Beginnings of Beth-El Mennonite Church

• From a Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper clipping dated October 1, 1956: “
  • There has been a growing conviction with many members of the First Mennonite Church of Colorado springs that the witness of the church should expand within our city. During the past few years, several attempts have been made to make this expansion possible. At this point, it appears to some that the logical way to implement this program of evangelism and enlargement of the Mennonite witness would be to form another fellowship of Mennonites in the city, to work independently of the existing church (sic. First Mennonite). This is not being done with a spirit of ill will toward others with whom they have been working and enjoying fellowship. The decision comes out of a strong conviction and a deep sense of stewardship to God; and feeling that such action is necessary to the expansion of the program of Christ. This group will be subject to the South Central Conference and wishes to cooperate with them in all matters of church administration and discipline. They have asked Jess Kaufman to be their pastor. A full-scale program of evangelism and church activities will be started as fast as expedient. All persons who share in the convictions and the concerns of this interest group are welcome.”
• The temporary church home for the congregation was in the La Placita Room of the downtown YWCA building, corner of Nevada & Kiowa. The building now contains a restaurant and businesses. Their first bulletin was put together for the Sunday morning service on October 7, 1956. The front cover reads:

“The Church’s Debt to the World.”
Pastor Jess Kaufman
Adult Superintendent: Bob Goff
Primary Superintendent: Mary Zercher
Sunday School 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 am

• According to the first bulletin, here is Beth-El’s original purpose statement: Extending and enlarging a Gospel witness in our city. A newly formed Mennonite Fellowship for Colorado Springs. Organized for the purpose of providing a church home for Christians desiring to use the church as an avenue for Christian service, and glorify Christ through true discipleship and complete obedience to his teachings.
• The first meeting of the WMSA (Women’s Mission and Service Auxiliary) for the newly established church was held on October 12, 1956, at the Willis and Matilda Kanagy home in Manitou Springs with 7 ladies present: Luetta Brenneman, Edna Brian, Myrtle Friesen, Fern Groff, Matilda Kanagy, Elizabeth Shetler, Mary Zercher.  Other ladies of WMSA not present at the time were Melva Brunk, Mary Cooke, Kathryn Miller, Erna Shetler, Ardis Wilson, Miriam Klopfenstein, Agnes Kaufman, Viola Kaufman. 
• Willis Kanagy notes: “There was a strong feeling the new church should be more evangelical and reach out in the community. One group of three or four people wanted to leave “Mennonite” out of the name.”
• By the end of 1956, with regular attendance around 60, the name “Beth-El Mennonite Church” was chosen, first appearing on December 23, 1956. In that bulletin was a paragraph describing how the name had been chosen and explaining the meaning as a house of God: “It will be our challenge to make both the names Beth-El and Mennonite mean what they should. Names mean nothing if we are not willing to represent the things that the name connotes.” … “We have been presented with an open door for expanded ministry and outreach: Prison Ministry, which will involve Bible studies every Friday night, leading a worship service every other Sunday.” 

Moving to a New Home

• “God has been very good. May we be truly thankful for all his blessings to us. A property had been purchased on the corner of Yuma and Uintah Streets. A Building committee was working on plans, and a groundbreaking service was held on July 26, 1959. Willis Kanagy agreed to be the building contractor.” 
• The property was purchased at the extreme Eastern edge of town from a turkey farmer. The site was located on top of an empty hill overlooking Knob Hill and the slowly encroaching city to the Southwest. As the building contractor, Willis Kanagy noted: 
  • “Later I realized that I first should have said, ‘On one condition – that you get out of my way and let me do it.’ After forty years in the construction business, I didn’t need a committee to build a building…. The plans were based on an L-shaped building, along the line of the church in Glenwood Springs…. We started construction in 1959 and finished in 1961. It took so long because we almost ran out of money. We were only able to finish it after it was decided to sell bonds to raise enough money. The wood arches were up without a roof for most of one winter. Before the roof was on, the tall window for the front of the building had been delivered and was leaning against an inside wall. One night there was a big wind storm and the next morning, the window was lying flat on the floor of the entry – without a single pane of glass broken.” Amen

Other notable highlights items from the late 1950s:

• Just over two years after its founding – in early 1959 – the church was anticipating the coming of a new pastor, Paul Wittrig. 
• “The Beth-El basketball team was defeated by the Bethany Baptist team, 73 to 44, with this added note: It was a better game than the score would indicate. We are proud of our team, nevertheless.”
• Sunday evening Bible studies were based on the life of Joseph. Several persons helped with the local MCC canning project, canning 98 cans of meat, 32 cans of lard, and 440 can of broth. The total for the entire project was the canning of 3,193 turkeys. 
• There was choir practice, midweek Bible study and prayer meeting, WMSA. 
• And continuing the pattern of interest in the activities of members Louetta, Tommy and Kathy Brenneman left on Saturday p.m. on the Rocket for Milford, Nebr. They expect to be gone a week visiting her parents. 
• There were 8 students from the congregation away at college: 3 at Goshen, 4 at Hesston, and 1 at the Univ of CO. Names included: Klopfenstein, Cooke, Rich, Kaufman, Groff, Zercher, Wittrig, Friesen, Charles, Brian, Troyer, Gillis, Vengin, Miller, Freed. 
• Brother & Sister Landis have moved to their new home at 1428 Pikes Peak. 
• The Millard Hostetter family from Hope, Kansas are visiting the Pete Shetter home for a few days. Last Saturday and Sunday Joan and Jess Gillis were patients at the St. Francis hospital. The reason? Tonsillectomy.

