View source for East Peoria Mennonite Church (East Peoria, Illinois, USA)

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The Highway Village Mennonite Church, East Peoria, [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], USA, began in 1937 as a [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] sponsored by the [[CrossPoint Church (East Peoria, Illinois, USA)|Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church]]. C. A. Magnuson headed the work until 1945. In 1951, the [[Illinois Mennonite Mission Board]] took over responsibility for the mission. Eventually, the congregation became independent.

Over the years, the membership was composed primarily of persons with no Mennonite background. Consequently, the congregation became flexible on policies like [[Dress|dress]] regulations, use of [[Musical Instruments|musical instruments]], and [[Nonresistance|nonresistance]]. The church taught nonresistance but did not make it a test of membership. 

In about 1989, the congregation changed its name to East Peoria Mennonite Church.

= Bibliography = 
Smith, Willard H. ''Mennonites in Illinois''. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 213, 487.

= Additional Information =

'''Address:''' 125 North Norwood Place, East Peoria, Illinois 61611

'''Phone:''' 309-699-8713

'''Website''': https://www.facebook.com/epmennonite/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://illinoismennonite.com/home/ Illinois Mennonite Conference]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
== Pastoral Leaders at East Peoria Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
|-
| Carl A. "C. A." Magnusen (1894-1975) || 1937-1945
|-
| Wilfred D. Ulrich (1920-2015) || 1945-1947
|-
| Paul A. Friesen (1923-2022) || 1947-1951
|-
| Robert L. Harnish (1925-2022) || 1951-1973
|-
| Clarence R. Sutter (1921-1998) || 1973-1982
|-
| Maurice J. Yordy || 1983-2006
|-
| John Gray || 2006-2013
|-
| Tim Peebles (Transitional) || 2013-2015
|-
| Kimberly A. Litwiller || 2015-2021
|-
| Lay Leadership || 2022-
|}

== East Peoria Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1950 || 13
|-
| 1960 || 49
|-
| 1970 || 75
|-
| 1980 || 73
|-
| 1990 || 68
|-
| 2000 || 89
|-
| 2009 || 70
|-
| 2020 || 50
|}
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[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Illinois Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Illinois Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]