About Jay P. Tennies
Jay Tennies will serve as senior pastor of both Hill Memorial UMC, where he currently serves, and Evans Memorial UMC as the two churches form a two-point charge, effective July 1.
Jay was born into a preacher’s family. He is the child of the late Rev. Lloyd and Phyllis Tennies and the grandson of the late Rev. DeForest Tennies. Growing up in the church meant an early struggle for faith. That struggle ended with Jay choosing Jesus as Savior and Lord instead of some of the brokenness which he saw in the church. That decision came at a youth retreat; a few years later it was followed by a call to ministry.
Jay studied communications with an emphasis in television production and public relations and has degrees from Butler County Community College, California University of PA, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
He has served as appointments at Kent’s Chapel, Spraggs, Timblin, Porter, Rural Valley, Whitesburg, Eldred, Johnsonburg, and Kane before coming to Hill Memorial. In addition to his pastoral work, Jay was the Director of the Eldred World War II Museum and spent time on the staff of First United Methodist Church in Bradford.
With a Bible in one hand and guitar in the other, Jay works to build relationships. He does this beyond the local church with his service as a Chaplain and Worship Leader at Wesley Woods, working ecumenically, serving on the Kane District Council and on the Conference Sessions Team.
Jay is married to Angelia Tennies. They have three adult sons, Daniel, Clay, and Joshua; three grandchildren, Rylee, Nolan, and Madelyn and are currently awaiting the birth of twin grandsons. They also had a daughter Elizabeth, who is safely home in heaven.
About Evans Memorial UMC/Hill Memorial UMC
Evans Memorial UMC: In 1961, the Degolia and the Lewis Run churches asked to be united as one church. After four years of work and planning, this became a reality on October 10, 1965. Rev. Leroy Lundgren was pastor. The church was named Evans Memorial in memory of Rev. T.E. Evans, who had faithfully served both churches. Currently, Evans is active with a Sunday morning worship service, an Adult Sunday School class, a weekly in-home Bible Study, and an active United Women in Faith (UMW) group. The church supports several global, domestic, and local mission efforts. Through the Mission Ministry and a VBS mission project, the church created and maintains three Blessing boxes with food and personal essentials (hyg/clean) in the community. The church has a strong Prayer Ministry with a prayer chain in place. The Prayer Team meets each Sunday morning before the Worship service to pray for both the pastor and service. The congregation also works closely with the local Volunteer Fire Department for several events.
During Covid a Mailing Ministry was established to send a scripture, weekly devotions, and activity page to members and shut-ins. Packets with Sunday School material, crafts, and "Shirley's Cookies" were delivered to the church children. Before Covid, the church offered a monthly luncheon for seniors which included lunch and a themed program. Evans Memorial is a very blessed, devoted, and serving church, giving their all in the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Hill Memorial United Methodist Church is a faith community located in downtown Bradford. The church actively lives into the mission of accepting people where they are, as Christ did, and drawing them into a loving and caring fellowship.
The church has a strong Missions emphasis with an Annual Missions Conference and strong Faith Promise Giving that supports local, regional, and global missions. The church also is engaged in camping ministries through Wesley Woods and holds a Ladies Retreat at Olmsted Manor.
Hill Memorial is known as a welcoming place with good cooks and people who will pray. These gifts are lived out through our Sunday Evening Vespers, Holiday Faire, Attic Treasure Sale, Wednesday Soup Lunch and hosting various community events such as the Woman’s Literary Guild and Kindergarten Graduation for The Learning Center.