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By
Vinde
Wells
vwells@oglecountynews.com
A Mount Morris church congregation celebrated 6 decades since its founding Nov. 13 with a guest speaker and an evening concert.
The Evangelical Free Church of Mount Morris, on the corner of Seminary Avenue and Front Street, welcomed the community to hear Kevin Kompelien, president of the Evangelical Free Church of America, speak at Sunday School at 8:30 a.m. and again at the 10 a.m. worship service.
The Gray Havens, comprised of Dave and Licia Radford, originally from Illinois and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, performed with a reception after the concert.
“We’re grateful to be a part of the community 60 years, especially in this great location near the historic campus in the downtown,” Senior Pastor Bruce McKanna said.
Kompelien, who grew up in a small EFCA church in rural northern Minnesota, has served for 30 years as a pastor, church planter, and district board member.
“We’re looking forward to having him share the impact a small town church can have,” McKanna said.
Nov. 13 also marks the church’s annual Missions Festival.
The church got it beginnings in the early 1950s with a group of four families who eventually would unite with First Evangelical Free Church of Rockford to form the Evangelical Free Church of Mount Morris.
Starting from weekly prayer meetings in homes, the church had its first public Sunday service on Sept. 11, 1955, at the Mount Morris Town Hall with 16 people attending.
The church officially incorporated on Sept. 13, 1956, and began to function on its own.
The first, and present, brick church building was purchased from the Mount Morris Church of the Brethren in 1958 at a cost of $25,000.
From those four original families, the congregation has grown to more than 120 households, with an average of 225 weekly in attendance, made up of people from Mount Morris and several surrounding communities.
The first full-time pastor was Howard Beltz, who served the church from 1959 to 1967.
McKanna has been the senior pastor since 2008, and served as associate pastor for 6 years prior to that.
“I’ve been blessed to follow in the footsteps of several godly pastors,” he said.
The current associate pastor is Lance Mennen.
McKanna said the church is fortunate to have a diverse congregation.
“We’ve enjoyed having people from all walks of life, young and old, in our congregation,” he said. “It’s a wonderful cross-section of the community.”
Due to the needs of the growing congregation, the Christian Education Center across the street from the church was purchased in April of 1975 for a cost of $71,250.
Significant upgrades have been made to both buildings over the years.
The kitchen was remodeled last year, and the nursery and restrooms are slated for changes in the near future.
Besides weekly Sunday School and worship services, the church regularly offers Bible study and prayer groups, youth groups, a puppet team, and seasonal choirs.
The church is involved in several local outreach endeavors and puts a priority on missions.
A number of missionaries have been sent out since 2002 including Henry and Marcette Happ, Megan Bloemker, Tim and Andrea Hilty, Keith and Linda Stranberg, Dennis and Carrie Gaul, Tracy and Karen Singleton, Ben and Holly Hilty, and Adam Rozanas.
McKanna said the congregation is committed to serving the community for years to come.
“We’re looking to the future not just the past,” he said. “We want to continue to be faithful in bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and friends in Mount Morris and beyond.”