After years of meeting together as a small-group Bible Study, on April 6, 1986 Praise Fellowship Church opened its doors to start a church in Dodge Center. On April 12, 2026 Praise Fellowship Church will be celebrating 40 years of ministry and handing off the Lead Pastor role.
Pastor Roger Langworthy, along with his wife Melanie started the church with a solid core group of people that were ready to do the work of the ministry. In those early days Melanie was much more about ministry in the home with small children and being supportive to Roger in a complementary role to help pastor. After becoming empty nesters, Melanie also became an ordained minister and much more involved in leadership, yet in that complementary role along with Roger.
As the years progressed, it became an intentional focus to develop a “culture of transfer” in which the goal was to pass on ministry leadership to the next generation. This leadership transfer, which has been in process for the last two and a half years, will take place with the passing of the Pastoral Leadership on April 12, 2026.
Pastor Israel Walters is a young man who grew up in Praise Fellowship Church. In 2017, Pastor Roger began mentoring him. In 2020 Israel went to Bible College and there met his wife-to-be, Maleca, originally from Guyana. They were married in 2022 with one year of Bible College yet to be completed. Having graduated in May of 2023, they were invited to come to Dodge Center and assist in Pastoral Ministry with the possibility of receiving the Lead Pastors role in due time. Having proven themselves both faithful and competent, they were licensed and then ordained into ministry in both oversight organizations of the Association of Churches of which Praise Fellowship Church is a member as well as the Ministerial Association of the Bible College that they graduated from.
With prayer, wise counsel, and discernment it seemed good to set the transfer date at the 40-year mark of the ministry of Praise Fellowship Church. Pastors Roger and Melanie Langworthy will still be around and will shift into the role of Assisting Pastors. Each generation has the responsibility of handing off ministry to the next generation as stated in 2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT) — 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
It is with great excitement that we celebrate 40 years of ministry and receive the leadership of the next generation to continue the mission of Praise Fellowship Church, to love God, to love people, and to make followers of Jesus Christ.
