History of Mission at Walnut Hill
The mission of Walnut Hill began with a vision for witness in the north Goshen community. In 1955 pastor Russell Krabill of North Goshen Mennonite Church said “Our north Goshen community is as much a mission field as India or South America” and led efforts to plant what became Walnut Hill Chapel.
The first steps in this witness to neighbors were starting a Sunday school outreach, boys and girls clubs, summer Bible school and chili suppers. After much work, the first Sunday school was set for Sunday morning May 20, 1956, at 806 North 6th Street. On that day, no one came. A week later four came, then two, then one. But workers did not quit because of the small response. They pressed on with a vision, believing that God was leading them. When they reached their highest attendance of 11 community people on August 19, 1956, they decided to purchase this property on the corner of Wilden and North 6th Street to build a church.
Seeds were sown, and just as surely as the seed sprouts and grows, God raised up a congregation. On October 16, 1956, 25 people met at the corner of Wilden and North 6th Street for a dedication ceremony. When asked, “Why do we break this ground?” the congregation answered, “Because we want to build for God (Nehemiah 4.1-6). Because we have received the command of Christ to spread the Gospel (Mt 28.19-20). And because we want to share the peace and joy of our own salvation (Acts 4.18-20).”
An average of 20 people met in the home of Ruth and Marvin Miller, Walnut Hill’s first pastor. The building was first used on August 12, 1957 and had an average attendance of 27 for the first year. Walnut Hill was clear about its work of witnessing and discipling. It stated as its mission: “1)To share the gospel with the unsaved of this community and to lead them to faith in Christ and membership in the church; 2) To establish and strengthen the Christian life of each member in the congregation through worship, instruction, fellowship, and service.” With this mission, Walnut Hill Chapel (our name for the first 33 years) began as a community church, but in time became a regional
church. While it assimilated few unchurched people from the neighborhood, Walnut Hill touched many lives through its next outreach.
Walnut Hill Day Care Center
In 1967 the Walnut Hill Day Care Center was established to serve childcare needs in the neighborhood. The center served only 3 or 4 children at first and struggled financially. But people had a vision, believing that God was leading them. When tested with uncertainty, the call was to have faith and pray. The center remained in the North Goshen neighborhood until the Walnut Hill Chapel building burned in 1989. At that point it moved to the Assembly Meeting House in Goshen. As the building was rebuilt, a decision was made to build without the day care ministry because of limitedsite size and state building codes. The daycare continued as a viable mission and ministry housed in the Assembly Meeting House. Walnut Hill continues to support the ministry via board member and financial contribution.
For some time Walnut Hill placed emphasis on its community life. From this sprang fellowship meals, a softball team, men’s breakfast, women’s fellowship and eventually small groups. These experiences of sharing and caring enriched Christian fellowship and established what remains as the chief strength of Walnut Hill today, a community of shared life together. The symbols from this period are our coffee mugs, the only things beside the cross and pulpit which would survive the future fire.
1989 Fire
Walnut Hill grew, filled its chapel space, and then remained on a plateau. What years of deliberation couldn’t do, God did with a fire. In October of 1989 a fire destroyed the building and united the congregation together in a common crisis. With God’s leading, the church passed through the crisis, clarified its identity and mission, rebuilt a larger facility, and renamed the church Walnut Hill Mennonite Church. At this time the church restated its mission: “We are a community of believers in Christ, committed to being the people of God… calling people to repentance, faith, and discipleship in the building of God’s Kingdom.”
Following the dedication of the building in January of 1991, a new focus was corporate worship. During the period between 1991-1995 the church experienced significant growth. After early shifts from mission to community, then from community to worship, the church has sought to refocus on mission.
Hesed House/911 House
In January of 1993, Walnut Hill started Hesed House as an outreach to young unwed mothers in crisis. Like the first worship service when no one showed up and when the Day Care had only three children, the Hesed House had its struggles. But people had a vision, believing that God led them to continue this outreach. Hesed House was an active ministry until June 2005.
The House at 911 was empty for a period. Community persons as well as congregational membership interested in providing a place for transitional ministry to those coming out of prison considered the house as a possible location in 2008. It became a Women’s transitional home for a period of 3.5 years. In 2012, the ministry closed the house at 911 6th Street and continued the ministry at a second location
in Elkhart. The House was then empty until the winter of 2012-2013 when someone secretly used the house for production of methamphetamine. The cost of rehabilitating the house was more than the congregation was willing to spend and it was taken down in the summer of 2013.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
In November of 1995 Walnut Hill opened its doors to the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless (IHN). This has provided shelter for and extended hospitality to homeless families in Goshen. At one point IHN nearly closed due to lack of funds. But people have had a vision, believing that God is leading them. And the funds have continued for this important ministry. From outreach efforts of the Day Care, Hesed House, and IHN the church has learned to “have faith and pray” to keep close to God and continue God’s work.
