Difference between revisions of "Butler Church (Fresno, California, USA)"

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The Butler Church (formerly Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church), located on East Butler Ave., Fresno, [[California (USA)|California]], was organized in 1956 near Fresno Pacific University. The worship center was completed in 1964. In the 1990s additional worship services with unique styles emerged. A second worship service was created, aimed at reaching the university population. In 1992, an Asian ministry to the Lao/Khmu community began with Pastor Phone Keo Keovilay. During this time, an outreach ministry also began among the Spanish-speaking community of Southeast Fresno. By 1994 a Bible study and prayer group birthed into a Sunday morning Spanish-language worship service.
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__FORCETOC__
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__TOC__
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Butler Avenue [[Mennonite Brethren Church]], founded in 1956, is located in southeast [[Fresno (California, USA)|Fresno]] near the Mennonite Brethren institutions of [[Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, California, USA)|Fresno Pacific University]] and Biblical Seminary. Since the church was established, the neighborhood demographics have changed, and the church has adapted and responded to the opportunities. In the 1990s, Butler became a multi-cultural, multi-congregational church.  
  
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In 1959 the membership was 147, with Elmer A. Martens as pastor. In 2009 the Interim Pastor was Larry Martens, the Associate Pastor-Southeast Asian Ministries was Keo Keovilay and the Spanish Ministries Pastor was Lynn Kauffman.
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In 2013, Butler had four congregations, each with autonomy over worship style, language, and internal organizational structure. Each group managed its own budget and decided whether or not to call a congregational pastor. Though different in languages and cultural norms, all groups were strongly committed to being one church.
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In 2013 the Butler Church constitution enunciated a vision of supportive interaction and community involvement. All congregations gave toward a general budget for the shared facilities and support staff, including a Lead Pastor, and met together for combined worship several times a year, often sharing in baptisms and the Lord’s Supper. Every Sunday, all congregants met for fellowship in the courtyard—at Butler Café—between services. Together, the congregations hosted "Meal and More" on the first Wednesday of each month, inviting neighbors and friends to come for a simple meal and an after dinner activity. Monthly prayer meetings, a monthly food distribution, and a weekly Celebrate Recovery program were also joint ventures. The congregations worked together on facilities projects, in global missions, in childcare and Christian education, and on the Church Council.
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In 2013 the four congregations at Butler were:
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* Amor y Fe – Spanish speaking
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* Asian Grace – Lao/Khmu
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* Common Ground – English informal
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* Faith Community –English traditional
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
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Butler Church. "Find Out More About Butler Church." Butler Church. [http://www.butlerchurch.org/pages/dna.html http://www.butlerchurch.org/pages/dna.html] (accessed 18 December 2009)
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<h3>Archival Records</h3>
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Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Fresno, CA: Record Group CB511.
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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<strong>Address</strong>: 4884 East Butler Avenue, Fresno, California
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'''Address''': 4884 East Butler Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727
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'''Phone''': 559-252-3741
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'''Website''': [http://www.butlerchurch.org/ Butler Church]
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'''Denominational Affiliation''':
  
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<strong>Phone</strong>: 559-252-3741
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[http://www.pdcmbc.org/ Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]
  
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<strong>Website</strong>: [http://www.butlerchurch.org/ Butler Church]  
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[http://www.usmb.org/ U. S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]
  
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[[General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]]
  
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=== Butler Church Leading Ministers ===
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
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!Minister
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!Years of Service
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|-
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| [[Martens, Elmer A. (1930-2016)|Elmer A. Martens]]||1958-1966
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|-
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| Arno Wiebe||1966-1971
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|-
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| Robert Vogt||1971-1978
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|-
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| George Sanchez||1978-1980
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|-
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| Mervin Dick and Dennis Fast – Pastoral Team||1980-1982
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|-
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| Mervin Dick||1982-1984
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|-
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| Dale Warkentin||1984-1990
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|-
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| Rod Suess||1990-2004
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|-
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| Mark Thompson||2004-2008
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|-
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| Larry Martens (interim)||2008-2009
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|-
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| Scott Holman||2011-present
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|}
  
