USA > Indiana > Adams County > Berne > A history of the First Missionary Church, Berne, Indiana : its origin, its people, its leaders, its auxiliary organizations, its growth, its new church home, its future > Part 2
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Two members of the church went to the foreign mission fields. Fanny Schindler went to Africa in 1924, Elda Amstutz to India in 1927. Sylvia and Leona Amstutz were doing home missionary work in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a number of years.
In 1925 the church first took part in the Summer Bible School of the Berne Community. The purpose of the school was expressed in Psalm 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." All the churches provided teachers for the school, which lasted five weeks. At one time nearly 800 children attended.
Rev. Henry E. Tropf was pastor of the church five years, 1930-1935. His ministry was characterized by devotion to the deep truths of God's Word.
Rev. C. H. Wiederkehr's pastorate was from 1936 to 1948. At the beginning of their ministry, Rev. and Mrs. Wiederkehr invited the
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children of the church to come to a children's meeting about one-half hour before the evening service. The children were thrilled and responded heartily. The group increased in numbers approaching one hundred. Mrs. Wiederkehr conducted the meeting, which Rev. Wiederkehr named "Children's Happy Hour." The children learned to listen carefully, they learned to pray and to give. Their pennies soon amounted to a good sum. It was through Mrs. Wiederkehr's vision, effort, and influence that the children's offering in the entire Missionary Church is given for the support of the children of the foreign missionaries.
The Children's Happy Hour has been continued under efficient leadership. Mrs. J. J. Klopfenstein, affectionately called "Aunt Mary", and her assistants did much to make the program attractive to children. There was always a Bible story, singing, prayer-time, and testimonies. Mr. and Mrs. Keith Amstutz and Mrs. Leroy Sprunger have been recent leaders. The children are now called Missionary Cadets.
In 1937 the church's name was changed to "The First Missionary Church."
Church with North Wing
In 1942 the church building was enlarged by an addition of 20 feet to the auditorium, along the north side. This provided for a larger platform for the pulpit, a place for the choir, and increased seating space. The basement of the addition had a room 20 by 48 feet. A 12 by 20 feet extended addition on the northwest corner provided a west entrance, basement and balcony stairways, clothes racks and library space. The second floor room was a class room; the basement room was used by the beginner's department.
The increased seating capacity in balcony and auditorium was about 100; in three class rooms it was about 75.
The approximate building cost was $11,000.00.
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In 1943 Rev. Wiederkehr began to issue the church bulletin from his office. It appeared in typed form with the picture of the church on the front page.
The weekly chapel exercises in the Berne-French High School were planned as a part of the school program. The local ministers spoke at these exercises. Later the rural high schools also provided for weekly chapel exercises. The Berne and rural pastors spoke at their con- vocations.
In Rev. Wiederkehr's pastorate a number of families of the Amish Christian Church were looking for a new church home. Some of them started attending services at the First Missionary Church. They received spiritual guidance and a friendly welcome from the church people. Rev. Wiederkehr gave them the desired counsel and guidance. About eight families attended the church services. Many of these decided to become members of the church. Among the family names were these: Inniger, Steury, Schwartz, Habegger, and Nussbaum.
In the early years of the Church the pastors conducted their own revivals. When the membership increased the people were better able to have an evangelist come to the church for revival meetings.
The church has had many good revivals. One or more revivals were now held annually. More emphasis was being placed on youth revivals. Many outstanding Bible teachers and evangelists have come to the church.
The evangelists in revival meetings in Rev. Wiederkehr's pastorate were: 1936 Rev. Dale Mitchell; 1937 Rev. Joshua Stauffer; 1938 Rev. Harold Wiswell; 1939 Rev. Edison Habegger; 1940 Rev. Q. J. Everest and Rev. Menno N. Amstutz; 1941 Dr. C. I. Armstrong; 1942 Rev. Kenneth Geiger and Rev. Edison Habegger; 1943 Rev. Anna Spellman, and Rev. Q. J. Everest; 1944 Rev. T. C. Henderson; 1945 Rev. George Hewitt; 1946 Dr. Jared F. Gerig; 1947 Rev. Forest Kuhn; 1948 Rev. Robert Strubhar.
