First Midwest Church in Shambaugh
The first permanent church to be established in the area was at Shambaugh,
Iowa. Formerly Brethren in Christ, it became part of the denomination when
the 1883 merger took place. From this church came the fiery pioneer preacher AA Miller who
did so much to open the west. [3]
Revival services
[Brenneman and Eby held revival services in the Midwest]
"...The
unconverted were gripped with overpowering conviction ("I was literally sick,"
said one), sinners were saved, sick people were healed, paralyzed bodies were made well.
The presence of God was the drawing power of the gospel." [2]
CAMP : The first camp meeting was in 1895 with Andrew Good as evangelist. Two camps
were held in 1897 at Bloomington and Harper, both of which were quite extraordinary.
Several "fell under the power," and there were some wonderful cases of
instantaneous healing, including that of a lady with a paralyzed arm.
A.A. Miller - First Pastor at Shambaugh, Iowa
A favorite evangelist and pioneer of the [Midwest] district was AA Miller, a fiery
preacher whose presence in tent or schoolhouse meetings generally meant that the whole
community attended. A man "of powerful frame, towering physique and stentorian
voice," his reputation as a great preacher traveled like a dust storm over the
prairie.
One who was to come under conviction through his preaching in the early 1890’s
wrote: "After hearing him for some time, we decided to go one Sunday night in company
with some other young people and see him preach. He was conducting a revival meeting in a
sod church. The walls were dark. A few small kerosene lamps served to light the room.
"The preacher spoke
with great power and the demonstration of the
Spirit. He shouted and leaped for joy, his head nearly striking the poles
overhead. Some responded to the call for seekers at the altar and one was slain under the
power of God. I remember one statement Brother Miller made: he said that if he had the
power he would shake everybody over hell until the felt the need of being saved..."
[1]
Opposition and the Miraculous: Ramseyer
In many places [throughout the Midwest] the opposition was strong until the hearts of
the community were melted by Mr. [Joseph] Ramseyer’s winsome life and Spirit-filled
preaching. There were those who came to throw sharp glass on the tent roof, others who
purposely clomped their heavy farm boots in and out of the church service on the bare
wooden floor... but where opposition was the greatest, there often the greatest victories
were won... none of this could have happened if the Ramseyer meetings had not been bathed
in prayer. Joseph’s diary at the close 1906 records the source of his power:
"On our knees with prayer and praise as we enter this New Year... It was laid on
my heart for some time to ask all of the Missionary churches to have ten days of prayer
from January first to tenth." [Said of Ramseyer] "He had a deep and rich
experience in God... His greatness came from God. He walked and talked with God. He
stressed prayer, faith, praise and the reception of God’s grace for spirit, soul and
body."
No wonder that all through his ministry people were drawn to him -- they saw in him the
"God-life" and grew hungry to have that same life themselves.
They also
saw the miracles of healing that took place and knew that God was with
him. [4]
1 Merging Streams by Eileen Lageer,
Copyright 1979 by Bethel Publishing Company, Elkhart, Indiana, pages 93-94
2 Ibid.; page 94
3 Ibid.; page 95
4 Ibid.; page 111
Listing of pastors up to the present :
- A.A. Miller (1883-94)
- O.B. Henderson, Katie Miller, H.J. Pontius, L.D. Whitcomb - servied one year each prior
to Hostetler, but exact order and date is unknown. Probably along with A.A. Miller.
- J.J. Hostetler (1894-96)
- A.B. Yoder (1896-?)
- A.P. Utter (1902-04)
- Jacob Hygema (1904-05)
- Joseph Persell (1905-06)
- E.J. Menaugh (1906-09)
- C.I. Scott (1909-13)
- Jacob Hygema (1913-17)
- John H. Hess (1917-22)
- J.K. Myers (1922-27 at both Shambaugh & New Market)
- E.D. Young (1927-34)
- Timothy J. & Lulu Overholt (1934-37 at both Shambaugh & New Market)
- Jacob Hygema (1937-39)
- Roy Starkey (1939-42)
- P.E. Comptom (1942-45)
- Kenneth E. Miller-grandson of founder A.A. Miller (1945-47)
- M.J. Carmichael (1947-48)
- Roy Starkey (1948-54)
- Clayton Eby (1954-59)
- Berwyn Hoskins (1959-62)
- Sherman Mills (1962-68)
- John Whitten (1969-70)
- Lewis Hunter (1971-78)
- Bob Thompson (1978-87)
- Mark Sukut (1989-91)
- Scott Denham (1992-present)
Miscellaneous Information On The Congregation At Shambaugh, Iowa
BUILDING : Present church building (sanctuary only) was built in 1881 or 1883 (actual
date disputed), was located on the east side of town (where Highway 71 now is), facing
east and had a hitchrack on the north & west side of church. In 1908 the church bought
a lot, west side of the parsonage, and in April of 1911, the sanctuary was moved to its
present location at 206 4th Street, by a mule team for a cost of $100. Originally lighted
by gas lamps, electric lighting was added in 1915. In the late forties, excavation for a
basement began, and the front entrance and vestibule was added, converted over from coal
to gas heating, completed in 1954. About that same time, a rear addition to the south was
added providing the sanctuary platform and classroom upstairs, and two classrooms
downstairs. 1982, the bell tower was reconstructed and a steeple built. In 1979, a 20' x
30' addition was added to the front (northside) of the church, providing the foyer and
entrance upstairs, and a fireside room downstairs. Presently, we are in a
construction project, building a 20,000+ square foot facility back near the
original site on Highway 71, slated to open, the fall of 2005.
MUSIC : No musical instruments were used in the church until 1920 when a piano was
purchased. It is first mentioned in 1923 that they also played guitars! 1980s-90's there
was a move from hymns to contemporary chorus with a host of instrumentation; guitars,
piano, synthesizer keyboards, drums, drum machines, bass guitar, and the like.
DENOMINATION MERGERS & NAME CHANGES : In 1947, through denominational mergers,
became a part of the United Missionary Church (UMC); our new name becoming Shambaugh
United Missionary Church. In 1969, the UMC merged with The Missionary Church Association
to become The Missionary Church. The church name then became Shambaugh Missionary Church.
February 1994, by congregational vote and district approval, the church name was changed
again to "Harvest Fellowship."
RENEWAL : September of 1996, God began to "move" among us in renewal over
a four year period. Many returned to their "first love" and God breathed His
refreshing upon us... there was an increase in miraculous healings...
sinners came to Christ, and to this day, are faithfully following Christ.
There came a greater intense awareness of the manifest presence of God.
Though no longer in "renewal mode", the Lord is still ministering faithfully
among us and we are hopeful of great tings in the days ahead.
"Harvest Fellowship is member to the
Missionary Church, an evangelical
denomination, committed to church planting and world missions."
