Pastor Robert H. Ezatoff has led an interesting life. He was awaken one day during the Christmas holidays of 2003-4 by a dream. He dreamed he was standing on the front steps of a brick church and greeting people as they left church. He clearly saw the details of the church and two people who stood out. Later that week a friend visited him and related something he had seen in a dream – it was Pastor Bob standing behind a pulpit in an old fashioned church!

Two years later (January 2006) Pastor Bob and his son Michael were measuring a property for their business, Complete Landscape Maintenance. The found themselves at U Parc in Harmar on the front lawn of the former Presbyterian Church. He suddenly realized this church was the one in his dream. He immediately asked the University of Pittsburgh official who occupied the building and learned the Presbyterians had just moved out the previous week and the University now owned the property. He then asked if it was available and at first was told it wasn’t. But, not too long after they called and offered it for lease.

By March Pastor Bob was well on his way to seeing his dream come true. With much cleaning and repair, the former Presbyterian Church, founded in 1852, was transformed and ready for being new church, the Valley Gospel Church on Old Route 910, Harmar. Services began in April of this year. Interestingly, a group of persons Pastor Bob knew from a former church that had closed called looking for a Bible Study and Spirit filled ministry. They became the first congregants.

Eight months later Valley Gospel Church now has over 30 persons in the congregation. They have been busy promoting the church with news articles, flyers, musical programs, and other outreach ministries. One interesting outreach is offering a breakfast before the Worship Service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Music Ministry is part of the outreach and over 100 people attended a program in November featuring Stephani Ezatoff and Ginnie Campbell in concert. “Four For The Lord” Gospel Quartet is scheduled for a December 10th evening service.

Stephani Ezatoff is Pastor Bob’s 23-year-old daughter. A graduate of Point Park College in theatre and arts and attends the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in Nashville. She has made two CDs, “Everything’s Alright” in 2003 and a second one being released at the end of this year. She is an accomplished singer and appears on television in addition many monthly bookings.

Pastor Bob had a life changing experience after the birth of his son Michael in 1977. He had been searching for some meaning in his life and at that point began to attend a new church where he heard the word of God. He not only gained a new faith, he heard God call him to ministry.

Pastor Bob grew in his faith at church and gradually entered various ministry roles. He became Co-Pastor and served from 1985 to 1997. He later became part of Oakland Gospel Church where he also ministered prior to his establishing Valley Gospel Church.

A native of Harwick all his life, Pastor Bob graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. He later earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duquesne University. Pastor Bob is a bi-vocational minister, holding an outside job while serving the church at the same time. His wife, Arabelle, serves with him in the church ministry. He was Superintendent of Grounds and Maintenance at Carnegie University for 15 years prior to starting his own business, Complete Landscape Maintenance. His son Michael is partner in the business that mainly serves industrial and corporate clients.

Valley Gospel Church is located on Old Route 910, just off the Harmer Route 28 exit. Worship Service and Sunday School are at 10:30 a.m. and an evening service at 6:30 p.m. You may call 724-274-8260 for further information.