Abundant Hope Christian Center (Downey, California, USA)
In 1908 the Pacific District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church passed a resolution which called for exploring the possibility of opening a mission in Los Angeles, California. This recommendation, submitted to the General Conference which met later that year in Beatrice, Nebraska, was adopted and $500 was set aside for this project. In preparation for this new venture, the Home Mission Board of the General Conference asked Elmer F. Grubb of Wadsworth, Ohio, to organize the new venture. River Street Mission at 1432 San Fernando Street opened its doors to the public in 1910, and the first meeting was attended by 12 persons. Attendance soon increased to 30, and in 1912 the Home Mission Board concluded that a more suitable location should be found; accordingly, a building and lot were purchased at Avenue 19 and Albion Street and dedicated as the "Whosoever-Will Mission." On 21 February 1915, the group organized as the "Whosoever-Will Mennonite Church" with 12 charter members.
In 1918 the church became a member of the Pacific District Conference, and in 1920 became a member of the General Conference Mennonite Church, known as the Los Angeles City Mission. Several pastors and mission workers served the church in its early years, including E. F. Grubb, Susie M. Franz, Ina Feighner, Michael M. Horsch, Peter W. and Matilde (Ensz) Penner, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Voth, Anna G. Stauffer, Ellen Schertz, Lavina Burkhalter, John B. and Jennie (Roberts) Baer, D. H. Hess, D. G. Dyck, Cornelius N. Hiebert, Rev. and Mrs. H. B. Dirks, Rudolf and Catherine (Wiebe) Schmidt, and Albert Claassen, who served as superintendent of the Mission from 1922 to 1931. Several of these workers were students at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola).
On 2 November 1924, after a new church and parsonage were completed at the corner of 79th and Stanford Streets in Los Angeles, Immanuel Mennonite Church was organized and dedicated. Growth of the congregation made additional space necessary, and in 1928 an annex was built.
In 1930 the congregation became self-supporting, and in 1933 D. D. Eitzen became pastor. He served until 1937, when Albert Jantzen briefly served in that capacity and was succeeded by Wilbert A. Regier, who served until 1944. Paul Bauman then accepted an interim pastorate, and in 1945 Harold D. Burkholder accepted a call to become the pastor; he served until 1949. He was followed by Alfred Regier who served for the next two years.
In 1951 the congregation moved to a new location at 10355 South Paramount in Downey, a city southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The first phase of construction included a large structure which provided worship and fellowship facilities, with additional rooms to accommodate Sunday school and a pastor’s study. A dedication service was held on 6 July 1952. John B. Graber was engaged as pastor in that year, and soon construction of expanded church facilities began. Upon completion, the expanded campus provided 20 rooms for Sunday school and Christian Endeavor purposes with a fireside room, a room for the church council, the sanctuary, and a nearby parsonage. Dedication services were held on 16 January 1955.
In 1956, following some disagreements, a number of members withdrew and formed Bethel Community Church; Immanuel Mennonite Church retained 142 members. In July 1956 Albert Epp, a senior at Fuller Theological Seminary, was appointed as interim minister. A year later he was ordained and continued to serve as pastor. Under his ministry, membership grew to 197 with a Sunday school attendance of 232 in 1960.
Epp served as pastor until 1969, when he entered a doctoral program at Fuller Theological Seminary. He was succeeded by interim pastor Douglas Friederichsen, and in 1970 Robert Gerhart assumed the pastorate. When he retired in 1974, he was followed by five pastors during the next decade. The community was undergoing some cultural changes, and some members moved elsewhere.
In 1978 the Immanuel Mennonite Church withdrew from the General Conference Mennonite Church and renamed itself the Downey Immanuel Church. For several years the congregation functioned independently, until 1985, when it affiliated with the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Shortly thereafter the church changed its name to Living Hope Church.
In 1988 Glenn Koons was chosen as pastor and for almost two decades he provided a measure of stability. The congregation carried on an outreach program that touched a number of younger people and children. Wednesday evening services and Christian Endeavor helped the congregation to attract more community persons.
In the following year Don Waggoner, pastor of a new work, Abundant Life Christian Center, was invited to become the new pastor of the Downey Living Hope Church. He accepted the call with the understanding that the two congregations would merge. The name now chosen was Abundant Hope Christian Center. Efforts to reach the community were strengthened and by 2008 membership had grown to 79. Some community groups also rented facilities and a school, with about 175 students, held classes here regularly.
Bibliography
Burkholder, H. D. The Story of Our Conference and Churches. North Newton, KS: The Historical Committee of the Pacific Conference, 1951.
Campbell, Lee Price. "Seventy-five Years on the Shores of the Peaceful Sea: A History of the Pacific District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church of North America." M. Div. thesis, Western Evangelical Seminary, 1973.
Golden Anniversary, May 22, 1960. Immanuel Mennonite Church Downey, California,
Grubb, E. F. "Sketch and History of the Mennonite City Mission of Los Angeles, California." In Mennonite Yearbook and Almanac. Quakertown, PA: Eastern Mennonite Conference, 1914: 23.
Krehbiel, H. P. The History of the General Conference of the Mennonite Church of North America, 2 vols. Newton, KS: H. P. Krehbiel, 1938: v. 2, 110-111, 123-124, 138-139, 476-477.
Pacific District Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches Yearbook.
Pacific District Messenger (August 12, 1969).
Archives
Mennonite Library and Archives, Hiebert Library, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA: Record Group CB553.
Additional Information
Address: 10355 S. Paramount Blvd., Downey, CA 90241-2307
Phone: 562-928-8651
Website Abundant Hope Christian Center
Denominational Affiliations: Pacific District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church (1918-1978)
General Conference Mennonite Church (1920-1978)
Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1985-present_
| Author(s) | Peter J Klassen |
|---|---|
| Date Published | November 2013 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Klassen, Peter J. "Abundant Hope Christian Center (Downey, California, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2013. Web. 25 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Abundant_Hope_Christian_Center_(Downey,_California,_USA)&oldid=104474.
APA style
Klassen, Peter J. (November 2013). Abundant Hope Christian Center (Downey, California, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Abundant_Hope_Christian_Center_(Downey,_California,_USA)&oldid=104474.
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