 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.
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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] |
