Bethany Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Rich Hill, Missouri, USA)
The Bethany Church of God in Christ, Mennonite congregation south of Rich Hill, Bates County, Missouri, USA was established in 1923. The congregation started when three families, including that of Minister Daniel B. Holdeman, bought land in the county. Several other families soon joined them.
Initially, the group met in homes, then the Oak Grove School, and a building known as Star Church. In 1942 five acres of land were purchased at the church's present location; a new church was dedicated on 11 January 1943. Extensive remodeling and expansion took place in 1960. It may have been about this time the congregation changed its name from Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, to Bethany Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. In 1978 the church building was converted to serve as the Harmony School and a new church building with over 300 constructed capacity.
In 2020 the congregation was part of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. The ministers were Bryan Jackson, Brad Dirks, and Gary Schmidt.
Bibliography
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Yearbook (1996-2020).
Histories of the congregations. 3rd. ed. Moundridge, Kansas: Gospel Publishers, 1999: 386-389.
Additional Information
Address: SW County Road 10008, Rich Hill, Missouri
Location: From US49/71 exit 120 to Rich Hill. 1.4 miles south on 14th Street and 0.4 miles west on a gravel road.
Phone: 417-395-2411
Website:
Denominational Affiliations:
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
Ordained Pastors at the Bethany Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Daniel B. Holdeman (1860-1934) | 1924-1926 |
| Henry Dirks (1903-1982) | 1942-1982 |
| John J. Esau (1911-1993) | 1945-1952 |
| Harvey Yost (1891-1986) | 1950s? |
| Arthur D. Unruh (1923-2014) | 1957-2003 |
| Ben Becker (1917-2016) | 1959-2001 |
| Milton Koehn | 1966-1974? |
| Kenneth Koehn | 1966-1995? 2010-2015 |
| Lance Dirks | 1996-1998 2002-2013 |
| Myron Koehn | 1997-2015 |
| Gary Schmidt | 2000-present |
| Brad Dirks | 2017-present |
| Bryan Jackson | 2017-present |
Membership at the Bethany Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 141 |
| 2000 | 140 |
| 2010 | 156 |
| 2020 | 134 |
Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article
By Nathan Schmidt. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 203. All rights reserved.
Emmanuel Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church is located one mile south of Rich Hill, Bates County, Missouri, was organized in 1923. The first worship services were held in homes and schools. In 1942 a church was built with a seating capacity of 120, with Henry Dirks as the leading minister. In 1945 J. J. Esau was ordained as minister and Nathan Schmidt as deacon. The membership in 1955 was 90, with Harvey Yost and Henry Dirks as ministers.
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | February 2021 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Bethany Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Rich Hill, Missouri, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. February 2021. Web. 29 Nov 2023. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bethany_Church_of_God_in_Christ,_Mennonite_(Rich_Hill,_Missouri,_USA)&oldid=169939.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (February 2021). Bethany Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Rich Hill, Missouri, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 29 November 2023, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bethany_Church_of_God_in_Christ,_Mennonite_(Rich_Hill,_Missouri,_USA)&oldid=169939.
©1996-2023 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.