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Love God. Grow with others. Serve faithfully.
Reach the lost. Find peace!
Our Congregation Scroll Below for our Church's History, our Beliefs, and Information about our Pastor! by Carol Kussart
In May, 1856, a group of German Baptist
Brethren (now known as the Church of the
Brethren) met in the home of Daniel Kuns and
organized the first German Baptist Brethren
church in this area. The name at the time was
Cerro Gordo, Macon County. By 1866 a three-way
division was made within the territory:
Milmine, Okaw (now La Place), and Cerro Gordo
Macon County. The congregation continued to
grow with many members living within the
village of Cerro Gordo. In 1878 John Metzger
decided to construct a church building at his
own expense on the site of the present church.
That structure was a white clapboard building
with double entries separated by a tall bell
tower. The first communion was held on
Christmas, 1878. Although the congregation was
growing and vigorous, the church was not
officially organized until 1884. A year-round
Sunday School program was also established at
this time. This congregation became known as
Cerro Gordo while the original congregation
became known as Oakley. A rostrum in 1900 and
a baptismal pool in 1902 were built in the
church. Both of these were fairly new to our
denomination at that time. In 1905 a new
pulpit Bible and an invalid chair were
purchased. In 1908, during construction of a new church building on the same site, the congregation met in a tent immediately to the east of the building. Thirteen large Sunday School classes met on the morning of the new building’s dedication, April 18, 1909. The main address that day was given by the Rev. I.B. Trout of Lanark, Illinois. The razing of the old building and the construction of the new one cost $13,600, most of which had been paid by the morning of the dedication. Click here for a drawn picture of the former building and the new building:
"The Cerro
Gordo Church of the Brethren" by Ruby Becker
of Bridger, Montana, 1959.
A parsonage was built on the lot next to the
church in 1915.
The women of the church, on April 26, 1894,
organized the Benevolent Society, meeting on
Wednesday afternoons in various homes. Sallie
Cart was its first president. The purpose of
this society was “the assistance of the needy
at home and at church.” The women made many
articles of clothing, quilts, and blankets to
send to various missions such as those in
Chicago and in India and also helped people in
need in our area. By 1905 the Society had
become the Sisters’ Aid Society. In 1929 a
full Women’s Work program was organized. For
many years, women have met at church each
Tuesday to quilt. The women continue to help
the local church and other outreach projects
through fundraising efforts such as an annual
chicken fry and country store.
The men considered farming some ground for
mission work, and in 1932 they farmed 20 acres
south of town that belonged to the District of
Illinois and Wisconsin. By 1934 they were
farming 40 acres. The men organized as Men’s
Work in that year also. O.F. Cripe was the
first chairperson. The men regularly gave
money to support the local church program as
well as to Heifer Project, which they also
supported by raising several heifers, and to
relief work in India and China. The men farmed
the district ground until 1987 when it was
sold. They continue to raise money by growing
sweet corn and holding other fund-raising
events. The men provide scholarships for
children and young people to attend camp.
Cerro Gordo, like the entire denomination, was
served by a free (unpaid) ministry until the
early 1900s. Ministers elected from this
congregation were J.M. Shively, W.A. Gary,
Walter Barnhart, J. Hugh Heckman, B.F. Heckman
(who went to China as a missionary), Levi
Shively, Andrew Blickenstaff, Harry Leedy, and
Adam Bingaman. The first paid pastor of this
congregation and in the District of Southern
Illinois was J.W. Lear who served from 1902 to
1911. Ministers since that time include D.M.
Adams, O.P. Haines, M.C. Brumbaugh, Bruce
Whitmore, George Stutsman, Walter Coffman,
William Tinkle, Clarence Albright, W. Harlan
Smith, Roy Teach, David Albright, Dale Hylton,
Ralph Skaggs, Howard Keim, Donald Shankster,
Donald Flory, Richard Nyboer, and Robert
Tevis.
Members of this
church have been involved with district and
denominational activities, active in the life
of Camp Emmanuel, volunteers in Brethren
Volunteer Service, missionaries, and pastors.
They have hosted district conference and
provided volunteers for disaster relief work.
For many years they have helped conduct
community Vacation Bible School and have been
active in Christians United in Christ, a local
organization. They host combined Lenten
services with other area Churches of the
Brethren. The members make up an active
congregation in the history of Cerro Gordo.
What Our Congregation Believes WE BELIEVE:
Contact the church at: Office: 217-763-8641 Cell:
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