Valleyview Bible Church celebrates 100 years of blessings

Members of the Valleyview Bible Church congregation in Cimarron, Kansas, gathered Nov. 1-2 to celebrate “100 Years of Blessings” marking the church’s centennial.  

“The spirit of the Lord permeated the atmosphere as friends and members from the past, as well as current members and friends, gathered to celebrate the goodness of God and reminisce over old times and praise God for his continuous ministry through the body of Christ,” says Liz Penner, VBC women’s ministries leader and women’s Bible study leader.

Celebration highlights

The celebration kicked off Saturday evening, with over 80 attendees enjoying an ice cream social and introduction of pastors from the past. 

Dustin Mulkey, former VBC youth pastor, began by leading attendees in songs of praise and worship. 

Former pastors gave brief reports, including Dave Froese; Stuart Pederson and his wife, Regina; and Darren Rempel and his wife, Sherry. The reunions were sweet and included some tears of joy. 

Sunday morning worship began with brief reports from the former pastors, including a video greeting and blessing from former pastor Marlin Hiett and his wife, Michelle. The praise team, led by Dennis Penner and his daughter and granddaughter, drew attendees into a spirit of worship with old hymns and newer choruses.  

Bob and Liz Penner presented a brief history of VBC, then Stuart Pederson delighted the children (and adults) with the resurrection of the puppets, Cactus Jim and Herman the German, a ministry that he began.

Dave Froese, former pastor for 14 years, presented the morning message. 

“He touched our hearts and encouraged us with his testimony of his miraculous healing and recovery,” Penner says.  

Pointing to Paul’s words in Philippians 1:3-11, Froese charged the congregation to continue in ministry at Valleyview by:

1. Keeping the gospel of Christ central in their personal walk with him.
2. Staying on mission as the goal in ministry and keeping the gospel of Christ and his love central to the ministry.
3. Living out the mission audaciously and boldly and reaching out to others with the purpose of sharing Christ’s love with others.

A fellowship meal of Hillsboro sausage, cheesy potatoes, zwieback, side dishes and desserts followed the morning service. Approximately 110 attended the meal, and many lingered to reminisce and fellowship together.

“All in all, it was a warm and encouraging weekend to encourage us to carry on the mission of VBC for the next 100 years—or until the Lord Jesus returns to take us home,” Penner says. “Come, Lord Jesus.”

History of VBC

In August 1922, farmers moving near Ingalls, Kansas, started home Sunday School classes based on the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith. In October, the group purchased a schoolhouse for $300—with an additional $5 for an outhouse—which was moved to a location 6 miles north of Ingalls. 

During the summer of 1925, this small group of MBs joined with another body of believers, the Mission Church. The MB group purchased the Mission Church building and began meeting at its location 8 miles north of Ingalls. Throughout 1925-26, the small group continued to grow and voted to move the building to a location 5 miles north of Ingalls and install a basement under it. They also built a parsonage at this location.

In March 1959, the Southern District Home Missions Committee recommended the church break up to expand the evangelistic outreach. One group moved to Garden City to establish the Garden Valley MB Church, while the other group voted to move the current building and parsonage to Cimarron. In November 1961, the group completed the move to Cimarron, adding an expansion wing to the church building and bricking both the church and parsonage. 

The Ingalls MB Church became the Cimarron MB Church, and in 1984, the congregation voted to add “Valleyview Bible” to the church name in order to more clearly describe its character and mission to the community.

The current facility located on north Highway 23 was dedicated in June 1979, with an addition constructed in July 1988.  

Church ministries

Church ministries over the years have included the AWANA program for children, youth programming, annual vacation Bible school programs, women’s ministries, a Valentine banquet, Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and MOPS, later MOMCO, a ministry for young mothers.

Historical photos

With files from Liz Penner and Valleyview Bible Church.

CL Staff

This article has been posted by Christian Leader staff. The Christian Leader is the magazine of U.S. Mennonite Brethren.