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Hopewell Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located in the village of Kouts, Porter County, [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], is a member of the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Conference]]. The original Mennonite settlers in this area came largely from Hopedale, [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], and [[Nebraska (USA)|Nebraska]], beginning in 1916. They built their first meetinghouse in 1919, just south of the village, and in 1952 a new house of worship at the northern edge of the village. The most outstanding leader of the church was Bishop Jacob Z. Birky (1855-1926), who was born at Morton, Illinois, and ordained preacher in Nebraska in 1895, and bishop in 1902. He located at Kouts, Indiana, in 1920. He was a brother of Bishop John C. Birky (1849-1920); of Hopedale, Illinois. The membership in 1954 was 207, with pastor Samuel S. Miller.
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Amish Mennonites from Hopedale, [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], began to settle near Kouts, [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], in 1916. In April 1918, Bishop John C. Birky organized a [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] at Kouts and helped the group choose the name Hopewell. Initially, the group briefly affiliated with the [[Western District Amish Mennonite Conference|Western District Amish Mennonite Conference]] with 18 charter members. In September 1918, bishop oversight switched to [[Bixler, Jacob K. (1877-1939)|Jacob K. Bixler]] of the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]], thus changing the congregation's affiliation.
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Initially, the Hopewell congregation met in the Cook schoolhouse south of Kouts. On 4 February 1919, the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board]] purchased land south of Kouts and built a meetinghouse that summer. The new church was dedicated on 28 September 1919. The congregation became independent of the mission board in 1922.
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During World War II, the Hopewell congregation supported its men in [[Civilian Public Service]] with an annual allowance of $120.
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In 1952, the congregation built a new church at the north edge of Kouts. It added a fellowship hall in 1977, and in 1994, added to the sanctuary with a nursery, library, offices, and classrooms. Easy-access washrooms were added in 2014.
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The congregation started a small mission at [[English Lake Church (North Judson, Indiana, USA)|English Lake]], Indiana in 1949, with [[Summer Bible School]] and Sunday school services first held in a rented schoolhouse. Eventually, a new church was built, and the English Lake congregation became independent in 1972. In the early 1950s, four families from the Hopewell congregation moved to Blountstown, Florida. They helped to start the [[Oak Terrace Mennonite Church (Blountstown, Florida, USA)|Oak Terrace Mennonite Church]]. Members from Hopewell who lived in the Valparaiso area also began a new congregation in 1966, and the church became independent from Hopewell in 1969 (Valparaiso Mennonite Church).
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By 2006, Hopewell Mennonite Church had produced 22 pastors from within the congregation who have pastored elsewhere.
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= Bibliography =
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Beck, Bill. "Hopewell Mennonite." ''Gospel Evangel'' 87, no. 1 (January/February 2006): 2.
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"History of Hopewell Mennonite Church." Hopewell Mennonite Church. 2020? Web. 4 June 2024. https://www.hopewellmc.org/history.html.
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Preheim, Rich. ''In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference''. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 169, 183, 309.
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Wenger, John Christian. ''The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 209-210.
  
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In 2007 the membership was 188; Bill Beck was the lead pastor.
 
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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<strong>Address</strong>: 805 North Main Street, Kouts, Indiana
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'''Address''': 805 North Main Street, Kouts, Indiana 46347
  
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<strong>Phone</strong>: 219-766-2184
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'''Telephone''': 219-766-2184
  
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<strong>Denominational affiliations</strong>:
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'''Website''': https://www.hopewellmc.org/
  
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[http://im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
  
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[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
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[https://www.im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, p. 810|date=1956|a1_last=Wenger|a1_first=John C|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
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[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
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== Pastoral Leaders at Hopewell Mennonite Church ==
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
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|-
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| Visiting ministers || 1918-1920
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|-
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| James Bucher (1887-1982) || 1920-1923
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|-
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| Jacob D. "J. D." Birky (1855-1926)(Bishop) || 1920-1926
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|-
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| Visiting ministers || 1926-1928
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|-
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| Dean Birky (1894-1979) || 1926-1942
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|-
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| [[Erb, Paul (1894-1984)|Paul Erb]] (1894-1984)(Supply) || 1942-1944
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|-
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| Millard C. Lind (1918-2015) || 1944-1947
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|-
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| Chester C. Osborne (1913-1998) || 1947-1952
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|-
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| Paul E. Mininger (1908-1997)(Supply) || 1952-1954
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|-
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| Samuel S. Miller (1908-1991)<br />(Bishop) || 1954-1955<br />1955-1983
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|-
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| John F. Murray (1932- )<br />(Interim) || 1961-1991?<br />1995-1997
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|-
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| Jerry Kandel || 1989-1995
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|-
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| Bill Beck || 1997-2008
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|-
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| Chris Birky || 1997-2008
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|-
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| Joel A. Short || 2009-
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|}
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== Hopewell Mennonite Church Membership ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
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|-
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! Year !! Members
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|-
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| 1918 || 18
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|-
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| 1925 || 60
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|-
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| 1930 || 81
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|-
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| 1940 || 173
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|-
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| 1950 || 226
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|-
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| 1960 || 266
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|-
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| 1970 || 266
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|-
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| 1980 || 269
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|-
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| 1990 || 226
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|-
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| 2000 || 198
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|-
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| 2009 || 188
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|-
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| 2020 || 188
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
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By [[Wenger, John C. (1910-1995)|John C. Wenger]]. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 2, p. 810. All rights reserved.
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Hopewell Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located in the village of Kouts, Porter County, [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], is a member of the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Conference]]. The original Mennonite settlers in this area came largely from Hopedale, [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], and [[Nebraska (USA)|Nebraska]], beginning in 1916. They built their first meetinghouse in 1919, just south of the village, and in 1952 a new house of worship at the northern edge of the village. The most outstanding leader of the church was Bishop Jacob Z. Birky (1855-1926), who was born at Morton, Illinois, and ordained preacher in Nebraska in 1895, and bishop in 1902. He located at Kouts, Indiana, in 1920. He was a brother of Bishop John C. Birky (1849-1920); of Hopedale, Illinois. The membership in 1954 was 207, with pastor Samuel S. Miller.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=June 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:Indiana Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 13:45, 5 June 2024

