The College Hill Mennonite Church in Tampa, Florida, USA, began in 1952 as an outreach of the Tampa Mennonite Mission sponsored by the Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The Tampa Mennonite Mission began in 1927 through the missionary efforts of Charles B. and Anna Byer. The original mission was directed to Hispanic immigrants and became known as the Ida Street Mennonite Church. The Ybor Mennonite Mission, also directed to Spanish-speaking immigrants, began in 1930. These two congregations merged in the 1960s and became the North Tampa Christian Fellowship. The College Hill initiative was to the African American community in Tampa. The "Mission to Negroes" as it was initially called, opened 7 December 1952, with Alvin Weaver serving as superintendent. It was initially located at 2802 Buffalo Avenue (now Martin Luther King Blvd.).

The church held its first service in its building on Machado Street on 7 December 1956. For much of its history, College Hill was primarily an outreach to the community's children, holding children’s church services, Vacation Bible School, clubs, and social activities. When Pastor John Moore arrived in 1983, he began to transition College Hill into a fully-functioning “adult church.” This transition was continued — and completed — when Roy Williams began in 1985. At the time, College Hill was made up of about 12 active members, operating on a shoestring budget, who went out into the community, visited people, and invited them to church.

College Hill has continued its emphasis on community outreach and programming. Its food pantry has served 300 to 500 families per week, with food and information and services. Local organizations are invited to set up tables and talk to the guests about insurance, voter registration, and similar topics.

With a mission statement of “Perfecting Saints for Ministry,” College Hill Mennonite Church has continued to invest in its people through mentorship and leadership training, preparing people for ministry, whether at College Hill or elsewhere.

In 2020 College Hill Mennonite Church was part of the Mosaic Mennonite Conference. In May 1978, College Hill changed its affiliation from the Lancaster Mennonite Conference to the Southeast Mennonite Conference to relate to a conference located closer to the church. When the Southeast Conference voted to leave Mennonite Church USA, College Hill was among a number of congregations who chose to remain with Mennonite Church USA and thus joined the Mosaic Mennonite Conference in November 2020.

Bibliography

Author(s)	Samuel J Steiner
Date Published	November 2020

"Bro. Alvin Weaver...." Gospel Herald 46, no. 8 (24 February 1952): 181.

"Congregational Profile: College Hill Mennonite Church." Mosaic Mennonite Conference. 27 October 2020. Web. 5 November 2020. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2020/10/27/congregational-profile-college-hill-mennonite-church/.

Additional Information

Address: 3506 Machado St, Tampa, Florida 33605

Phone: 813-247-2798

Website: http://collegehillmennonitechurch.org/

Denominational Affiliations:

Mosaic Mennonite Conference

Mennonite Church USA

Leading Pastors at College Hill Mennonite Church

Name	Years of Service
Alvin Weaver (1896-1997)	1952-1963
Amos O. Sweigart (1914-1970)	1963-1970
Larry J. Crumbly	1970-1973?
Leon Oberholtzer	1972-1973?
James C. Bucher	1974-1977
A. George Stoltzfoos	1977-1981?
James Bucher	1981-1983
John Moore	1983-1985
Roy Williams	1985-present

Membership at College Hill Mennonite Church

Year	Membership
1958	7
1960	20
1970	42
1980	43
1990	58
2000	76
2007	89

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

Tampa Mennonite Mission (Mennonite Church), 1407 Ida Street, Tampa, Florida, operated by the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, was the outgrowth of the missionary efforts of C. B. Byer and wife, who came to the city in 1927. It was also known as the Ida Street Mennonite Church. For a time, services were held in a tent on 15th Street; and in 1929, the present church was built. Work among the Spanish - speaking people (mostly Cubans) was carried on in rented buildings until 1946, when the property was bought at 1613 9th Avenue to serve as a meeting place and as kindergarten and first and second grades of school. The Ida Street mission and work among Latins (the Ybor City Mission) were considered one congregation until 1949. The membership in 1949 was 34. In 1952 the College Hill Mission at 3506 Machado Avenue was begun among African Americans. The membership in the three missions in 1958 was: Ida Street 20, with Martin Lehman as pastor; Ybor City 20, with Isaac Frederick; and College Hill 7, with Alvin Weaver. Ybor City conducts a Christian day school, called Sharon, with John Wenger as principal.

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "College Hill Mennonite Church (Tampa, Florida, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2020. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=College_Hill_Mennonite_Church_(Tampa,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=177026.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (November 2020). College Hill Mennonite Church (Tampa, Florida, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=College_Hill_Mennonite_Church_(Tampa,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=177026.

College Hill Mennonite Church (Tampa, Florida, USA)

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