Faith and Practice

• The early 1960s saw the church struggling for stable leadership under Paul Wittrig and Earl Yeackley. Cliff King followed until Darrel Otto became pastor who stabilized the church over the first longer tenure, 1963-1968.
• Beth-El started with the idea of being more evangelistic and outgoing in the community. The Rocky Mountain Mennonite Conference formed in the early 1960s, and Beth-El was immediately a part of the conference. Most women wore head coverings in the early 1960s, but this practice was gradually dropped by the end of the decade. No formal action was taken regarding this change. One of the defining practices of the early congregation was its openness to accepting people who were divorced. While divorce was frowned upon, the Beth-El community did not reject divorced persons and accepted them into church life.
• Beth-El was a singing and a service-oriented church, with outstanding choirs led by Virgil Brenneman and Cliff King. In 1965 the choir had 37 persons in the spring program and 45 in the Christmas program. The choir traveled extensively to give programs in Denver and the Arkansas Valley. The church also took part in service projects, including cutting logs for the Pleiades cabin at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in 1963 and sending workgroups to clean and build Barr Camp. Bethel participated in the Billy Graham Crusade in Denver in 1965. In November-December 1965 Bethel had a Stewardship Emphasis Campaign with an attempt to visit every home via 2 people teams explaining the church program and future goals.  In the early ’60s the WMSA continued to meet all day in homes the first Thursday of each month until the church building was finished. 

Physical Structures

• The laying of the cornerstone for the new church building occurred on Sunday, Dec 18, 1960. A packet was placed in the corner-stone containing a Bulletin of the morning service and two bulletins of the afternoon corner-stone laying service, with the signatures of each person attending. The package also contained the 1960 annual report for Beth-El. On July 7, 1963, (two weeks short of four years after the groundbreaking service) a dedication service was held for the new building.  Beth-El’s third pastor, Darrell Otto, was installed on that same day. Interim pastor Clifford King, who led the devotional and prayer, stated:
  • “God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to grow as a community of grace, joy and peace, so that God’s healing and hope may flow through us to the world. That includes both being and doing.”
• The parsonage (which became the Fellow Center) was also built-in 1963.  The congregation first worshipped using chairs in the main sanctuary. There were no rugs on the floor. In 1966 Folding chairs in the sanctuary were replaced by pews, and folding doors were installed as dividers in the basement.

Other notable highlights from the 1960s:

• In 1963, Delmar Reil was Adult S.S. Superintendent, Joe Cooke, a retired Lt.Colonel, was church treasurer, Virgil Brennemen was Board Chairman and a driving force of the church. Lester Roth was an Elder.
• Many 1-W’s served at Memorial and Penrose Hospitals entered into the life of the church.
• On April 6, 1963, the pastor married Terry and Millie Troyer. On June 29, 1963 the church was invited to the wedding of Francis Shetler and Beatrice Miler in Indiana. Mona Bebe King was Primary Superintendent in 1964-1965.  Dr. Floyd and Edy Miller began attending in 1967. Venita King was appointed Asst.Organist in 1968.

Ministering Together

• In the 1970s the number of young people greatly increased, and it was a good time for the Mennonite Youth Fellowship (MYF). The MYF Convention at Estes Park in 1977 started a long line of very successful youth conventions still continued today.  Three of the Schrock children were baptized in the ’70s, and after a weekend Rocky Mountain Mennonite Conference they would come home and ask, “When’s the next conference?”  
• During the 1970s the WMSA also continued its strong emphasis on service. In 1971 WMSA changed the name to the Women’s Missionary and Service Commission (WMSC). WMSC president for 1979 was Shirley Beadles, and 1980 was Barb Eichelberger.  Throughout 1979 the WMSC worked on a quilt for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) relief sale in Rocky Ford.  The WMSC also organized a Self-Help-Sale in 1980, netting $1,000 for MCC.  MDS roofed Martha Needle’s garage.
• In September of 1971 Beth-El assisted in the Leighton-Ford Evangelistic Reachout at Memorial Park with counseling, ushering, and in the choir. Ford is the brother-in-law of Billy Graham. Tim Irvin, a former astronaut to the moon, gave his Christian testimony at one of the meetings.
• Frontier Boys’ Village (FVB) closed on September 1, 1978. FBV’s history goes back to 1960 when the Barnabas Club was organized to establish a campsite providing rehabilitation programs for delinquent boys. FVB was set up in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp Association and the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities. Harlan Unrau wrote the history entitled: “Frontier Boys Village” in March 1985 (47 pages).
•  The Evangelism and Social Concerns committee resettled two Laotian refugees in Colorado Springs and helped with clothing, food, employment, medical care, education, and housing.
• Nine workers from Beth-El participated in a Mennonite Disaster Service project to clean up the Manitou Springs City Cemetery following the tornado of June 24, 1979.

