Dr. Larry Dill • 1994-2002

When Dr. Larry Dill arrived at Trinity, he visualized it as a 747 jet sitting on the runway waiting for take off. He knew his job was to kick the chocks out from under the wheels and let it start rolling. And Trinity soared under his leadership. 

Trinity began its transition to a mega-church. Larry initiated corporate management techniques, additional staff changes, new alignments, new programs and a balanced budget. In 1996, a new contemporary worship service, Cappuccino & Christ, mushroomed beyond imagination. Worship attendance increased by 75% requiring a visioning team to explore solutions to overcrowding in our facilities and parking area. The result was a new 1,200 seat contemporary worship center named The New Room after John Wesley’s “New Room” in Bristol, England. Taize and Healing Services were created. Major committees of the church were appointed Spiritual Guides. 

Small groups like the People Care (PC) and DISCIPLE Bible Study groups proliferated. More outreach emerged with a reading/tutoring program at Rolling Hills Elementary School, the initiation of a partnership with a church in Kybartai, Lithuania and a ministry to the Children of Chernobyl from Belarus. An emphasis on Lay Leadership led to the formation of Leadership Trinity, which trained seventy lay leaders. The second annual Storytelling Festival was produced and continues to give the community such gifts as performances by Donald Davis and Kathryn Tucker Windham, among others.

1994 - Dr. Larry Dill and his wife, Peggy, were assigned to Trinity by Bishop Fanning. A new order of worship was instituted that emphasized centrality of Scripture and of proclamation. “The Bag” was added as a vehicle for children during worship. 

1994-1996 - Trinity begins financing and building one Habitat House each year. 

1994-1995 - The programs At Your Door in ’94 and Still Alive in ’95 were initiated to update church rolls and match members with appropriate Sunday School classes and small groups.

1995 - The second annual Storytelling Festival established a tradition that continues to bring such famous storytellers as Donald Davis and Kathryn Tucker Windham.

1996 - Cappuccino & Christ held its first service in Wesley Hall, and its advertising campaign won two advertising awards including the Medallion of Excellence and a Certificate of Merit for Trinity Image Redesign. Trinity also celebrated its 40th Anniversary during this year. It was also during this time that the Trinity Advocates was formed to establish ways to pay off debt principal. Its first auction netted $20,000.

1997 - Trinity Assistance Program began to help families in crisis with utilities and rent payment. Trinity also built two Habitat Houses, one of which was part of the Seven House Blitz Build sponsored by the National Habitat Association

1998 - The Media Information Center began and created the Trinity web site on the Internet. Small groups grew very quickly during this time. Once-a-month Healing Services began.

1999 - The Administrative Council grew and was renamed the Church Council and added representatives from Sunday Schools classes and small groups. Spiritual Guides were appointed to the Council and our three standing committees. A Visioning Team was also formed to explore solutions to overcrowding in Trinity facilities and parking area. During this year, Rolling Hills Elementary School was adopted for a reading tutoring program; the Food for Thought program began; the Children of Chernobyl arrived to received much needed fresh air, medical, eye and dental care; and Trinity began its tenth Habitat House.

2000 - A unanimous decision by the Church Conference accepted the Building Team’s proposed building design for contemporary worship services; 20 Trinity members in ministry conducted four Kairos missions; Taize prayer services were begun; and People Care (PC) groups were formed to help the church to become smaller in atmosphere as it grew larger. They gave people a place to belong, pray, study and serve. There were more new activities: The Persons With Disabilities Task Force was created to enable all members and visitors to participate; the Church Council and Charge Conference approved construction of The New Room; and Trinity’s Alzheimer’s Daycare had grown to 34 participants.

2001 - Construction began on The New Room; the first annual Small Group Fair was held with 35 small groups identified by the Visioning Team; over 400 health and school kits were sent to UMCOR for earthquake victims in El Salvador and India; and the Trinity Assistance Program began with 20 trained Trinity members.