Missionaries going to the foreign field were 1939, Luella Burley, India; 1940, Waldo and Cecil Schindler, Africa.
The Youth organizations date back to 1908, when the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized. In 1915, the teen age group, the Gleaners organization was started. The older group shortened its name to Young People's Society at this time, and con- tinued with this name until 1945. In the late twenties and early thirties a more aggressive young people's program began to develop. There was a need for a broader program to embrace the total development of youth under active and well-organized leadership. In 1945, the name, Missionary Youth Fellowship, was adopted as the official name of the young people's organization throughout the Association. A new and broader platform of objectives was incorporated in new by-laws ap-
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proved by the same conference. These include the promotion and development of the spirituality of the young people, edification through Scriptural knowledge, enlistment in evangelistic and missionary effort at home and abroad through existing organizations and the promotion of church loyalty and fellowship among the young people.
All districts are completely organized and carry on their programs under the supervision of the General Youth Director of the Missionary Church.
Rallies, youth camps, youth revivals, and the promotion of various types of projects have combined to enlarge and strengthen the program.
The local M.Y.F. organization is carrying this program under capable leadership.
The youth leaders in the church since 1945 are Kathleen Inniger, Mildred Hirschy, Gareth Wiederkehr, Merlin Inniger, Valier Amstutz, Christene Sprunger, George Hewitt, John Zuercher and LeRoy Sprunger. Five of these leaders are in active Christian work, four of them in foreign missionary work.
Rev. J. Pritchard Amstutz was pastor from 1948 to 1952. He initiated a new idea in church publications. "Missionary Echoes" official weekly news bulletin of The First Missionary Church was mailed to all members and friends of the church for ten months in 1951. About 225 copies were printed.
The regular church bulletin was printed by the Economy Printing Concern through the courtesy of C. H. Muselman and daughter, Pauline.
The missionaries who went to the foreign field were: 1949, Truman and Eileen Gottschalk, Ecuador, South America, and in 1950, Pauline Muselman; in 1950, Kathleen Inniger went to Japan.
The Men's Fellowship was organized in 1949. Don Grove was elected president by the small group of 13 men. The men have monthly meetings with an attendance of 30 to 40. They have guest groups oc- casionally, and also go to other churches as guests. They usually have a special speaker. Some of the men in this group, called "Pals," are con- tributing to a special fund which is used to pay young pastors in new churches which are unable to support them. This money goes to the Missionary Church Treasury, which sends the money were most needed. The Men's Fellowship is now called M M I, Missionary Men In- ternational.
Evangelists who held revivals in the church were: 1948, Rev. Blanchard Amstutz; 1949, Dr. John H. Paul, and Rev. Harold Walker in youth revival; 1950, Rev. A. F. Albro and Rev. "Jimmie" Gibson; 1951, Rev. Garret H. Phillips and Gerald Gerig in youth revival; 1952, Rev. Charles McHatten and Rev. Claude Richards in youth revival.
Rev. J. J. Klopfenstein came in 1952, and it was during his pastorate
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that the church on U S 27 South was built. He was keenly interested in the building program, but was even more concerned with the spiritual growth of the church.
In 1953 the by-laws of the church were amended. In 1956 they were made to conform with the Association constitution, which was amended by the Conference. In 1957 the new Association by-laws were accepted with regard to the voting age of members, selection of pastor, and membership of the church. The local by-laws were further amended to read: "Our local church fiscal year shall end on September 30 and open on October 1.
In 1956 the Reusser Memorial Home in Berne, Indiana, became a home for missionaries on furlough. In 1961 a new duplex was added to the home, thus making living quarters for four families. Some of the families living there worship at the First Missionary Church. This enriches the fellowship of the church.
