Prairieland Christian Church celebrates 150 years

 

[November 17, 2021] 

On Sunday, November 14, Prairieland Christian Church in Hartsburg commemorated 150 years with a Legacy Sunday. A special service and potluck were part of the anniversary celebration.

In the past 150 years, the church has gone through a few name changes. It was originally known as Musickville Christian Church and then later became Hartsburg Christian Church. Since 2000, it has been Prairieland Christian Church.

Early on, the church met near Robert Musick’s home. Records in the “History of Logan County, 1878” show the first building was erected around 1870. This first building was on Henry Musick’s farm about one half mile north of Sugar Creek on the east side of the highway.

In 1875, the church building moved to Hartsburg in the snow. For 125 years, the building served as the home of Hartsburg Christian Church.

Since 2000, it has been Prairieland Christian Church. Prairieland began with a group of around 48 meeting in the home of Fred and Jeanine Allen. At that point, Hartsburg Christian Church was still meeting in the building, but their numbers were dwindling.

A history written by Doris Last says, “A phone call from Fred Allen to Evelyn Teaney led to a conversation between Orville Shaffer and his friend, Ralph Allen.” Then on January 25, 2000, “a meeting was held at the Shaffer home with eight members of the Hartsburg Church and six members of the Prairieland Church attending.”

When this meeting ended, the group from Hartsburg unanimously voted to merge with Prairieland and deed the building and grounds to the Prairieland Christian Church. Shaffer gave the church keys to Ralph Allen.

Over the years, the building has undergone various changes. It was framed with 4 x 4 oak and stood about 32 feet wide and 44 feet long. It originally had two entrances—one for men and one for women.
 

In the early 1920s, a basement was dug. An entrance to the basement was later added.

Last says, “Major improvements for the building prior to 1982 were the purchase of a Baldwin Organ, application of aluminum siding [and] erection of a brick memorial announcement board.” Other improvements included adding two natural gas furnaces and removing basement windows and filling them with glass blocks. Last says, carpeting was also installed in the sanctuary, basement nursery room, and inside and outside steps.

In 1984, windows were installed by Dana Last and sons in the auditorium and hallways.

A new sanctuary was added around 2004. Then in 2010, the church bought a house, garage and lot behind the building. The house is used for the minister’s office, Sunday school and some meetings.

A playground for the community was also built behind the church in recent years.

More recent improvements have included adding a ramp and building on classrooms storage space. Recently, they removed the ramp leading up to the fellowship hall and added an accessible lift.

Celebrating the Legacy
In the past few months, some of the former ministers have come back to share messages, including Joe Sanders, the most recent predecessor to current Prairieland minister Nathan Chitwood.

Legacy Sunday had been planned for over a year since 2020 was the actual 150th anniversary of the church. However, it was pushed back due to the pandemic.



Psalm 145:3-8 verses point to what the church has been talking about, Chitwood said. The day was about remembering the past and being thankful for it, but also knowing there is a future for the church.

The passage from Psalm 145 says the Lord is great and most worthy of praise. No one can fathom his greatness. One generation will commend your works to another [and] tell of his mighty acts.

Ps 145:5-7 of the passage says they will speak of the glorious splendor of his majesty and tell of the power of his awesome works. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
 

As the church marked the anniversary, Chitwood said it is all about Christ and spreading the word from one generation to the next.

As Prairieland, Chitwood said, they remember the good news is preached for all.

In an opening prayer, Chitwood said he was thankful for this day and opportunity to celebrate the church’s history. He was thankful for the chance to celebrate Christ at work in Hartsburg, guiding and directing the people over the years.

As they continue to meet in this location, Chitwood prayed the good news of Jesus preached all those years would continue. He was thankful God’s kingdom will live forever and said it is something to look forward to.



In the communion meditation, longtime church member Fred Allen said we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. He said it is great to have an eternal perspective and hope.



Ralph Allen introduced the day’s speaker, Don Green, who preached in Emden years ago. He said Green has preached at many revivals and men’s meetings over the years.

