A significant change came about in the Lebanon Presbyterian Church in 1994, when at a congregational meeting on July 10, 1994, it was decided that the church would join the parish known as The Presbyterian Parish of Southwest Virginia.  In addition to the Lebanon church, the Parish included five other churches; Cedar Bluff, Fincastle, Litz, Mary’s and Thompson Valley.

The proposal for the Parish Plan was under consideration for several months and information was reported to the church offices and to the congregation by various ministers; Rev. Eddie Nash who was serving as Interim Pastor and along with Rev. Tempe Fusseel.  The congregation approved the decision to join the Parish and another congregation meeting was held to call Dr. Thomas G. Dendy as Director of the Parish.

Rev. Dendy was a third-generation Presbyterian minister, having followed his father and grandfather into ministry. He grew up in Galax, Virginia and held an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Emory and Henry College, a Master of Divinity degree with honors from Erskine Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.  Rev. Dendy served as Pastor of the Flat Rock and Varennes Presbyterian Churches in Anderson, SC, then as Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, SC which included a cross-cultural experience of ministry through a seven-week pulpit exchange with a pastor in Callander, Scotland.

When Rev. Dendy accepted our challenge, he would serve as Director by organizing the newly formed Presbyterian Parish of Southwest Virginia, a vital six-church cooperative ministry shared among the Cedar Bluff, Fincastle, Lebanon, Litz, Marys, and Thompson Valley Churches.

Joining Rev. Dendy was his wife Betsy, and three daughters; Mary Ellen, Anna and Emma.  They would reside in the manse in Lebanon VA.  He and his family were graciously received in the church and in our community.  He performed the first wedding ceremony to be held in the new LPC sanctuary of Brian Dillon and Prudence Holliday.  He also performed the wedding ceremony of James Hunter Holliday and Kayla Damron, in Kayla’s home church.

The Dendy’s were loved dearly and four years of serving the Parish and our church passed quickly.  We were all saddened when he announced his resignation in December 1998, as he felt called to minister in Laurinburg, NC, which included serving students and faculty of St. Andrews College.  Dr. Frank Preston became Interim Pastor for the Parish and our church forged ahead.