandfather and great-grandfather.

Hoover continues to pastor a morning prayer group that has met for 20 years.

Contact this columnist at (937) 432-9054 or jjbaer@aol.com.