Hope Mennonite Church (Wichita, Kansas, USA)
The Western District Conference planted Hope Mennonite Church with the help of First Mennonite Church, Newton, Kansas. In January 1985, a church planter, Marvin Zehr, contacted young adults who had grown up in Mennonite communities or attended Mennonite colleges and who had moved to Wichita for job opportunities. Pastor Zehr brought small groups of these individuals together for Bible study and relationship building, and on 19 May 1985, the groups met together for their first organized service. The congregation held its Charter Sunday on 6 October 1985, with 49 members. Marvin Zehr became the first minister.
The congregation initially met at McCollom Elementary School in Wichita and then moved to the basement of a medical building from July 1986 until the summer of 1989. Desiring a permanent location, the congregation purchased land along Maize Road in Wichita. The land included a small house that could serve as a parsonage. The congregation held a land dedication ceremony on 5 March 1989 and dedicated its current building in September 1989.
Hope Mennonite Church has placed a strong emphasis on worship, service, believer’s baptism, and Christian education. Worship is central to the church's life, and an active group of lay leaders has planned the services. Visual arts (including paintings, drawings, needle arts, cut paper, mobiles, banners, and mosaics), music, and participation from people of all ages have been essential aspects of worship for the congregation.
Mentoring youth in discipleship is of great importance to the congregation. Middle school and high school groups have actively engaged in service projects and Bible studies. Throughout the year, both high school and middle school youth have participated in worship through readings, scripture dramas, prayers, music, and Youth Sunday. Hope young people can attend a Mennonite Church USA convention, two service experiences, and a spiritual adventure trip during their high-school years.
Hope Mennonite Church has brought Christ’s love to the world through service projects, such as annually providing school supplies for children living at the local St. Anthony’s Family Shelter. For over 20 years, the church has held a yearly Craft Bazaar, raising money for various mission projects. As another long-term project, the congregation has prepared lunches for those in need on the first Saturday of each month through St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Sandwich Saturday program. More recently, Hope Mennonite Church joined with Family Promise, an organization that works intensively with homeless families, and converted the parsonage into a “transitional” home for graduates of the Family Promise program who are ready to build a successful rental history. The congregation’s newest endeavor has been partnering with Working Men of Christ, which offers housing and mentoring to those coming out of incarceration.
Bibliography
"Congregation history stories." Western District Conference. Web. 24 May 2021. https://mennowdc.org/congregation-history-stories/.
"Hope Mennonite – 10th Anniversary 1985-1995." Unpublished history.
"Hope Mennonite - 25th year anniversary booklet 1985-2010." Unpublished history.
Loganbill, Cynthia. Unpublished information provided to Western District Conference, 2021.
Additional Information
Address: 868 N. Maize Road, Wichita, Kansas 67212
Phone: 316-722-0903
Website: https://hopemennonite.org/
Denominational Affiliations: Western District Conference
Mennonite Church USA
Pastoral Leaders at Hope Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Marvin Zehr | 1985-1992 |
| Richard Ratzlaff (Transitional) | 1992-1994 |
| Matt Friesen | 1994-2001 |
| Linda Ewert (Associate) | 1999-2006 |
| Don Steelberg (Transitional) | 2001-2002 |
| Douglas Luginbill | 2002-2009 |
| Ray Reimer (Transitional) | 2009-2010 |
| Bret Dewey | 2010-2013 |
| Mike Bogard (Transitional) | 2013-2014 |
| Dave Stevens | 2014-present |
Membership at Hope Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 49 |
| 1990 | 149 |
| 1995 | 183 |
| 2000 | 196 |
| 2005 | 203 |
| 2010 | 221 |
| 2015 | 246 |
| 2020 | 245 |
| Author(s) | Cynthia Loganbill |
|---|---|
| Kent Moore | |
| Date Published | May 2021 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Loganbill, Cynthia and Kent Moore. "Hope Mennonite Church (Wichita, Kansas, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2021. Web. 24 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hope_Mennonite_Church_(Wichita,_Kansas,_USA)&oldid=171539.
APA style
Loganbill, Cynthia and Kent Moore. (May 2021). Hope Mennonite Church (Wichita, Kansas, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hope_Mennonite_Church_(Wichita,_Kansas,_USA)&oldid=171539.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.