Other notable highlights from the 1970s:

• A number of pastors were present in the 1970s, including the addition of a youth pastor for the church in 1978 and 1979.  
• Sunday school superintendents in the late 70’s were Don Bauman, Ed Schrock, Edy Miller, Arnie Miller, Cleta Gingerich, and Irene Schrock. Adults sponsored four classes: Elective Class, International Lesson Class, Mennonite Youth Fellowship Class, and Young Adult Class. A summer bible school was conducted with First Mennonite Church. Organizers for the bible school were Rae Shellenberger and Pam Rediger.
• Other people active in the church during the early ’70s were: Elders: Eugene Miller, Arnold Miller, Pollard Byler, Wally Shellenberger, Richard Harms, Vernon Reeb, Wayne Troyer, Ed Schrock, Myrtle Friesen. Organist/pianists for the congregation were Cheryl Bauman, Bea Shetler, Hildegard Miler.  Floyd Miller became moderator of the Rocky Mountain Conference board in 1972. This was the first Mennonite conference board in the United States to be run by a lay leader.
• From the Spring of 1978 to the Spring of 1980 attendance and giving to the church increased by 50%.  
• 1978 began with Darrel Otto serving as interim pastor, with Willard Conrad taking the reins as permanent pastor on May 1, 1978. Elders: Wally Shellenberger, Richard Harms, Clair Brenneman. The church historian was Stan Brunk. Clifford King continues as Chairman of the Board. On July 9 the 50th wedding anniversary of Paul and Effie Wittrig was celebrated.
• Membership in 1978 was Resident 105, Non-resident 38. The church historian’s report was submitted by Oleta A. Havelock. Chorister/organists/pianists at the time were Neil Hartzler, Lois Byler, Cliff King, Ed Schrock, Bea Shetler, Dwayne Bauman, Cheryl Bauman, Elaine Zook, Reyna Miller, and Marj Freed.
• Drainage from the parking lot into the Fellowship Center basement was a continuing problem. Grading of the parking lot was done to accommodate 66 cars and alleviate the drainage issues.  Railroad ties anchored with bars into the ground were installed as wheel stops. A tool storage shed was proposed for the Southeast corner of the lot. The year 1979 included the addition of a new roof to the church building.
• Pastor’s sermons were been taped from the beginning of 1979, and made available for checkout. After 3 weeks tapes are reused. 
• September 8-9, 1979: Fall Retreat at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp.

Navigating Transitions

• Beth-El celebrated its 25th anniversary the weekend of Oct 3-4, 1981. Over 140 letters of invitation were sent out to former members, 1W, and Voluntary Service workers who attended in the past. The anniversary celebration was attended by 160 people. Stan Brunk, assisted by Lyonell Unruh, prepared a display of various memorabilia and pictures. 235 people attended the Sunday morning service. The time capsule in the cornerstone of the church, placed there in 1960, was opened in the service. An hour-long “Musical Recollections” program was attended by 302 persons. Willard and Hettie Conrad served as hosts at the guest book table.  
• In March 1982, Beth-El decided to encourage the formation of a congregation in the Palmer Lake/Monument community to be established by October 1982. On Oct 3, 1982, the first service of Mountain Community Mennonite Church was held in Palmer Lake. Beth-El hosted the Rocky Mountain Spring Conference in late April. MDS coordinated the clean-up efforts in Estes Park during July after a man-made dam in Rocky Mountain National Park broke, releasing floodwaters through the town of Estes Park. On July 17 a group from Beth-El went to Estes Park to help move personal belongings out of wrecked house trailers. The group included Rick Shellenberger, Rick Barnes, Jake Eichelberger, Tom and George Crago (with Janet’s father), Tony Miller, and Dennis Myers.  
• In the 1984 report of the administrative board chairman, Carl Gusler notes: “In the last three years we have maintained the size of our membership while ‘giving up’ forty members to start a new congregation at Palmer Lake”. 
• Beth-El adopted a new constitution in 1986. The Administrative Board changed into a Church Council consisting of a chairman, treasurer, secretary, Pastor(s), and one representative from a minimum of five congregational commissions. The commissions at the time were Board of Elders, Church Property, WMSC, Music, Worship, Family Life, and MYF.
• Doug Swartzentruber, Council Chair, writes: “During 1987 many ideas turned into reality: A hospitality committee, newsletter, long-range planning committee… The final payment was made on the church mortgage. The Church Council recommends that the money formerly designated for the mortgage be added to the Church Building Fund”.

Faith in Action

• In March the church embarked on the mission of opening an MCC Self Help Store. The steering committee consisted of Edy Miller, Chair; Vileen Hostetler, Secr., and Jana Preheim, Treasurer. By April it was announced at Beth-El that the name for the Self-Help Store was “Friends of the World Market Place”.  Stan and Marlene Kropf led seminars for the three Mennonite churches in the area on how to run the store. In March Marvin Miller was hired as the new store manager beginning, to begin work in September. A potluck celebration was held for the store opening in June.
• Merlin Gingerich writes for the Evangelism and Social Concerns Committee that the primary functions of the committee were planning for Senior Citizens Opportunity for Program Enrichment (SCOPE) and soup kitchen towel pick-up. 
• During 1985, MDS helped with a construction project at the East Holbrook Church near Cheraw, CO on February 3rd.
• A budget surplus of $3,304 was distributed as follows: $1200 Phil Benner $ 955 Mennonite Board of Missions $ 705 Rocky Mountain Conference $ 143 Hesston College $ 126 Goshen Seminary $ 95 Mennonite Board of C.Ministries $ 55 Minority Education $ 25 Mennonite Board of Education.
• On January 28 a baptism service was held for Jennifer Hartzler, Sara Hill, Jason, David and Philip Burkholder, Philip and Mary Harms, and Heidi Kinsell. In one year the church dedicated several infants: Amber Nicole (Merlin and Phyllis Gingerich), Dustin Roupp (Steve and Janelle Diller), Matthew Brian (Dale and Barb Daugherty), Laura Michelle (Dale and Jacque Sanchez).
• Stan Hill collected personal stories of Alternate Service and Voluntary Service from people at Beth-El.  He compiled these stories into a 125-page book entitled “Stories of Peace and Service”.  Copies of the book were made available to the congregation.  Among the contributors within the congregation were Frank Brunk, Arlin, and Maretta Buller, Glen Crago, Richard Harms, Neil Hartzler, Stan Hill, Willis Kanagy, Bob King, Mary Kratz, Floyd Miller, Marvin Miller, Violet Miller, Vernon Reeb, Roy Sharp, Ed and Irene Schrock, Doug Swartzentruber, Dorothy Troyer, Terry Troyer, Lyonell Unruh, Arletta Unzicker, and Ray Yeakley. 