Other Mission Efforts
Other mission efforts have included outreach to South African students, community carnivals or picnics with Church of the Golden Rule (no longer in existence), involvement with the Chosen Ones Club, and service projects. Walnut Hill helped support Steve and Sharon Norton with planting a Mennonite church in Germany, continued summer service projects (SALT), and has supported a ministry, Peacemakers, through the efforts of Wes Higginbotham and Steve Thomas.
Pathways Retreat Center
Pathways Retreat Center was formed in 2006 by a small mission group including Linda and Steve Thomas and Rachel Schertz from Walnut Hill Mennonite Church and Julie and Bodie Stegelmann from Trinity Lutheran Church. Located on the north side of the city it is a contemplative day retreat center offering rest, reflection, and renewal with God. Walnut Hill was very supportive at the beginning of this ministry and continues to have congregational members who are involved in the ongoing mission of Pathways Retreat.
Today
While the church has engaged in these important ministries, it has discerned that God also calls it to be more intentional about reaching unchurched people and sharing new life in Christ. Returning to Christ’s commission and its founding mission, Walnut Hill is mindful that it is not only to disciple those within the church, but is to reach people outside the church. Walnut Hill seeks to faithfully serve its mission.
In December, 2012 a group of 8 was created to lead our congregation through a discernment process towards a decision of membership for those who are practicing same-sex relationships. The group’s work concluded in November, 2014. However, as a definite decision was not reached, the work was turned over to the elders for further discernment. An understanding of our mission and to whom it was directed influenced this discernment.
For more information read Celebrating God’s Presence Along the Way, the 50 year history of Walnut Hill to gain more information about our past. A copy is in the church library.
SALT
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” Seeking to be faithful to God’s mission, Walnut Hill has a history of reaching out to its neighbors near and far in various ways. Since the early 1990’s, one way we continue to do this is by annual outreach teams in different locations in our community, nation, and abroad.
The purpose of these annual teams is Sharing And Learning Together (SALT). While service may be a significant part of our projects, the aim is sharing and learning. We don’t seek to serve others in a one-way helping relationship. Rather, we engage in a dynamic two-way relationship of giving, receiving, and learning with each other.
The mission of Walnut Hill began with a vision for witness in the north Goshen community. In 1955 pastor Russell Krabill of North Goshen Mennonite Church said “Our north Goshen community is as much a mission field as India or South America” and led efforts to plant what became Walnut Hill Chapel.
The first steps in this witness to neighbors were starting a Sunday school outreach, boys and girls clubs, summer Bible school and chili suppers. After much work, the first Sunday school was set for Sunday morning May 20, 1956, at 806 North 6th Street. On that day, no one came. A week later four came, then two, then one. But workers did not quit because of the small response. They pressed on with a vision, believing that God was leading them. When they reached their highest attendance of 11 community people on August 19, 1956, they decided to purchase this property on the corner of Wilden and North 6th Street to build a church.
Seeds were sown, and just as surely as the seed sprouts and grows, God raised up a congregation. On October 16, 1956, 25 people met at the corner of Wilden and North 6th Street for a dedication ceremony. When asked, “Why do we break this ground?” the congregation answered, “Because we want to build for God (Nehemiah 4.1-6). Because we have received the command of Christ to spread the Gospel (Mt 28.19-20). And because we want to share the peace and joy of our own salvation (Acts 4.18-20).”
An average of 20 people met in the home of Ruth and Marvin Miller, Walnut Hill’s first pastor. The building was first used on August 12, 1957 and had an average attendance of 27 for the first year. Walnut Hill was clear about its work of witnessing and discipling. It stated as its mission: “1)To share the gospel with the unsaved of this community and to lead them to faith in Christ and membership in the church; 2) To establish and strengthen the Christian life of each member in the congregation through worship, instruction, fellowship, and service.” With this mission, Walnut Hill Chapel (our name for the first 33 years) began as a community church, but in time became a regional
church. While it assimilated few unchurched people from the neighborhood, Walnut Hill touched many lives through its next outreach.
Walnut Hill Day Care Center
In 1967 the Walnut Hill Day Care Center was established to serve childcare needs in the neighborhood. The center served only 3 or 4 children at first and struggled financially. But people had a vision, believing that God was leading them. When tested with uncertainty, the call was to have faith and pray. The center remained in the North Goshen neighborhood until the Walnut Hill Chapel building burned in 1989. At that point it moved to the Assembly Meeting House in Goshen. As the building was rebuilt, a decision was made to build without the day care ministry because of limitedsite size and state building codes. The daycare continued as a viable mission and ministry housed in the Assembly Meeting House. Walnut Hill continues to support the ministry via board member and financial contribution.