Young people who entered Christian work are: 1952, Robert and Lorene Schrock, pastor, Pleasant Mills Baptist Church; 1952, Brice Fennig, pastor of Brethren Church, Howe, Ind .; 1953, Gareth and Treva Wiederkehr, missionaries, Sierra Leone, West Africa; 1954, Paul Amstutz, pastor of two Methodist churches, New Haven, Michigan; 1954, Roger Amstutz, pastor of Christian Church, Murray, Ind .; 1954, Merlin Inniger, missionary in Pakistan; 1956, Walter and Esther Bailey, pastor, Wauneta, Nebraska Missionary Church; 1957, John and Ber- nadine Zurcher, pastor Union Chapel, Bryant, Ind., and 1960, missionaries in Haiti; 1957, Martel and Anna Fennig, missionaries, Kenya Colony, East Africa; 1958, Tom Zehr, assistant pastor First Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, Ind .; 1958, Edward Amstutz, director Christian Education, Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida; 1959, Ernest Steury, missionary doctor, Kenya Colony, East Africa; 1960, Millard and Janean Moser, missionaries, Hong Kong.
The evangelists of this period were: 1953, Rev. Arthur Albro and Rev. George Hewitt; 1954, Rev. Edison Habegger; 1955, Rev. Robert Strubhar and Rev. Don Rohr, youth revival; 1956, Rev. Jared F. Gerig and Rev. C. W. Slemming; 1957, Rev. John Nussbaum and Rev. Paul E. Grabill in youth revival; 1958, Rev. W. O. Klopfenstein and Rev. Vernon Petersen in youth revival; 1959, Rev. Carl Bihl.
In 1952 the envelope system of giving was introduced. In 1953 a Budget and Finance Committee was appointed.
In 1936 the sum of $1049.37 was given for repairing and redecorating the church. After the work was paid, $216.00 remained in the treasury. This fund was named Building Fund. To increase the fund, ten per cent of the money in the various treasuries, except the foreign mission's and trustee's treasuries, was added to it. In 1942 the church decided that all funds received in excess of expenses and of missionary
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pledges (plus $200.00) be allotted to the Building Fund. The ten per cent payment to the fund was discontinued in 1945.
In 1946 a Building Fund Committee was appointed. All the treasuries except the foreign missions treasury were asked to make pledges to the fund. In 1948 and 1949 special offerings were received on a designated Sunday in each quarter of the year. The church board appointed a committee to present a plan to promote the building program.
In 1953 the Sunday-School superintendent, the trustees, and three other men served on the Building Fund Committee. In 1954 the group was named the Planning and Survey Committee. There were seven members besides the pastor, Sunday-School superintendent, and the Church Council. They studied the possibilities of enlarging the church building and counseled with architect Leroy Bradley of Ft. Wayne. He informed them that building an addition to the church was not ad- visable.
At the 1955 annual business meeting, the church approved the recommendation of the Planning and Survey Committee for a new site and a new church. The same year the church voted to purchase the site on U S Highway 27 South. The trustees bought a plot of ground between Stucky and Parkway Streets. It contained almost 6 acres and the cost was $1,000.00 per acre.
The Building Fund was growing steadily and was increased by the balance of the Anna R. Sprunger estate, which amounted to $3,195.16. The 1956 balance in the church treasury was transferred to the Building Fund. This was done again in the church years 1957, 1957-58, 1958-59, 1959-60. Seven more men were added to the Planning and Survey Committee.
At the semi-annual business meeting of 1956, the church gave the Planning and Survey Committee the authority to engage a licensed architect to make tentative plans for a new church building; the plans would be submitted to the church for approval.
Plans submitted on August 21, 1957, did not carry sufficient votes for adoption.