Seeing Jesus across the Globe

• Nate and Elaine Zook Barge shared their experiences in El Salvador serving with MCC.  A group of church members went to Brazil this year to help build a school in a small village. Ed and Irene Schrock reported on the mission to Brazil in August. 
• Allen and Bernelle Kanagy talked about their work with Wycliffe in Brazil.
• Several outreach projects during the year included support a local health clinic, the training of six local women in community health, and assembling school kits for Bangladesh children.
• Ed and Irene Schrock shared about their two-week work camp in Bolivia.
• Jim and Susan Jantzen shared their MCC experience in the country of Chad.
• Phil and Dorcas Benner visited the church in July and shared about their work with Wycliffe Bible Translators.
• Then in 1983, WMSC proceeds from the Silent Christmas Auction went to renovating our church kitchen and digging a village well in Africa. WMSC officers were Edy Miller, Kathy Pankratz, Judy Stolzfus, Irene Schrock, Janet Sharp, Lisa Kornhaus, and Elaine Stjernholm.

Other notable highlights from the 1980s:

• Installation of elder Irene Schrock, Beth-El’s first female elder, was on January 15.
• WMSC had an average attendance of 20 women.  The WMSC Mother-Daughter banquet in May was attended by 75. The WMSC quilt for the MCC sale brought $290. The WMSC put on a silent auction in December which netted $245.45. The Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center was supported by donations from the WMSC. The Brotherhood Fund started the fiscal year with $444 and received contribution Four families received contributions from the BF throughout 1981.
• Rocky Mountain Mennonite Conference was again held at Beth-El in May.  Several singing groups presented programs at the church this year, including the Bel Canto Singers from Hesston College Bel Canto, and the Choraleers from Pennsylvania.  
• The church held its annual retreat on September 14-15 at RMMC.
• Marriages included: Sally Steckly and Mervin Bender (December 20, 1984), Carolyn Stalter and Raymond Beggs (Pueblo, January 17), Verla Acker and Neil Hartzler (May 25), Bryan Miller and Jodi Derestine (Goshen, IN May 25), Jeanette Hertzler and Jerry Martin (RMMC August 17), Bernadette DuBois and Scot Rantzel, Tony Unzicker and Carol Snyder (June 24), Brad Schrock and Katrina Esch (September 20), Ann Gusler and Pat Vendrely. On May 27 Willis and Matilda Kanagy celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. A wedding shower was held for Chuck and Judy Kanagy on May 22.
• The Pastor’s Office was established in the Fellowship Center for the first time, and the church secretary was also given office space. 
• The Board of Elders consisted of Merlin Gingerich, Carl Gusler, Irene Schrock, and Loren Gingerich. The Property Commission consisted of Bryan Miller, Jim Miller, Mel Troyer. They completed a new PA system, a retaining wall on the south side of the Fellowship Center, a new layer of rocks on the parking lot, new carpet in the church basement, painting the exterior of both buildings, and a new church sign.
• The Property Commission (Bryan Miller, Dan Gillis, Jim Miller, Mel Troyer) had a shorter improvement list than the previous year: Replaced the church foyer carpeting, placing the protective film on the west foyer windows, completing new sign installation, replacing sidewalk sections, and painting of the exterior of Fellowship Center. 
• Sunday School superintendents for the year were Paula Brunk Kuhns, Dianna Harms, Sue Gillis, Eleanor Bowman, and Marvin Miller. The superintendents held Vacation Bible School in June.
• In the 1988 annual report Floyd Miller, Council Chair, writes: “In March 1988 there was good discussion and agreement that the church would benefit from a Photo Album Directory. The Hospitality Commission is giving leadership for the project and Bryan Miller has finished the photo sessions.” The photo album was made available to new people in the church in order to get familiar with faces and names. 

A Church on the Move

• Carl Gusler writes in his 1993 Interim Congregation Chair’s report “The benchmark events in the life of Beth-El Congregation in the last year include:

  • The resignation of the pastor effective September 30, 1993. 

  • The opening merger conversations with First Mennonite Church in October 1993 at their request. 
  • Conversations with Marlin Thomas that gives members of the congregation opportunity to review the history of the congregation.
  • The renovation of the sanctuary and the fellowship center to improve wheelchair accessibility.”
• In late September 1995, the congregation said good-bye to Marlin and Jan Thomas after two years of interim ministry. They served the congregation well with counseling, pastoring, and guiding our church in healing and new growth. Also in September, the congregation welcomed Merv Birky as our new pastor. Merv, Venita, Kara, J.J., and Andrea Birky came to us after serving 17 years at West Union Mennonite Church in Iowa. The whole family quickly became an integral part of our congregation.
• The congregation continues to grow and flourish. There are many college students from Beth-El in both church-related schools and state universities. It is widely acknowledged that the church facilities have achieved their maximum potential. A facilities study group has been formed to study possible solutions to the “overcrowding” situation. The church has run out of Sunday School rooms and is using the back of the sanctuary. Proposals have been made to either purchase new land, buy a larger existing church, or remodel Beth-El. Librarian Harvella Stutzman writes that the following magazines are available for reading: The Mennonite, and Mennonite Weekly Review. 
• On November 12, 1999, Beth-El purchased property at Union and Garden Ranch for the future site of Beth-El Mennonite Church. The property consists of 10 acres (including hillside), with approximately 6 acres of buildable land. The church is reviewing several different site plans, including one with two acres for housing. Doug Swartzendruber writes for the Relocation Steering Committee: “Special thanks go to Irene Schrock and Jerry Martin for being part of the Relocation Oversight Group, to Bryan Miller and the Finance Group, to Lyonell Unruh and the Concept Design Group, to Dan Gillis and Brad Brunk for their commitment to the project, to Merv Birky and the Elders for their support and contributions, and to Brent Rychner for the numerous legal documents and banking activities he took care of.”

