High Valley Mennonite Church (Center, Colorado, USA)
The High Valley Mennonite Church near Center, Colorado, USA was established in 1994. The congregation began when some families moved in 1993 to the San Luis Valley 60 miles northwest of Fort Garland. The area is a high Alpine farming valley with potato, grain, alfalfa, and other crops despite a short season.
Initially, the group met with the missionaries at the Fort Garland mission three Sundays a month. Later they met in homes or rented the American Legion Hall in Center or the Colorado State Veterans Chapel in Monte Vista. The congregation was formally organized on 11 May 1994. In September 1994, they began to rent a church building in Center, with a mobile home on the site for use by visiting pastors who assisted for periods of time. Gilbert Nickel was the first locally-based pastor; the previous pastors had served for periods ranging from several months to a year.
The High Valley Christian School began in 1993 in a one-room building with no water and plumbing. The congregation purchased the mission church building in Fort Garland after that work closed and moved it to the church's present location. It was converted for use as a school. In fall 1997, construction began on a church building; the building's first services took place on 3 January 1999.
In 2020 the congregation was part of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. The ministers were Delbert Dueck and Gary Dirks.
Bibliography
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Yearbook (1995-2020).
Histories of the congregations. 3rd. ed. Moundridge, Kansas: Gospel Publishers, 1999: 204-206.
Additional Information
Address: 45641 County Road E, Colorado 81125
Phone: 719-754-2441
Website:
Denominational Affiliations:
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
Ordained Pastors at the High Valley Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Abe Nickel | 1994-1995 |
| Franklin Buller | 1995 |
| Arverd Wiggers | 1995-1996 |
| David Koehn | 1996-1997 |
| Gilbert Nickel | 1998-2018 |
| Gary Dirks | 1998-present |
| Delbert Dueck | 1998-present |
Membership at High Valley Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 36 |
| 2000 | 74 |
| 2010 | 112 |
| 2020 | 124 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | December 2020 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "High Valley Mennonite Church (Center, Colorado, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2020. Web. 11 Sep 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=High_Valley_Mennonite_Church_(Center,_Colorado,_USA)&oldid=169576.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (December 2020). High Valley Mennonite Church (Center, Colorado, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 11 September 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=High_Valley_Mennonite_Church_(Center,_Colorado,_USA)&oldid=169576.
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