The church voted to continue the Building Fund offerings, and five more men were added to the Planning and Survey Committee. This committee now included the following men: Clyde Sprunger, Carl Amstutz, Leslie Sprunger, Albert Amstutz, Clifton Amstutz, Homer Amstutz, Oswin Amstutz, Virgil Amstutz, Jay Conrad, Menno S. Hir- schy, Homer Inniger, Rev. J. J. Klopfenstein, Harold Langham, Cyrus Lehman, Carl H. Muselman, Lorris Phillips, Vilas Schindler, Jerry Sprunger, Laverne Sprunger, Ornelle Sprunger, Frank Steury, Reuben Steury, John Zehr, Preston Zehr, Leroy Sprunger, and Melvin Sprunger.
Envelopes were used for Building Fund Offerings, and many members made substantial pledges. The Sunday-School decided to take
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a Building Fund offering on the last Sunday of each month. The Broadway Plan for Church Finance was explained, and the church voted to adopt the plan. The church also voted to build on the site purchased in 1955.
In a special business meeting held on August 20, 1958, a new plan was presented and explained to the church. The architect, Orus Eash, helped in presenting the plan. The Building Fund amounted to $97,362.17. The church accepted the plan and voted to begin con- struction as soon as possible.
The Planning and Survey Committee now became the Master Steering Committee, and a Master Building Committee was appointed. The men appointed were Leslie Sprunger, Carl W. Amstutz, Lorris Phillips, Clyde Sprunger and Laverne Sprunger.
Bids received were opened on April 21, 1959 and contracts were let on April 22 to the following: General Contractor, Merlin W. Habegger; Electrical and Resistance Heating, Reynolds Electric; Plumbing, Ventilation and Cooling, Liechty Brothers.
Orus Eash, architect, gave estimates received on well and pump, church pews, Sunday-School furniture, and kitchen equipment. Everything was in readiness to begin construction.
The Ground-Breaking Service was held on April 26, 1959, at the close of the morning service. The congregation went to the new church site and observed the ceremony on the exact spot where the church was to stand. The Men's Chorus sang and ground was broken by Rev. Klopfenstein, representative members of the Church Board and of the Building Committee, the Youth leader, the architect, and the Sunday- School children, under the direction of Mrs. J. J. Klopfenstein. Rev. Truman Gottschalk gave the benediction.
In the summer of 1959 the trustees of the church applied for a Charter of Incorporation in the State of Indiana. This charter enabled the church to authorize the selling of bonds under the Broadway Plan. The selling of bonds enabled the church to get funds needed for the building program. The Church Finance Committee included Clifton Amstutz, Jay Conrad, Menno Hirschy, Vilas Schindler, Jerry Sprunger and Carl H. Muselman. These men administered the sale of bonds, which totaled $125,000.00.
The building operation proceeded according to plans and schedule. The well for the heat pump reached a depth of 185 feet. After much preliminary work, the steel beams for the sanctuary were put in place. The Building Committee spent much time at the site.
Brick for the building came in three shipments. The men of the church unloaded the bricks and brought them to the building site.
The Corner Stone Laying took place on May 1, 1960. The first part of the service was held at the church on Water Street. The Men's Chorus
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sang, then Rev. J. J. Klopfenstein, pastor, and Rev. Tillman Habegger, Association president, and Rev. C. I. Birkey, Foreign Secretary, gave short messages. The congregation then proceeded to the new site, where the Men's Chorus sang again, Menno Hirschy offered prayer, and the deacons and trustees, assisted by the architect and builder, placed the corner stone. The congregation sang, and prayer was offered by Rev. Birkey and Rev. Habegger.
The Deacons assist in laying the Corner Stone Menno S. Hirschy, Oswin Amstutz, and Homer Inniger.
Corner Stone Contents in 1960
With items of the corner stone laid in 1908, these following things were placed in the box for the Corner Stone Laying of the new First Missionary Church of Berne, May 1, 1960.