Other notable highlights from the 1990s:

• In 1990, the Board of Elders (Richard Harms, Marvin Miller, Neil Hartzler, Karen Hill) reported that the Fall Bible Conference featured Erland Waltner leading us in a Spirituality/Scripture seminar. Wednesday Evening Prayer and Praise services were initiated, with an average attendance of 20. The congregation voted to celebrate communion each quarter of the year.
• Stanley Hill, chair of the Church Council, writes in his 1991 report: “The Persian Gulf war occupied much of our thoughts and prayers. May was busy with the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Conference’s annual convention hosted by Beth-El. A Mission statement was adopted by the congregation this year.”
• The 1992 Church Council Report states: “A computer was purchased for the church office, thanks largely due to Bryan Miller for research. Bea Shetler is currently learning how to use the computer with guidance from Bryan.”  
• Beth-El participated with a Harrisonville Missouri church on a work project. We also helped with a building project in Chinle, Arizona. The Hesston College Bel Canto Singers visited.

•  The conversation about the joining of the First Mennonite Church and Beth-El congregations was a unique point in the life of Beth-El. Beth-El was open and receptive to the idea of growing strengthening our Christian ministry in Colorado Springs by building a larger congregation with more resources and ideas.

  • In 1994, Jerry Martin writes in his Congregational Chair’s Report “In February 1994 the Merger Committee completed an extensive study and report on joining with First Mennonite Church. We did not merge, but our congregation benefited from reflection about purpose and goals.”
• In 1997, Willis Kanagy, building contractor for the Beth-El church and resident in Manitou Springs for 62 years, died in Orville OH on July 8. He was born in Ohio on October 7, 1899.
• Carl Gusler writes in his 1998 Administrative Elder Report: “The children’s story in our morning service now has a regular attendance of 20-30 children.”
• The Mennonite Women Executive Committee consists of Edy Miller, Eulala Pegram, Sue Gillis, Millie Troyer, Tammy Roth, and Laurie Rychner. There was an average attendance of 23 ladies at the Mennonite Women gatherings. 
• Mission Highlights: Erland Waltner spoke at three different sessions. Arlin and Andrea Buller reported on their trip to USSR with an international Mennonite Choir. Wycliffe translators in Brazil, Allen and Bernelle Kanagy, also gave a report on their travels. Ed & Irene Schrock were commissioned for their work in India.

A New Vision

• As a part of the 1997 Visioning Process, the congregation had identified several primary goals. 1) Expanding the size of our facility; 2) Hiring a youth pastor; 3) Strengthening our Welcoming and our Outreach in the community.
• With land having been purchased in late 1999 and preliminary plans in place for a new building, we continued to meet at the Uintah (Yuma Street) building. There was discussion about a new vision, new ways we could be “church” together. We saw new emphasis on prayer with an after-service prayer team put in place so folks with more private prayer concerns could be heard and supported. A prayer support group began to meet with Merv for prayer before services. Not everything was changing but there was a new awareness that changes were coming.
• From October 2004 to September 2005, the Vision Team met and discussed the next 5-year vision for Beth-El, the process included:
  • developing a more outward focus that emphasizes mission/service beyond the “already enfolded.”
  • improving our capacity to communicate & live the Good News by entering into “life conversations” that express the grace, hope, and peace of God.
  • Lifting up from our Anabaptist theological legacy that which inspires, while releasing any stifling entrapments from that legacy
  • Building on our strengths while being open to new activities, forms and structures that increase our effectiveness in ministering to specifically identified peoples.
• The Vision Team also developed a list of 8 Qualities of Beth-El:

1. Empowering Leadership
2. Gift-oriented Ministry
3. Passionate Spirituality
4. Functional Structures
5. Inspiring Worship
6. Need-oriented Evangelism
7. Holistic Small Groups
8. Loving Relationships

• Some of the ministries Beth-El is excited about exploring in the new millennium are:
  • Send a mission team to help rural churches build new facilities.
  • Create a Center for Peace & Reconciliation in Colorado Springs.
  • Offering information, seminars, and training in peace studies to other ministries.
  • Staff and house a preschool as part of a community outreach program in the new facility.
  • Become a home base for church planting and establishing other Mennonite Churches in Colorado Springs. 