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<strong>Denominational Affiliation</strong>: [http://www.usmb.org/ U. S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]
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=== Butler Church Membership ===
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{| {{table}} class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
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!Year
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!Members
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|-
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| 1960||209
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|-
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| 1965||305
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|-
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| 1970||354
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|-
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| 1975||346
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|-
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| 1980||407
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|-
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| 1985||308
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|-
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| 1990||284
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|-
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| 1995||287
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|-
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| 2000||341
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|-
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| 2010||448
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|}
  
 
= Maps =
 
= Maps =
 
[[Map:Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church (Fresno, California)|Map:Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church (Fresno, California)]]
 
[[Map:Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church (Fresno, California)|Map:Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church (Fresno, California)]]
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 1069|date=2009|a1_last=Bender|a1_first=Harold S.|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Sam}}
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=September 2013|a1_last=Reimer|a1_first=Luetta|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
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[[Category:Pacific District of Mennonite Brethren Churches Congregations]]
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[[Category:US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Congregations]]
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[[Category:General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Congregations]]
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[[Category:California Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 00:12, 14 October 2024

Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church, founded in 1956, is located in southeast Fresno near the Mennonite Brethren institutions of Fresno Pacific University and Biblical Seminary. Since the church was established, the neighborhood demographics have changed, and the church has adapted and responded to the opportunities. In the 1990s, Butler became a multi-cultural, multi-congregational church.

In 2013, Butler had four congregations, each with autonomy over worship style, language, and internal organizational structure. Each group managed its own budget and decided whether or not to call a congregational pastor. Though different in languages and cultural norms, all groups were strongly committed to being one church.

In 2013 the Butler Church constitution enunciated a vision of supportive interaction and community involvement. All congregations gave toward a general budget for the shared facilities and support staff, including a Lead Pastor, and met together for combined worship several times a year, often sharing in baptisms and the Lord’s Supper. Every Sunday, all congregants met for fellowship in the courtyard—at Butler Café—between services. Together, the congregations hosted "Meal and More" on the first Wednesday of each month, inviting neighbors and friends to come for a simple meal and an after dinner activity. Monthly prayer meetings, a monthly food distribution, and a weekly Celebrate Recovery program were also joint ventures. The congregations worked together on facilities projects, in global missions, in childcare and Christian education, and on the Church Council.

In 2013 the four congregations at Butler were:

  • Amor y Fe – Spanish speaking
  • Asian Grace – Lao/Khmu
  • Common Ground – English informal
  • Faith Community –English traditional

Bibliography

Archival Records

Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Fresno, CA: Record Group CB511.

Additional Information

Address: 4884 East Butler Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727

Phone: 559-252-3741

Website: Butler Church

Denominational Affiliation:

Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

U. S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

Butler Church Leading Ministers

Minister Years of Service
Elmer A. Martens 1958-1966
Arno Wiebe 1966-1971
Robert Vogt 1971-1978
George Sanchez 1978-1980
Mervin Dick and Dennis Fast – Pastoral Team 1980-1982
Mervin Dick 1982-1984
Dale Warkentin 1984-1990
Rod Suess 1990-2004
Mark Thompson 2004-2008
Larry Martens (interim) 2008-2009
Scott Holman 2011-present

Butler Church Membership

Year Members
1960 209
1965 305
1970 354
1975 346
1980 407
1985 308
1990 284
1995 287
2000 341
2010 448

Maps

Map:Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church (Fresno, California)


Author(s) Luetta Reimer
Date Published September 2013

Cite This Article

MLA style

Reimer, Luetta. "Butler Church (Fresno, California, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 2013. Web. 24 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Butler_Church_(Fresno,_California,_USA)&oldid=179880.

APA style

Reimer, Luetta. (September 2013). Butler Church (Fresno, California, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Butler_Church_(Fresno,_California,_USA)&oldid=179880.



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