1. A history of the church, brought up to date. Written by Miss Caroline I. Hirschy.
2. Pictures of the old White Church purchased in 1896, the brick church built in 1908, and the new church built in 1960.
3. Annual Church Reports for 1958 and 1959. These contain the present membership list, officers of all departments of the church and Sunday School, the new building Planning Committee, the. Building Committee, a report of church finances, etc.
4. A recent copy of the Missionary Church Association constitution and a copy of our by-laws.
5. A recent copy of the Missionary Worker.
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6. A Sunshine Makers acorn jug with 1960 coins in it, and a note in- serted telling of our children's work.
7. The names of our new building contractors.
8. A set of the leaflets describing the progress of the building operations.
9. A church bulletin of this date.
10. A copy of the Berne Witness of April 29, 1960 with a detailed an- nouncement of the corner stone laying.
The rectangular church facing the east stands in the middle of a five-acre plot about 300 feet from the highway. Two 60' X 200' black-topped parking lots are on the east part of the plot. Between these plots is a lawn area about 100' X 200'. Other lawn areas are along the north, south, and west sides of the building.
An open steel tower in front of the church lifts a large illuminated steel cross to a height of 45 feet.
The main part of the church building, the sanctuary, is in the form of a rectangular solid. It is flanked on the north and south sides by educational units; a smaller unit is on the west side. The dimensions of the sanctuary are 46 by 97 feet; the dimensions of the entire building are 103'5" by 141'3".
Ten large steel beams form the bones of the sanctuary. They rise 22 feet above the floor and support the 4-inch solid cedar decking. Eleven- foot brick-block-brick walls are on the south, west, and north sides. The upper part of the walls are made of white translucent kalwall panels. They extend down from the ceiling to the brick walls on the south, west and north sides. On the east side, the kalwall panels extend down from the ceiling 20 feet to a railing two feet from the floor.
The estimated seating capacity is 520 in the sanctuary, 140 in the balcony, 60 in the choir loft, and 80 in the overflow space of the foyer, or a total of 800.
The north side educational units are 18 by 140 feet and have folding doors. They provide Sunday-School facilities for the Youth Department and some adult classes. They are also used for Youth Fellowship serv- ices and as a fellowship hall for weddings and funerals. There is a small kitchen at the west end.
The south side educational units are 18 by 140 feet and are equipped with folding doors to provide room for the children's department of the Sunday-School, Children's Church, Missionary Cadets, and children's Wednesday evening meetings.
The 12 by 48 feet west side includes the pastor's study and three Sunday-School rooms. At the east end of the building are restrooms, a nursery, and a small office for the Sunday-School superintendent.
The temperature of the building is regulated by the Prop-R-Temp
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Typhoon Heat Pump. This pump heats in the winter, cools in the summer, and air-conditions at all times.
The acoustics of the church include speakers in the sanctuary, foyer, nursery, and in the north unit. Hearing aids are in several locations. The control booth is in the southeast corner of the sanctuary.
In the summer of 1960 two more committees were named. The Landscaping Committee included George Hewitt, Harold Langham, Ernest Amstutz, Ted Hirschy, Don Grove, Tillman Moser, Tillman Sprunger, Robert Amstutz, Arthur Fox, Franklin Steury, Lester Habegger, and Percy Gould. Between 40 and 50 men worked with this committee to prepare the lawn areas. The Parking Lot Marking Committee included Walter Schindler, James De Armond, Amos E. Moser, Delmar Neuenschwander, and Dee Jones.
Men and women helped in the cleaning of the new church. Win- dows were washed and general cleaning of floors, lights, and furniture was completed.
The beginning of the building of the church was a matter of faith coupled with much planning. Many people gave of their time, their money, and their talents. The guidance of God was very evident. The work was completed in August, 1960.
The first service at the new church was on Sunday, August 21. At the close of the service, the pastor asked the church board and representatives of the various organizations to kneel at the altar, rededicating themselves to the service of God. The entire congregation was asked to join in this prayer.