Service & Growth

• It became apparent that the third 1997 goal could not wait for the first two to be completed. In 2002, the Pastor initiated a Welcoming Team to help us focus on expanding our capacity in genuinely welcoming all who entered our doors. That ministry grew to become a key part of the church’s growth over the next decade and beyond. Information and counsel was received from other churches (both Mennonite and others), workshops were held, and principles and stories were told to help us all become more aware of, and intentional about, extending a significant, ongoing welcome to everyone. This Team, along with the Prayer Ministries, became a significant, strong, behind-the-scenes foundation for Beth-El’s growth during these years. Ed Schrock wrote in the April 2005 Tie that Binds that, “our visitors are our biggest advertisers.”
• In 2007, Irene & Ed Schrock served 3 months with Mission Builders in Kalk Bay, South Africa. 
• The Beth-El Congregation also helped support those who fled from Hurricane Katrina with donations to a shelter run by Vern Kauffman’s sister in Northern Mississippi.
• We witnessed a new vision for participation in Mennonite Disaster Service from within our group. When Ed and Irene volunteered to serve in Jamaica after a major hurricane severely damaged a school, the congregation covered most expenses for another nine of us to go to help them on the project for a week. There was also support offered for individuals to go on mission trips and other service opportunities.
• The new people who were joining us offered their gifts and stretched us to see new ways to be involved. It was a ten year period in the life of a church that has existed for much longer than that—one ten year period to see the new visions God brought before us to challenge our efforts to be a faithful expression of God’s love in our community and our world.
• In Dec 2006, the Youth Ministry decided on a name change and a vision statement for this ministry, landing on Legacy youth for the High School Youth group.
  • “The vision of Legacy is to become more like Christ by growing in our faith, reaching out to non-believers, and developing our gifts for ministry as we connect with each other and worship God with our whole-lives.”
• As the church grew the pastor sensed the difficulty in continuing to provide meaningful pastoral care for the entire church family. A Care Connect Team was developed by which everyone in the church was given someone to Connect with them throughout the year. These contacts were especially important during difficult or stressful experiences. The pastor continued to be available, particularly in crisis situations, but the Care Connect contact person could simply “walk alongside” as well as connect folks with other persons or resources to be of assistance.
• The congregation welcomed a small Hispanic congregation (El Centro) to use our facility. Our pastor had become friends with their pastor, and when they outgrew the small space where they were meeting, our Elder Council approved inviting them to use space at Beth-El. While they remained a small congregation and discontinued in 2015, their presence, interaction, and occasional joint worship services became a meaningful “beyond ourselves” touch point for them and for us. 

Moving into our New Home on Ranch Drive

• When the existing building sold earlier than expected we moved to Grant Elementary where we met until the new building was ready. The leadership teams were spending much time meeting with city and community groups as we faced considerable backlash from the community. Thanks to the persistence and patience of many on the leadership team, final plans were approved, and construction began. 
• A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 12, 2005 and included Charter Members Bob Goff, Evelyn Yeackly, Miriam Klopfenstein, & Marge Freed, as well we Pastor Merv Birky, Jake Denny (whose parent’s were members of our Parent Church First Mennonite Colorado Springs), Amanda Koch (representing the youth), Gloria Kinsell (longtime Children’s Teacher), and Floyd & Edy Miller (longtime advocates & contributors for the building process).
• This move brought about another season of change and growth, both in numbers and in what became our new vision for who we were becoming as a congregation. There was more singing “off the wall”, with more contemporary songs and fewer hymns. The before-service prayers for the pastor and congregation continued but there was once again, new emphasis on organized prayer. We now had a “Prayer Room” set aside and dedicated for that purpose. Prayer Ministries began organized prayer for all congregational participants along with specific persons offering prayer for those in school, including our college students. They also began organizing a “Spiritual Retreat” time during the annual church retreat at RMMC.
• As part of the building process there were many discussions surrounding the name of our congregation. If we wished to change it, now would be a good time. 
• Merv Birky wrote in the September 2005 Tie that Binds, “We know that some persons came to Beth-El specifically because we are Mennonite. What we don’t know is how many have stayed away specifically because of it…It seems to me that there are many good reasons to change our name, and many good reasons not to.” 
• In the end, the congregation voted in favor of keeping the name by 56% and decided it was important to keep Mennonite in the name by 68%. Other suggested names:
  • Austin Bluffs Mennonite
  • Beth-El Community Church
  • Beth-El Fellowship
  • Colorado Springs Mennonite Church
  • Church at the Bluffs
  • Rocky Mountain Mennonite
• As we continued to grow, the congregation affirmed focusing on hiring a youth pastor. The Sunday that decision was announced a young couple was visiting for the first time. They looked at each other knowingly, sensing this was “a God-thing”. So Mike Martin applied was chosen from among the nine applicants, and became our Associate Pastor of Youth. When he concluded his ministry three years later—to give time to beginning RAWtools—Colin Roynon was appointed as Interim Youth Pastor. He then soon became one of the four applicants for that position and was hired for that role soon thereafter. He continues in that role today, with some expanded responsibilities over time.
• During the building approval process with the city, we were told that no building would be allowed on the two-acre parcel next to the driveway entrance. Eventually, a vision stirred in one man, who shared it with the Elder Council, which affirmed creating a Community Garden. He and others built the 112 plots, with an irrigation system and fencing. This provides yet another space for interaction and relationships with others in our community.
• The second part of the 3rd 1997 goal—to strengthen our outreach in the community—has taken on many creative forms over the years from fundraiser meals to the Fair Trade Market.
• Our new building allowed us to not only assist with meals for the InterFaith Hospitality Network (Family Promise), but also to host families in the community who are experiencing homelessness.

