When Rev. Bob Brest began his ministry at Bradford First Free Methodist church back in 1978, he and his wife, Phyllis, were well aware that the average length of stay for a pastor in that faith was eight years.

Brest not only passed up the average length of stay at the 18 Boylston St. church, but surpassed it more than five times over.

On June 30, Brest will deliver his last sermon to his church congregation as he and his wife plan to retire and make their new home in the Erie area. To celebrate their years at First Free Methodist, the couple is inviting the community to attend a retirement/farewell reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the church.

A native of Sharon, Brest received a call to the ministry as a young man and served on the Conference Board of Christian Education as a layman. While serving on the conference board, he was advised by a pastor to enter the ministry. He complied by attending Robert Wesleyan College in 1958 and 1959, and Youngstown State University in 1960 and 1961. In July of 1961, he also married his wife, who was from Farrell. The couple met on a blind date.

He began serving as a lay pastor at First Free Methodist Church in Lock Haven in 1972. In 1978, he accepted a post at Bradford First Free Methodist, later becoming an elder at the church.

Brest said their four children all attended Bradford High School during their teenage years, which became a major reason for them to remain with the church beyond the average stay.

“I never expected to be here 41 years, but when it came time to move, we had a child who was a senior in high school,” Brest recalled. “I was not going to pull a senior out of high school to go to a new school.”

As their other children were three years apart from each other, and the church was doing well, they stayed on in the community. Over the years, Phyllis Brest was also involved with various aspects and functions at the church, including serving as treasurer for the facility the past two years.

Brest said that during his tenure at the church, he made it a point to serve the community.

“We’ve been deeply involved in our camp in Kane, called Highlander Christian Camp,” he said of the facility that serves families in the area.

Brest also served as chaplain of the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department, and had served as president of the Bradford Rotary Club. In addition, he served on boards for the McKean County Housing Authority and Futures Rehabilitation Center, and conducted Bible study classes at the Chapel Ridge assisted living facility and the Riley Road Apartments.

“I think it’s important for a pastor to be involved not only in their church, but in the community,” he added.

The church, which has a traditional service and preaches the Gospel, serves an older, loyal congregation that support the facility.

“For a small church, we have good supporters,” Brest said, noting new members are always welcome. A church member who commented on Brest’s retirement was Hazel Meeker, who was attending a Bible study class at church Wednesday.

“He’s more than a pastor, he’s a friend,” Meeker said. “It’s going to be hard” to see him retire.

Brest said when they leave the church parsonage on Oxford Street, they plan to move to the Cherry Hill gated community, located south of Erie. They hope to visit their children, as well as friends in Bradford and Georgia during their retirement.

“We have a time-share (house) on Tybee Island in Georgia and we plan to go there,” he said.

She added with a laugh, “Our son thinks we’re going to Disney again next year, but we’ll see about that.”

Brest noted the district leader of the church is expected to appoint someone to preach on Sundays at the facility until a full-time pastor is appointed by the conference superintendent.

“They’re in a search right now,” Brest said, noting an appointment is hoped to be made by the fall.

The couple has four children, Melissa Britton, Melinda Lopus, Robert Brest Jr. and Melanie Lindemuth; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

On a final note, Brest proudly noted that all of his children had worked at The Bradford Era. His three daughters worked in the Era office and his son delivered newspapers as a youngster.