Green also held many titles at Lincoln Christian University including serving as one of its recent presidents. Green is now President Emeritus and Professor of Leadership Studies. Allen said Green has been a tremendous asset to the church over the years.

The message by Green was ‘Building on the same foundation for the next generation.’

As Green began his sermon, he congratulated the church on 150 years. One church consultant friend has done research and said the typical life cycle of a church is 49 years. Not many last 150 years and Green was delighted to help celebrate the occasion.

Reflecting on 150 years of history, Green said the church has a rich heritage. There are many accomplishments God has done in its midst.

Green’s history with what was then the Hartsburg Christian Church goes back 50 years when he was a preacher at nearby Emden. He remembers cooperation between the Hartsburg and Emden churches to accomplish God’s will.

Over 20 years ago, Green said he remembers being part of an early conversation that gave birth to Prairieland Christian Church.

At that time, Green talked to some of the members about their vision to establish a church. The hope was to impact the prairieland of central Illinois and several surrounding communities.

Green cares deeply about the church. He is passionate about the church’s health, vitality and future. Years ago George Barna wrote a book about the American church needing a wake up call. This call is to see the world as God sees it and feel about the world as God feels about it. It is what the church needs.

Green shared sobering statistics. Eighty percent of churches in America are stagnant or in decline. Half have less than 75 people in them. Half had no conversions last year. Seventy churches a week will gather for the very last time.

Christians and churches need desperately at times to pause. Green said they need to get a big picture perspective of what is going on where God is at work. Otherwise, they may forget why they are doing all they do.

In Matthew 16, Green said Jesus had asked the disciples who they thought he was, and Peter said he was the Messiah, the son of the living God. In verse 18, Jesus said, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
 

This statement shapes the agenda for the church. Green wanted to remind everyone what is right for the church. He said 150 years ago, the church was built on the right foundation.

Many foundations are crumbling, but Green said the church is built on the solid foundation of Christ himself.

In quoting second Peter, Green said we are being built into a spiritual house as living stones. We offer sacrifices acceptable to God.

Lincoln Christian University has had the theme of building on the same foundation for a new generation. The foundation is the same, but Green said the form, structures and ministries must be responsive to the needs of the next generation. The message and mission must never change, but the methods always do.

On this day of celebration, Green said we celebrate the church having the right builder. In Ephesians, Paul said we are being built on the foundation with Christ as the founder. We are built together to become the church.

The master builds the church. Green said at the end of our life, we need to remember everything we do to advance his kingdom is through Jesus.

It was a day of calibration. Green said we are called out to gather as an assembly. We need to focus on its function and what it means to be a church. The pandemic taught us we do not go to church; we are the church.

First Peter 2:9 says we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We are people who belong to God. Green said we are called to live out our faith amid a dark world. We are to declare his praises.

The church Christ built is a multicultural, intergenerational, diverse church united to glorify God. Green said heaven is too big to just have people who look like us. The book of Revelation says there will be a multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne.

Legacy Sunday is a day of consecration, which Green said will lead the church into a glorious future. For all people say is wrong about the church, Green said, there is a lot right about the church.

Green gave a charge to the congregation. He said the church must pass faith onto the next generation. Otherwise, where will they get it and what is the future of the church?

We are here because of a generation of previous Christians built on this solid foundation for our generation. Green said it is our turn now.

Green said we must shape the church for the future. The church must not lose its pioneering vision for shaping the church of the future.
 

A quote from Alvin Toffler says, if we do not learn from history, we will be forced to repeat it. If we do not shape the future, we will be forced to endure it. Green said that could be worse. The church is here to shape the future.

In closing, Green thanked God for the impact of the Prairieland in this community. He is thankful for those who came before us and those who will come after us.

A slideshow at the end of the service showed photos from the past including the groundbreaking for the new sanctuary. Other photos were of members involved in various activities over the years.

Legacy Sunday ended with a potluck luncheon for the whole congregation.

[Angela Reiners]