Settling into life at Ranch Drive

• This decade in Beth-El’s life was characterized by growth and new ministries. A busy calendar of activities was rooted in consistent efforts to worship and fellowship together in ways that nurtured mutual care. Now well established in the Ranch Drive building on a busy thoroughfare, the congregation welcomed many guests each week and also experienced ongoing “turnover” as people came and went. An ongoing intentional effort was placed on inviting people into congregational life and ministry. The Welcome Committee and Ministry Link were steady leaders in this effort. Throughout the decade special attention was paid to young adults and young families in an effort to continue to foster a wide range of age participation. The congregation had well over 100 persons involved in ministry and church work during this time. 
• Ministry Leaders and Teams of volunteers were critical in maintaining the building and grounds, leading Bible studies, small groups, interest groups, and prayer teams. The Social Committee and Kitchen Team hosted events and regular potlucks. Worship Planning Team and Music Ministry coordinated Sunday morning worship and music. Seasonal choir and special music enriched Sunday mornings. Senior Encore (led by Ben and Martha Eberly for many years), annual Snow Day at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, annual fall retreat at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, and Thanksgiving Dinner at the church created social activities that drew churchgoers together. College students and young adults served around the world. Mennonite Women met monthly and held their much anticipated annual Tea event. 
• Twelve Step groups used the building several times a week. Other classrooms were devoted to the church library (which was carefully tended by several volunteers over the years), quilting, children’s, and youth activities. 
• Spiritual Care ministry facilitated the prayer room after worship, prayer partners for young adults and youth, coordinated a team of “prayers” that ensured every regular attendee in the congregation was prayed for weekly. 
• Safety Advocate position was added in 2011 to help assess risks pertaining to the new building and address parking lot safety. In 2015 a Sexual misconduct policy was adopted. Looking at safety policies in 2017 led to moving children’s classes so that they are all in one hallway and added locks on classroom doors.
• Small groups and interest groups such as quilting or crafting were numerous throughout the decade. In 2011 there were nine small “Oasis” groups connecting members to regular fellowship and discipleship. 
• Member Care volunteers provided visitation, small gifts, and coordinated meals for the oldest members and those facing illness or other needs. Care Connect was established in 2011, with help of Ivan Rymes, under the guidance of Pastor Merv. The goal was to provide point persons for listening, care, and prayer with every household of the congregation. Care Connect was a new way of giving attention to the pastoral care needs of a growing congregation. 
• Beth-El members gave abundantly of their time and resources to the MCC Relief Sale in Rocky Ford, Ten Thousand Villages annual sale, RAWTools, MCC school kits, and Mennonite Disaster Service. Inter-Faith Hospitality Network (later renamed Family Promise), led for many years by Paula and Bruce Kuhns, in conjunction with Ascension Lutheran Church, hosted several unhoused families two weeks each year for most of the decade then increasing hosting to three weeks a year. When Bruce and Paula moved, Mike and Beth Slanco stepped in to lead this vital ministry.
• Under the leadership of Paula and Bruce Kuhns, Beth-El also established a new Service Adventure Unit in Colorado Springs. In 2011 Brent and Kirsten Estep were the first Unit Leaders along with their two young sons. Three young adults from across the US were the first participants. Service Adventure is a program of Mennonite Mission Network providing service opportunities for young adults in the community. The young people and leaders became very involved in Beth-El life.
• Iglesia El Centro began meeting in the Ranch drive building in June 2012, with dynamic Spanish language worship and a close knit community. Pastor Jaime Lazaro moved to CA in 2014 and the congregation continued for a couple more years before disbanding.
• Ranch Community Garden opened on May 6, 2012, on the northeast corner of the property offering garden plots for the community and members of Beth-El. By 2017 the Ranch Garden had 57 subscribers for 93 plots and produced much-needed food for a local food bank.
• The Legacy youth (i.e. High School) events and fundraisers throughout each year provided many opportunities for fellowship outside of Sunday morning worship and classes. Bluegrass and Barbecue in the summer, chili cookoff in the fall, an annual Christmas play, Dinner Theatre, and haystacks and potato bar lunches after church all brought the congregation together and raised money for the annual summer Legacy service trip or Biannual Mennonite Convention. Associate Pastor of Youth Mike Martin resigned in June 2012 and Colin Roynon was hired later that year.
• Children’s ministry included Sunday morning classes, Children’s Worship during worship service, Children’s Christmas Program, and Vacation Bible School. “Taste and See” themed VBS had an attendance of 40 children in 2011 and VBS in 2018 had the highest attendance ever! In 2011 the need for playground improvements was voiced and Janet and Tom Crago gifted new playground equipment to the church for the east side of the building soon after. The Children’s Bell Choir, led by Tammy Roth, brought many smiles throughout the years when it performed. In 2017, Beth-El hired Sara Branham as our Children’s Ministry Director.
• Beth-El members gave $10,000 “second mile” giving towards the mortgage in 2013. The Annual Meeting topic that year was to discuss a vision for 5 years in the future. Beth-El leadership emphasized acting to intentionally connect with visitors and urged enriched mutual care beyond Sunday mornings. The Mission and Ministry arm of Beth-El partnered with Iglesia El Centro to offer times of immigration information help to Spanish speaking immigrants. 
• 2014 Annual Report Pastor Merv Birky writes: 
  • “Because of events in our Conference and MCUSA around issues related to homosexuality, we took six weeks last winter to explore some of those issues through Wednesday evening studies using materials from the Marin Foundation entitled Love Is an Orientation. Over 50 persons attended all or part of these sessions. We acknowledged that, while we each seek to follow Jesus, we are not all in agreement on how doing so is expressed with regard to these issues. As we are open, honest, and humble in our conversations together, we are able to find common ground for our life and ministry together, even while not agreeing on this and various other matters.”