For some time Walnut Hill placed emphasis on its community life. From this sprang fellowship meals, a softball team, men’s breakfast, women’s fellowship and eventually small groups. These experiences of sharing and caring enriched Christian fellowship and established what remains as the chief strength of Walnut Hill today, a community of shared life together. The symbols from this period are our coffee mugs, the only things beside the cross and pulpit which would survive the future fire.
1989 Fire
Walnut Hill grew, filled its chapel space, and then remained on a plateau. What years of deliberation couldn’t do, God did with a fire. In October of 1989 a fire destroyed the building and united the congregation together in a common crisis. With God’s leading, the church passed through the crisis, clarified its identity and mission, rebuilt a larger facility, and renamed the church Walnut Hill Mennonite Church. At this time the church restated its mission: “We are a community of believers in Christ, committed to being the people of God… calling people to repentance, faith, and discipleship in the building of God’s Kingdom.”
Following the dedication of the building in January of 1991, a new focus was corporate worship. During the period between 1991-1995 the church experienced significant growth. After early shifts from mission to community, then from community to worship, the church has sought to refocus on mission.
Hesed House/911 House
In January of 1993, Walnut Hill started Hesed House as an outreach to young unwed mothers in crisis. Like the first worship service when no one showed up and when the Day Care had only three children, the Hesed House had its struggles. But people had a vision, believing that God led them to continue this outreach. Hesed House was an active ministry until June 2005.
The House at 911 was empty for a period. Community persons as well as congregational membership interested in providing a place for transitional ministry to those coming out of prison considered the house as a possible location in 2008. It became a Women’s transitional home for a period of 3.5 years. In 2012, the ministry closed the house at 911 6th Street and continued the ministry at a second location
in Elkhart. The House was then empty until the winter of 2012-2013 when someone secretly used the house for production of methamphetamine. The cost of rehabilitating the house was more than the congregation was willing to spend and it was taken down in the summer of 2013.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
In November of 1995 Walnut Hill opened its doors to the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless (IHN). This has provided shelter for and extended hospitality to homeless families in Goshen. At one point IHN nearly closed due to lack of funds. But people have had a vision, believing that God is leading them. And the funds have continued for this important ministry. From outreach efforts of the Day Care, Hesed House, and IHN the church has learned to “have faith and pray” to keep close to God and continue God’s work.
Other Mission Efforts
Other mission efforts have included outreach to South African students, community carnivals or picnics with Church of the Golden Rule (no longer in existence), involvement with the Chosen Ones Club, and service projects. Walnut Hill helped support Steve and Sharon Norton with planting a Mennonite church in Germany, continued summer service projects (SALT), and has supported a ministry, Peacemakers, through the efforts of Wes Higginbotham and Steve Thomas.
Pathways Retreat Center
Pathways Retreat Center was formed in 2006 by a small mission group including Linda and Steve Thomas and Rachel Schertz from Walnut Hill Mennonite Church and Julie and Bodie Stegelmann from Trinity Lutheran Church. Located on the north side of the city it is a contemplative day retreat center offering rest, reflection, and renewal with God. Walnut Hill was very supportive at the beginning of this ministry and continues to have congregational members who are involved in the ongoing mission of Pathways Retreat.
Today
While the church has engaged in these important ministries, it has discerned that God also calls it to be more intentional about reaching unchurched people and sharing new life in Christ. Returning to Christ’s commission and its founding mission, Walnut Hill is mindful that it is not only to disciple those within the church, but is to reach people outside the church. Walnut Hill seeks to faithfully serve its mission.
In December, 2012 a group of 8 was created to lead our congregation through a discernment process towards a decision of membership for those who are practicing same-sex relationships. The group’s work concluded in November, 2014. However, as a definite decision was not reached, the work was turned over to the elders for further discernment. An understanding of our mission and to whom it was directed influenced this discernment.
For more information read Celebrating God’s Presence Along the Way, the 50 year history of Walnut Hill to gain more information about our past. A copy is in the church library.
SALT
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” Seeking to be faithful to God’s mission, Walnut Hill has a history of reaching out to its neighbors near and far in various ways. Since the early 1990’s, one way we continue to do this is by annual outreach teams in different locations in our community, nation, and abroad.
The purpose of these annual teams is Sharing And Learning Together (SALT). While service may be a significant part of our projects, the aim is sharing and learning. We don’t seek to serve others in a one-way helping relationship. Rather, we engage in a dynamic two-way relationship of giving, receiving, and learning with each other.