The Petroleum Valley's patience and perseverance have been greatly tested over the past couple of years by the discovery of contamination in the area's well-water system. Fortunately, that situation is on its way to being resolved via construction of a public water system - a water system that will end the necessity of drinking bottled water and using the contaminated water for non-drinking purposes.

The water issue has provided plenty of bad news since the problem was detected, but there have been good goings-on in the area as well, and the Petroleum Valley Ministerium is a part of those positive happenings.

While the ministerium's basic purpose for existing is to build unity among the various congregations in that part of Butler County, other efforts of the ministerium and the congregations it comprises are having an important impact in a number of ways.

For example, the Petroleum Valley Food Cupboard, which is housed in the old Penreco Credit Union in Petrolia, distributes food to the needy on the third Friday of each month. Approximately 60 families receive food, as well as about 20 senior citizens.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Valley Youth Center, a summer program, had a successful season, providing activities such as valleyball, fishing, air hockey and pingpong.

The ministerium provides the opportunity for the various congregations to host nursing home ministry, joint Good Friday and Thanksgiving services, and hymn sings. And in the works is the Karns City Area Mentoring Program, which is aimed at building trust and friendship between trained adult Christians and at-risk students. It will be open to teens attending Karns City Junior-Senior High School.

The ministerium, which consists of about a dozen members, is not a new group. It has existed for several decades.

Judging from the projects with which it currently is involved, it has poised itself to be even more active in the years ahead.

That's good news for the Petroleum Valley.