Amish Mennonites from Hopedale, Illinois, began to settle near Kouts, Indiana, in 1916. In April 1918, Bishop John C. Birky organized a Sunday school at Kouts and helped the group choose the name Hopewell. Initially, the group briefly affiliated with the Western District Amish Mennonite Conference with 18 charter members. In September 1918, bishop oversight switched to Jacob K. Bixler of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference, thus changing the congregation's affiliation.

Initially, the Hopewell congregation met in the Cook schoolhouse south of Kouts. On 4 February 1919, the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board purchased land south of Kouts and built a meetinghouse that summer. The new church was dedicated on 28 September 1919. The congregation became independent of the mission board in 1922.

During World War II, the Hopewell congregation supported its men in Civilian Public Service with an annual allowance of $120.

In 1952, the congregation built a new church at the north edge of Kouts. It added a fellowship hall in 1977, and in 1994, added to the sanctuary with a nursery, library, offices, and classrooms. Easy-access washrooms were added in 2014.

The congregation started a small mission at English Lake, Indiana in 1949, with Summer Bible School and Sunday school services first held in a rented schoolhouse. Eventually, a new church was built, and the English Lake congregation became independent in 1972. In the early 1950s, four families from the Hopewell congregation moved to Blountstown, Florida. They helped to start the Oak Terrace Mennonite Church. Members from Hopewell who lived in the Valparaiso area also began a new congregation in 1966, and the church became independent from Hopewell in 1969 (Valparaiso Mennonite Church).

By 2006, Hopewell Mennonite Church had produced 22 pastors from within the congregation who have pastored elsewhere.

Bibliography

Beck, Bill. "Hopewell Mennonite." Gospel Evangel 87, no. 1 (January/February 2006): 2.

"History of Hopewell Mennonite Church." Hopewell Mennonite Church. 2020? Web. 4 June 2024. https://www.hopewellmc.org/history.html.

Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 169, 183, 309.

Wenger, John Christian. The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 209-210.

Additional Information

Address: 805 North Main Street, Kouts, Indiana 46347

Telephone: 219-766-2184

Website: https://www.hopewellmc.org/

Denominational Affiliations:

Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference

Mennonite Church USA

Pastoral Leaders at Hopewell Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
Visiting ministers 1918-1920
James Bucher (1887-1982) 1920-1923
Jacob D. "J. D." Birky (1855-1926)(Bishop) 1920-1926
Visiting ministers 1926-1928
Dean Birky (1894-1979) 1926-1942
Paul Erb (1894-1984)(Supply) 1942-1944
Millard C. Lind (1918-2015) 1944-1947
Chester C. Osborne (1913-1998) 1947-1952
Paul E. Mininger (1908-1997)(Supply) 1952-1954
Samuel S. Miller (1908-1991)
(Bishop)		 1954-1955
1955-1983
John F. Murray (1932- )
(Interim)		 1961-1991?
1995-1997
Jerry Kandel 1989-1995
Bill Beck 1997-2008
Chris Birky 1997-2008
Joel A. Short 2009-

Hopewell Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1918 18
1925 60
1930 81
1940 173
1950 226
1960 266
1970 266
1980 269
1990 226
2000 198
2009 188
2020 188

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By John C. Wenger. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 810. All rights reserved.

Hopewell Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located in the village of Kouts, Porter County, Indiana, is a member of the Indiana-Michigan Conference. The original Mennonite settlers in this area came largely from Hopedale, Illinois, and Nebraska, beginning in 1916. They built their first meetinghouse in 1919, just south of the village, and in 1952 a new house of worship at the northern edge of the village. The most outstanding leader of the church was Bishop Jacob Z. Birky (1855-1926), who was born at Morton, Illinois, and ordained preacher in Nebraska in 1895, and bishop in 1902. He located at Kouts, Indiana, in 1920. He was a brother of Bishop John C. Birky (1849-1920); of Hopedale, Illinois. The membership in 1954 was 207, with pastor Samuel S. Miller.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published June 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Hopewell Mennonite Church (Kouts, Indiana, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. June 2024. Web. 6 Jun 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hopewell_Mennonite_Church_(Kouts,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=179082.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (June 2024). Hopewell Mennonite Church (Kouts, Indiana, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 6 June 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hopewell_Mennonite_Church_(Kouts,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=179082.



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