Red River Valley Mennonite Church (Detroit, Texas, USA)
The Red River Valley Mennonite Church near Detroit, Texas, USA was established in 1978. The congregation started after the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Colonization Board approved this area in northeast Texas for settlement. The first families began to purchase farms in late 1978 with the intent of raising wheat, milo, and soybeans.
The families met in homes for worship until summer 1978 when they began to rent space in the Detroit Medical Center. As the group increased in size it met a variety of places, including eight months at the Southside Church of God in Paris, Texas. Ministers from other congregations provided leadership until DeeWayne Koehn and his family moved to the area in 1980.
The distance that some families connected to Red River Valley had to travel became an issue as some lived east of Paris and others lived west. The West Haven congregation at Brookston began to serve those living west of Paris in 1981. Those living east of Paris then met in the American Legion Hall in Clarksville. Later that year the group purchased six acres of land two miles east of Detroit and erected a church. The first service in it was held on 24 January 1982. However, it was destroyed by a tornado several months later on 2 April 1982. With the help of other congregations, a new building was put up in six weeks, with dedication services held on 15 August 1982.
The Red River Valley Christian School began in fall 1981.
In 2020 the congregation was part of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. The ministers were Nelson Stoll and Ed Yost.
Bibliography
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Yearbook (1996-2020).
Histories of the congregations. 3rd. ed. Moundridge, Kansas: Gospel Publishers, 1999: 512-515.
Additional Information
Address: 1746 Farm Road 2573, Detroit, Texas 75436
Phone: 903-674-2008
Website:
Denominational Affiliations:
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
Ordained Pastors at the Red River Valley Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Visiting ministers | 1978-1980 |
| DeeWayne Koehn | 1980-1981 |
| Visiting and nonresident ministers |
1981-1989 |
| Delton Wedel | 1989-2007 |
| Ed Yost | 1993-present |
| Nelson Stoll | 2006-present |
Membership at the Red River Valley Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 98 |
| 2000 | 91 |
| 2010 | 103 |
| 2020 | 124 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | March 2021 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Red River Valley Mennonite Church (Detroit, Texas, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2021. Web. 23 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Red_River_Valley_Mennonite_Church_(Detroit,_Texas,_USA)&oldid=170789.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (March 2021). Red River Valley Mennonite Church (Detroit, Texas, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 23 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Red_River_Valley_Mennonite_Church_(Detroit,_Texas,_USA)&oldid=170789.
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