Wyandotte County Churches
"History of the Church of the Brethren in Kansas," Elmer L. Craik, 1922
Kansas City Congregations
Although the Brethren began work in Kansas City,
Missouri, in April, 1871, thru the efforts of D. B. Gibson
and D. D. Sell, it was at a comparatively late date that
they entered Kansas City, Kansas. It was in 1888, that
the General Mission Board, thru its Secretary and Treasurer, D. L. Miller, wrote Elder I. H. Crist of Olathe, sending him money to enable him to go to Kansas City to hold
services. There were but two members in the city at
that time � Brother and Sister S. C. Keim, but an opera
house was secured and services were first held on December 12, 1888. Later, Brother Crist secured the use of a
hall. In August, 1890, the first applicant was baptized.
The Kansas City church was organized on November
20, 1897, by Elders I. H. Crist, I. L. Hoover, and George
E. Wise. There were thirty-eight charter members, of
which number the following names are recalled: S. C.
Keim and wife, William Holsinger, W. T. Nininger and
wife, Jacob A. Brugh, Elizabeth Dierdorff, Judith Strickler, William A. Garber, sr., William A. Garber, jr., John
Hurnie, D. G. Sell and wife, Mattie Miller, and Sylvester
Miller and wife. Both Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, were included in the new congregation,
of which Brother Crist became elder. With the exception of one year he was in charge until he left the city
in February, 1916.
The Brethren soon bought a lot and a house of worship was erected on the corner of Central Avenue and
Boekee street. The house and lot cost $2,000. The
church was dedicated by S. Z. Sharp on March 26, 1899.
At first all the members in Kansas City worshipped at
Central Avenue. The work prospered. From the beginning to 1915, four hundred eighty had been baptized.
Brother Crist's record further shows that he had made
19,914 visits into homes, had preached 2,120 sermons,
had preached 151 funerals, had anointed 117 persons,
had presided over 124 councils, had attended 48 love
feasts, and had performed the marriage ceremony for
304 couples. In 1915, there were eighty-six members at
Central, eighty at the Armourdale mission, and fifty at
the First Church of the Brethren in Kansas City, Missouri.
In 1903, the city was visited by a very high flood
which brought distress to thousands. There were fourteen members in the flood district. They lost everything
except the clothing on their backs. Bro. Crist received
much clothing and bedding for the sufferers and about
fourteen hundred dollars in cash.
In 1904, while James M. Neff was connected with
Central Avenue congregation, he started a mission in Armourdale. It was originally located in an old store at
Fifth and Shawnee streets, but was later moved to 719
St. Paul Street, in Armourdale. Brother Neff's idea was
that workers might be developed thru the medium of the
mission for service at Central Avenue. Josie Powell, now
a missionary in India, was, along with Mrs. Sarah Latzenhiser, the first to be in charge of Armourdale mission.
Work was begun in the summer of 1904. Brother Neff
was compelled because of ill health to quit the work in
the spring of 1905. In his thirteen months' stay, thirty-seven had been baptized and twenty-one had been received by letter. In the spring of 1907, the District Mission Board bought a church building with five rooms attached, situated, as stated before, at 719 St. Paul Street.
While the mission was supported by the district, Central
Avenue church extended more or less aid and encouragement.
For a number of years Elder Crist and wife had charge
of the mission. Other workers associated with it were
Cora Wampler, Jennie Mohler, Viola Cline, E. F. Sherfy
and wife, Elva Miller, James Shriver and wife, and Mrs.
Barker. On December 18, 1911, the District Mission
Board organized the mission into a distinct body. Its territory included all of Kansas City south of the Union Pacific Railroad, part of the city south of the Kansas river,
and all of Rosedale. There were seventy-six members.
On March 26, 1914, S. B. Howard was elected to the ministry in the new congregation. E. S. Coffman began work
as pastor on March 24, 1917, and served until March 1,
1918, dividing his time between Central Avenue and Armourdale.
The following ministers have been elected at Central
Avenue: W. A. Garber (January 1, 1898), A. C. Brubaker
(May 6. 1900), Lawrence Risk (1903), O. R. McCune
(April 29, 1905), Albert Eastwood (April 29, 1905), W.
P. Strole (April 2, 1910), and Ernest Goens (March 25,
1914). The only ordination is that of O. R. McCune, who
was advanced to the eldership in 1915.
Upon the removal of Elder and Mrs. Crist from Kansas City in 1916, Elder Benjamin Forney took up the
work at Armourdale for a time. When he left in 1917,
Elder Chas. A. Miller, formerly of the Scott Valley congregation, took charge. Brother Miller is still identified
with the Armourdale church.
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