Changes and Transitions

• Pastor Merv Birky wrote in the 2011 Annual Report:
  • “In 2011, we sought to find a way of expressing ‘membership’ at Beth-El in a more meaningful way. At that time there was a list of 10 items expressing what membership meant —well written but which few of us could identify or remember. Our efforts resulted in what we call our Covenant, and we seek to renew that covenant with God and each other annually. The Covenant we make states simply, but profoundly, Together with the Beth-El faith community, I will seek to follow Jesus.” “ The first “Covenant Sunday” took place on May 1, 2011, after a couple of years of work by the Elders to move to a Covenant practice. 
• The core values of following Jesus together and the expression of those values was a focal point in 2015:
• • Joyful Theological Diversity
    • Characteristics: Attention to Scripture, accent on relationships; a safe, discerning culture for exploring faith understandings; active, respectful listening; humble, thoughtful speaking; informed mutual dialogue
  • Seeking Truth with Grace
    • Characteristics: Kingdom through grace (Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10); strong intergenerational faith formation; partnerships beyond Beth-El; intentional, relational, Christ-centered outreach.
  • Community That Loves and Does
    • Characteristics: A place for everyone to be active in ministry; relationships over policy and hierarchy; our activities have a purpose; financial matters are open and active in planning, responsive, with integrity, visionary, and realistic.
  • Also, Donuts. 🙂

• In January 2015, the Beth-El Leadership Team was established thus restructuring from the Elders and Elder Council leadership structure. 2015 attendance averaged 163 persons and 20 children in Children’s worship. Beth-El continued to plan for how to address the highlighted need for children’s ministry beyond Sunday classes.
• In the summer of 2015, Pastor Merv took Sabbatical and focused on “Finishing Well” in light of his announced upcoming retirement after Pastoring at Beth-El for over 20 years. 
• 2016 was a “Year of preparation” as Beth-El’s Transition Team worked to assess the congregation’s needs and find a new Pastor to lead. Pastor Merv Birky wrote in the 2016 Annual Report looking back at the congregation’s accomplishments: 
  • “By 1997, on “Vision Sunday,” we set several general goals. 1) Seek an expanded facility, either at Yuma Street or elsewhere; 2) Add a part-time minister for youth; 3) Strengthen both our internal & external ministries. Reaching all three of those goals turned out to be very interconnected, and very time-consuming. However, I believe the “in-between time” proved tremendously important for us. God used the challenges we faced in those in-between years to strengthen our faith, draw us closer together, open us to be more welcoming, and deepen our commitment to serve our community.” He noted that 51% of the congregation’s current regular attenders had not attended Beth El when the congregation moved into the Ranch Drive building.

• In 2017 the bustling congregation navigated many changes and transitions:
  • Jan 2017 Sara Branham was hired for a new part-time position as Children’s Ministry Director
  • Jan 29, 2017, Merv Birky’s last Sunday, retired after 21 years of pastoring Beth-El
  • Feb – June 2017, Don Sharp served as Transitional Pastor
  • Jordan Farrell started as Pastor at the end of June 2017. He, his wife Kara, and daughters Hannah and Lydia are welcomed warmly and with much excitement. 
  • Dec 31, 2017, Jeanette Martin’s last day as Administrator after 20 yrs. Service.
  •  Wednesday Night Fellowship began with weekly dinner, discussion nights, community nights with activities or games, service nights, and children’s activities. 
  • A Beth-El team to support a refugee family, Albert and Stella Chokola and their 2 children, from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Lutheran Family Services. 
• In 2018 transition continued as several couples moved away from Colorado Springs and Shelby Clarke was hired as Church Administrator and Sue Gillis was hired as Bookkeeper. Congregational life continued with customary events, volunteer roles, and worship and classes. Beth-El Leadership Team with the expertise of Pastor Jordan updated the organizational Tree of Life to understand and better show how different ministry leaves are connected. A general fund operating surplus of $89,000 allowed Beth-El to pay off $74,000 of the mortgage principal. 
• Our last year in the decade saw the congregation upgrade the auditorium projection system, exterior security cameras, and a new handicap ramp in the south parking lot. A summer class on the book Anabaptist Essentials led to a conversation about how we seek to follow Jesus together. This focus was also a part of the conversation about difference and discontent amongst some in the congregation. Beth-El Leadership Team invited the Mountain States Mennonite Conference Dialogue Resource Team to help with conflict transformation and reconciliation. The goal of clarifying our collective vision was identified as important work to undertake right away. 

Other Notable Highlights from the 2010s 

• A new children’s worship time group for ages 2-4 begins as 40 children ages 0-10 no longer fit in the nursery and children’s worship rooms. 
• In 2015, Beth-El continued to welcome many guests each week. Funerals for Pat Needles, Beverly Weaver, Evelyn Yeackley, Dee Troyer, and Doug Klopfenstein were held that year. Prayer ministry continued its important roles and Sunday evening prayer gatherings were led by Becca and Kevin Wilder. 
• Also in 2015, the Memorial Wall was established in the building after several years of discussions about possibly establishing a Columbarium on the property. Financially Beth-El finished the year with a $20,000 shortfall in giving compared to what was budgeted to be received as offerings and income. An annual shortfall in giving was common during this decade seemingly because a “stretch goal” was set in the budget. Mostly though programs were well funded and expenses kept in check
• A Pastor Congregation Relations Team was established in 2016.

Our current vision process will give us clarity as we move into the next 5 years!