Church built in 1960
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Rev. J. J. Klopfenstein
The congregation quickly ad- justed to its new place of worship. The Sunday-School enrollment was nearly 400; more than 100 were children. There was a staff of 16 teachers and 21 assistants. The church had a mem- bership of 310.
Dedication services for the new church were held on October 2, 1960. There were 454 in Sunday-School, 480 in morning worship, 850 in the dedication service, and 355 in the evening service. Rev. C. H. Wiederkehr and Rev. H. E. Tropf, former pastors, spoke in the morning and evening services. Former members and friends came from a distance. God's blessing was on all the services.
DEDICATION SERVICE
OCTOBER 2, 1960, 2:00 P.M.
Organ Prelude GLADYS CHRISMAN
Hymn
CLYDE H. SPRUNGER, Director
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Scripture REV. G. ROBERT MAGARY Pastor, West Missionary Church REV. SAMUEL J. GRABILL
Prayer
Pastor here 1913-1919
Men's Chorus C. Kreutzer
"Praise To The Lord Today"
Greetings REV. GORDON NEUENSCHWANDER
President, Berne Community Ministerial Association
REV. CORNELIUS VLOT
Greetings Vice-President, Missionary Church Association
Solo "Bless This Church MRS. HOWARD LUGINBILL
Announcements
Offering
Church Choir
Will James
"Sing And Rejoice"
Dedicatory Sermon, "The Stewardship of Grace"
REV. TILLMAN HABEGGER President, Missionary Church Association
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Act of Dedication
Prayer of Dedication
REV. CLAYTON D. STEINER Superintendent, Central District of M.C.A.
Hymn
"To God Be The Glory"
Benediction
MENNO S. HIRSCHY
Assistant Chairman of the congregation
The total cost of the church was $272,273.19. It was completely paid in 1968.
An outdoor sign for the church was erected in 1961.
Family Hour for adults was begun in 1960. John Mason was president. Family Hour precedes the Sunday evening worship service and meets at the same time as the M.Y.F. and the Missionary Cadets.
In 1961 the old church building on Water Street was sold to the Grace Bible Church for $5300.00.
Rev. C. H. Wiederkehr returned as pastor in 1961 and continued until 1964. He did much to unify and strengthen the church. In 1962 the kitchen was needed for an extra Sunday School classroom.
In 1964 Kae Linnet Sprunger left for missionary work in Sierra Leone.
Evangelists were Rev. William Weston in 1962; Rev. Jimmie Gibson in 1963; Rev. Jay Kessler in a youth revival with Tom Zehr, chorister; and Rev. Wesley Gerig in 1963.
Rev. Gerald I. Gerig became pastor in 1964 and served until 1971. The church grew and prospered during this time.
The Mid-Week Messenger made its appearance on September 16, 1964. It is mailed weekly to every home in the church.
The radio broadcast of the Sunday evening service began on May 7, 1967, over Decatur WADM-AM-FM. The cost is $205.24 per month.
The church by-laws were changed by vote in 1965 and again in 1970.
A Christian Education Committee was appointed in 1966 to coordinate and direct the teaching ministry of the church.
Mrs. Leroy Sprunger had charge of the Sunday evening Children's Happy Hour from 1964 to 1966. Mr. and Mrs. Keith Amstutz directed the work from 1966 to 1968. In 1968 Mrs. Sprunger again took charge of the children, now called Missionary Cadets.
Two different building committees made careful plans for ex- pansion of the church facilities. Both plans were defeated, one in 1966 and one in 1970.
Rev. Gareth Wiederkehr became Minister of Visitation in 1968. Junior Church was begun on October 20, 1968, with Rev. and Mrs. Wiederkehr in charge of the children.
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The Sunday School attendance grew. Air-conditioners were in- stalled in the classrooms in 1969. In 1970 folding doors were purchased to provide for four more classes. Folding doors were also installed in the balcony.
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