Bellwood attracted me and my family in the fall of 1959. We have enjoyed almost a lifetime of Christian leadership here and now I am 91 with 65 years in three business developments and Christian teaching our youth.

I see troubling concerns facing our town as we journey to the future.

Recently, our borough has worked to update our streets and services while we see the loss of M&T Bank, and an old 1896-built stone United Methodist church. Thanks be to God for establishing The Hope Center with a food program along with THE DOOR helping our youth to come to know Jesus.

I read in the Altoona Mirror a story that gives me the shakes. With 10 or more churches in our B-A area, no students should ever be misdirected and land in jail. I used to serve on the B-A school board.

The present school board is saddled with a tough in-house study so corrective measures take place.

Our church pastors and leaders also need to develop strong preaching that challenges and directs all parents to accept and work to be sure all school-age children are in some Christian Sunday school or specialty program. Let us all work together to resurrect good, old Sunday schools.

Today, The Haupt family is still serving for Jesus. God has given us permission to create an international Christian Mission and we are actively serving Him in Nepal, Liberia, Russia, Belarus and Pakistan. All on the internet as HauptFamilyMissions.

J. Perry Haupt

Bellwood