Charlotte Chroniger in the Robe of Achievement, 2016
Charlotte Mennen Chroniger was the mother of four children and a grandmother- her high school nickname was ‘Chuck.’ She was born in Aplington, Iowa to Jesse and Joan Mennen. Her walk with Jesus came as a result of her mother and some of her Youth Group leaders. She became a committed Christian as a youth.
Playing the piano and traveling were two of her dreams and one came true when she spent two summers as a missionary in Japan. It was at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City that she met her future husband, Donald Chroniger and they married on August 20, 1981. Pastor Don called her the stability of the family, committed to organization, administration, and ministration.
Charlotte was a member of the Nortonville, KS SDB Church, New Auburn, WI SDB Church, the the Shiloh, NJ SDB Church. Early in her career she was a teacher and Minister of Music in Centerville, Iowa. It was in New Auburn that she recieved her Ordination. She was also co-founder of the New Auburn Community Choir.
She served the denomination effectively and tirelessly on the Council on Ministry, the Board of Christian Education, the Women’s Board (as SCSC Chairman and Women’s Page Editor), Pre Con and Young Adult staffs, organist and pianist at Conference, Conference choir accompanist, writer for the Helping Hand, and Director of Children’s Conference for nearly 20 years! At Conference 2015 she organized and directed a joint bell choir concert involving several church choirs.
Charlotte has a servant’s heart and has done all to follow the Lord’s call and glorify Him, not herself. She organized Veteran’s Day programs at both Hopewell School and Stow Creek School. She was Coordinator for Teen Arts, and participated in “Revive South Jersey” a program to bring the Gospel to underprivileged children in Bridgeton.
In the Shiloh church Charlotte was organist, pianist for the choir, frequent Sabbath School teacher, youth group leader every Friday night, bell choir director, and director of Vacation Bible School. She was Vice-president of the Ladies Benevolent Society and served on numerous committees for Benevolent Society as well as for church. Since 1991 she was a Primary Camp Director and reached out to many of the youth to be on staff to help them with their Christian walk. She also took care of camp informational mailings for all three camps. She coordinated the annual Thanksgiving Dinner and frequently volunteered to head up a monthly fellowship dinner. She faithfully took time to write sincere thank you notes to all who give of their time and talents. On most Sabbath days Charlotte hosted guests in her home for Sabbath meal and she was the first to volunteer to host visitors coming for Association, Pastors Conference, or other occasions. She lined up talent for the church’s annual Gospel Music Festival and helped emcee the program. With all this going on, she still found time to make and deliver meals to those with illness in the family, with new babies, or to those in need.
She was definitely an encourager to all to use their talents for God. She was very supportive and understanding of where everyone was in their walk with God. One of her favorite songs ‘Blessed Assurance,’ speaks of ‘praising my Savior all day long.’ That was certainly evident in Charlotte’s life and in everything she did. She praised God and spread the assurance that Jesus is hers and His salvation could be yours, too. Her impact could be seen and felt in her family, church, school, community, and denomination.