Grand Prairie Church

(1886-1922?)

 The Gospel Messenger June 29, 1886 page 397 Vol. 24 No. 24

Organization of Grand Prairie Church, near Sidney, Neb.

 On June 5th the Brethren who have settled in the vicinity of Sidney, Nebraska, met at the house of Bro. W. C. Teeter for the purpose of organizing into a body.  Elder John Snowberger came to us by request and was leader in the work.  Certificates of membership were read and the church starts into the work with some thirty members.

Official members are as follows:-

  Ministers, brethren Leonard F. Love and William C. Teeter; deacons, brethren Esaias P. Garman and George E. Whistler.  Bro. Whistler and wife are now visiting in Montgomery Co., PA.

  We will soon have another minister, as Bro. John E. Young has located a claim among us and will make settlement in a few weeks.  We feel much encouraged, and with official members who have had experience in Church work, what doth hinder the Grand Prairie church from being prosperous! Certainly, God being our helper, we can do some good in the name of Jesus.

  A few of us were here last season and met each Lord’s day and studied God’s Word.  Twice we had preaching, once by Bro. P. A. Moore, of Ill., and once by J. E. Young of Beatrice, Neb.  Now, a goodly number of us are settled near together and we will have regular services and Sunday-school.  We have reasons to expect many more brethren and sisters to join us from the East, and may we not hope for many additions by baptism in the time to come?

  It might not be out of place to state that the Brethren here are all settled on home-stead’s and are well pleased with the county.  Many more Brethren might find it to their advantage to settle among us.  There is plenty of room.

  Brethren, pray for us that in the end we may be found faithful!

  We would be glad to see our brethren from the East at any time. And if those coming are ministers, we will have some work for them while among us. Elder John Snowberger, of Colorado, has change of the church.    O. D. Lyon, Clerk,    Sidney, Neb.

The Gospel Messenger Supplement Feb. 22, 1887 Vol. 25, No. 8

History of Grand Prairie Congregation

In the spring of A. D. 1885, the first members made permanent settlement in the district now known as the Grand Prairie Church, near Sidney, Nebr. Dur­ing that summer and fall, quite a num­ber took land in the county, and in this particular locality immediately south of Sidney, where the majority of them set­tled, they met at Bro. Teeter's place every Sunday, in Bible-class, with other citizens in attendance, to study God's Book, admonish and encourage one an­other in the Lord's work.

   As the spring of A. D. 1886 opened; more members sought homes in this new country, thus strengthening the religious sentiment which already prevailed.

    After these members got fairly settled and a consultation was had, it was agreed to call in Eld. John S. Snowberger, the nearest ordained bishop, for church organization. This was done on June 5,   when a new German Baptist Brethren Church was born in Western Nebraska, numbering about twenty members, with two ministers and one deacon.  Eld. Snowberger was selected by ' unanimous consent to act as shepherd of the little I flock, and accepted the charge with becoming modesty.

   Before fall several more were received   into fellowship, and on Sept. 25 a pleas­ant love-feast occasion was enjoyed by over twenty communicants, Eld. Snow­berger and Eld. D. Bechtelheimer offici­ating.

   At this writing, 'between thirty and I forty members are located, though not all have presented credentials, but it is hoped they will attend to this important matter in due time.

   Should this country fully develop in accordance with its present prospects, this' church will doubtless become an oasis to many who seek cheap homes in this sec­tion, of what was originally called the Great American Desert, but which is now turning into a fruitful field under the sub­duing influence of civilization and the hand of the Lord.

    At the time of organization this church decided to have public preaching every two weeks and Sunday-school every Sun­day which has been generally observed,   with a good interest manifested. Until about the middle of October services were held at Bro. T's home, 3 miles south of Sidney, but since that date at the Enter­prise school-house, 7 miles southwest of   Sidney.

   The Grand Prairie organization wel­comes earnest Christian workers to her church fellowship in this new country,   and would discourage meddlesome and continuously fault-finding members from settling in her borders, and thus disturbing her present peace and harmony.