Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church - Our History

Elam and Sarah Rohrer were the first Mennonite family in Harper County. Front row: Adam, Elam, Sarah, and Clayton.

Back row: Anna, Landis Milton and Lizzie. (photo taken 1925).

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Charter Member: Rebecca Chatelain

Front row: Diana, Edward (husband), Florence, Rebecca, and Ida.

Back row: Lina, Leander, Emma, and Malinda

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Lizzie Brenneman, a charter member and her husband Joseph P. Hershberger and his four younger children: Front: twins, Elmer and Elva. Back: Ralph and Allen (picture taken in 1904).

Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church, was established in 1888 with fifteen charter members: J. G. Wenger, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Holderman, Mr. and Mrs. Elam Rohrer, Mrs. and Mrs. Jacob Zimmerman, Mr. and Mrs. Elam Brenneman, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Gerber, Rebecca Chatellian, Sarah Gerber, Lizzie Brenneman, and Susie Detweiler. Prior to the organization they would gather in homes for worship

The congregation at Harper chose its name from its temporary meeting place, the Pleasant Valley School.

In 1897, the first Pleasant Valley Church was built across the road east of the Pleasant Valley School. The location of the first church was three miles east of Harper, Kansas. It was a building 28 X 40 feet, and was constructed of wood with sheet tin siding. This building was used until 1915 when it became necessary to build a larger place for worship. The new building was 36 X 52 feet, with a full basement. The building was used until March of 1964 when on Easter Sunday, we moved to the new structure.

Pastors that have served at Pleasant Valley are: Jacob Holderman, Andrew Good, Ephraim Shellenberger, Simon Hetrick, Tillman M. Erb, George Hinkle, S. C. Miller, Ben Horst, J. T. Hamilton, Noah Ebersole, R. M. Weaver, J. P. Berkey, J. J. King, John Thut, and S. A. Yoder. As the years went by, most of these men moved away and it left R. M. Weaver with the ministry of the church. He served the congregation until Waldo Miller from Hutchinson, was called and ordained in 1953, and served until the summer of 1958. Merle Bender of Wichita served the congregation as Interim Pastor until the fall of 1959 when James Detweiler came from Ohio. He served the congregation until January, 1964, and then H. J. King served as Interim Pastor.

Pastors who have served since 1964 are: Gene and Mary Herr, 1966-1970; Millard Osborne, Interim, 1970-71; Bob Zehr, 1971-1977; Jerry Weaver, Interim, 1977; Elmer Wyse, 1978-1984; Weldon Martens, 1984-1995; Don Klassen, 1995-96, Royce Vogt, 1996-2004; and Bob Yates, who served as an associate pastor in June 2003 and became the lead pastor in 2004 to the present.

In 2002, the decision was made to build an addition to the church, increasing the size of the Fellowship Hall, Library, and Meeting Room, and also more office space. This addition was sparked by a sum of money willed to the church by a member in 2000 and with the addition of an associate pastor. Construction began in May 2003 and was completed in September 2003. Dedication and 40th anniversary was held on October 12, 2003.