Bill and Marianne Plenge

Pastor Bill was a tool and die maker - instrument maker for sixteen years when the Lord called him into full-time ministry. Bill has been in the ministry since 1969. He pastored a church in Waverly, N.Y. for over two years while attending Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, N.Y. and Clarks Summit, PA. In 1970, upon graduation, Bill felt the call of God to start a new church in the Adams, MA area of New England. Deputation was done while pastoring this church with the church family's full blessing. Support was gained and in 1972 they moved with their three daughters to Cheshire, MA. Services began in Adams, January 1973.

In 1990, the church was given a building in Savoy, MA and the church family moved to that location at that time. Bill served that local assembly for thirty years. In January 2003, after much prayer, Bill felt God's call to help the local assembly here at Sovereign Grace Fellowship.

Bill served on the Board of Directors for the Heritage Baptist Institute, Springfield, MA for three years. He also taught Bible & Health Education at Bible Baptist Academy, Northampton, MA for six years.

Both Bill and Marianne were accepted as missionaries under the Fellowship of Baptists for Home Missions (Elyria, Ohio) in 1969. They served for ten years in this capacity until they could no longer agree with the doctrinal position of the mission board concerning election and the Doctrines of Grace.

Marianne served as the ladies president of the Ladies Fellowship of the New England Regular Baptist Fellowship of Churches for one term. She worked as a nurse, to help the family off and on for forty years. She was also a Red Cross volunteer for ten years.

Bill and Marianne have been married for 46 years. They have three daughters, Sharon, Karen and Deborah; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.