Jansen Bibile Celebrates 140 Years by Judy McGee and Sharon Shepard


Looking Back Jansen Bible Church (JBC), is rich with history dating back to 1879. Located in southeast Nebraska in the small, rural town of


Jansen, population 143. From the very beginning the founders were rooted in their faith and mission-minded. On January 12, 1879, a group of 13 Mennonite families, who had migrated from Russia and settled in the Jansen area, chose their


first spiritual leaders. Under the leadership of Elder Isaac Peters from York County, Neb., the church was organized as the Ebenezer Church and later renamed Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church. Services, spoken in German, were first held in homes of the mem- bers. In 1890 the first church building (20' by 30') was erected. In 1892, as the number of members grew, a 16-foot addition gave the church needed space. When a tornado struck the town on June 19, 1929, the church was damaged beyond repair.


1890


1929


1929 With one hired carpenter and volunteer labor by the men of the church, a new church was built for $4500. For many years the


building lacked indoor toilets and running water. Separate outhouses served men and women, and whenever there was a need, water was carried from homes. For fellowship meals, tables were made by placing wooden planks on sawhorses. Indoor bathrooms were even- tually added to the east end of the building and the church was supplied with running water. Tis building served the congregation for all services and special events for the next 50 years and then for another 26 years as Sunday School rooms.


Between 1930–1940, when many Jansen people moved to California and Oregon, church membership declined to 43. During the


1950s, when Jansen’s bars and hotel were host to activities of ill-repute, the church held “street meetings” to share the Gospel on the main street of town on Saturday nights or Sunday evenings. Church youth also participated in the street meetings.


For some years during the 1960s, the church was without a full-time pastor. In 1968 Pastor Eldon Busenitz was hired, and he


preached verse-by-verse through books of the Bible. Community and home Bible studies were outreach ministries. During the next 15 years, church attendance and membership increased, and by 1978, a larger building for worship services was deemed necessary. Aſter 18 months of construction, the new building was completed and dedicated on April 13, 1980. During construction, the church celebrated its 100th anniversary! Te church name was also changed to Jansen Bible Church.


New Church and 1929 Church Building - 1980 to 2006


Church and Fellowship Building - 2006 to present In June 2006, the 1929 building was torn down to make room for a new large fellowship building. Te additional space was


needed for Awana® and multiple other functions. When completed, the building also provided a classroom for the Jansen Christian Academy.


12 Fellowship Focus, July/August 2019 FellowshipForward.org


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