HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

According to available records, the North Scipio Church began as a result of meetings held in 1840 by the Rev. Benjamin Dorsey who was a Methodist local preacher. Mr. Dorsey was born in England in 1786 and came to this country in 1830, settling first in Ohio. He was a wagon maker by trade. He moved to this community and realized that it was a duty and a privilege to have a church to honor God’s Holy Name and purpose, for spiritual reinforcement, social contact, and Christian fellowship which influences one’s thinking and shapes one’s life. Mr. Dorsey lived in Scipio township until he departed this life in 1865.

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In 1841, the first log cabin was built on land in the angle between Campbell Road and the “Ridge Road”, which is now known as State Rd 37.  Sometime later, between 1860 and 1880, this log structure was replaced by a frame church on the same site.  The land where the church now stands was given to the church by Mr. McClain McCurdy and his wife Sarah (Dorsey) McCurdy for as long as worship services continue to be held.  This generous contribution provided room for a larger brick structure dedicated in 1898 which is our current church home.

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Strong faith and the love of God has kept the church going through the years.  The outside of the church still looks much the same, but on the inside many improvements have been made.  In 1937 the gas lights were replaced with electric ones.  When North Scipio was changed from the Spencerville Circuit to the Harlan Circuit in 1952 several improvements were made.  The pulpit floor was raised one step and continued across the entire front of the church, new floor was laid and new carpet.  Due to unsafe condition of the coal furnace a new oil furnace was installed.  Also new front and rear doors were installed and the windows were recemented.  In 1974 new pews and in 1976 a new roof were major improvements to the church.

 

In the past, people would sometimes drive by the church when they were trying to find North Scipio.  A much appreciated wooden sign was made by Clifford Gorrell for the church with the church name and the time of the services carved into it.  This sign was used until it was damaged by a truck accident.  David Drayer got a new electric sign in Fort Wayne. This sign was installed in 1989 by David Drayer, Rick Drayer, Paul Fordham, Brian Roemke and Roger Hammon.

 

The church has been the site of many happy occasions: weddings, family nights, Christmas programs with the famous (or infamous) High School Class plays, Bible School, and countless carry-in dinners.  Years ago the Decoration Day program was held here on Memorial Day which created much interest and impression.  There would be marching bands and speeches and “Taps” would be played.  It was like a homecoming celebration.  One chairman of the program was Benjamin Dorsey who was the grandson of the first minister who served here.  These observances continued into the 1960’s.

 

The church has also been here to serve the community through the hard times.  Through wars and “rumors of wars,” economic hardship and many times of personal loss the church has continued to let people know that God still cares for them.  Services continued here when in the summer of 1975 four of the stained-glass windows were stolen.  The cross and candlesticks had also been stolen and were later discovered in a car in Texas and returned.

 

Over these many years the church has proven to be like a light tower on Life’s highway; as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  The church has given a deep impression all through the centuries that this life is only a portion of better things to come over on the other side where the soul finds a better day on a higher plane; and where, in the light of His presence and glory, the Savior claims as His own those that remain true and faithful in this life.  The church can be classed as a compass always pointing the right direction to the Way, the Truth, and the fruits of the better life.

 

From 1840 to 1990 seventy-eight ministers have served this church.  Several served one year.  Countless people have volunteered their time and talents throughout the past 150 years as leaders, teacher, musicians, and caretakers, and for whatever else needed to be done.

 

Since 1990, there have been some improvements to the building.  On July 19, 1997, the purchase from the McCurdy family of 3.6 acres of land immediately behind the church was completed.  This was made possible by the very generous gift of a former member.  Plans for this ground included a combination education unit and fellowship hall. 

 

On February 6, 2001, we were officially given permission by the Fort Wayne District Board of Church Location & Building to construct an addition for our new fellowship hall, classroom, board room, Pastor office, restrooms, kitchen and nursery.   On Sunday, November 10, 2002, we had a Ground Breaking ceremony to begin construction.  Our Building Committee consisted of: Dale Eager, Paul Fordham, Jean Omo, Keith Mendenhall, Rev. Patrick Fulbright, Ron Roy, Jerry Hammon, Vivian Beerbower, Todd Widdifield, and Chairman, Leslie Swart.  Men and women of our church came together to participate in whatever gift God had given them to make this fellowship hall a reality. Chuck Unger installed the wood trim around the door frames and helped with general construction.  He also made the Cross that hangs on the back wall of the Fellowship Hall.  Karen (Fordham) Maddox hand painted beautiful art work in the nursery.  She acquired precious pencils drawings of Jesus and children that hang in the hallway as well as the two commemorative plaques displaying the history of our church with pictures.  Todd Widdifield made the cross rosettes on the corners of every door.  Ron Roy painted all the outside doors for the new and the old portion of the church.  Paul Fordham helped in the construction of the building. During the construction a strong wind blew against the framing and Paul Fordham and Mark Roemke used their farm equipment to stabilize the structure.

 

After the Fellowship Hall was finished, we continued to make other improvements to the building.  Les Swart started improving the basement walls in the original building in April of 2004.  A lighted outdoor sign with movable letters was installed in September and the bell tower was repaired in October of that same year.  In April of 2005, storm windows were installed over the stain glass windows to protect them.

 

North Scipio is a caring community involved in missions near and far.  We give to a different charity project every month of the year which includes the Harlan Christian Youth Center, the Woodburn Christian Children’s Home, Children’s Cup (supporting Jack and Carol Benjamin’s mission work in Africa), Heifer International, UMCOR, the Harlan Food Pantry, Our Daily Bread, Habitat for Humanity, Project Linus, Kate’s Kart Books, Bashor Children’s Home, Allen County Christmas Bureau Families, and the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission.  We also support two children through World Vision monthly.  Special offerings for victims of the tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, and hurricane relief among others.  More recently, we financially helped the Kaanapali Beach Ministry led by Pastor Richard Murray after the devasting fire of Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii.  Shari Roy and her sister Sue Camp, had attended service on the beach in Lahaina three Sundays that same year prior to the fire.  Pastor Richard and his wife lost their house, van, church equipment and escaped with the clothes on their back.  God presents these opportunities to be a helping hand.  We also provide a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast at Harlan Days, a local festival.

 

We have been blessed by the people God has put in our lives.  Each person brings a talent or a grace that builds up the church, whether it is woodworking, mechanical, baking, organization, teaching, encouraging or being a prayer warrior.  God puts us together to help each other.  Keith Schreffler inspired a group of us to travel with him and his wife Kay to Israel in 2011.  He also introduced us to HomeTouch ministries which provides a weekly devotional and activity page which can be sent to the homebound or anyone to keep them connected with the community of faith.  We continue to send this our every week and include a copy of our bulletin and a summary of the sermon.  Pastor Matt Bock’s mother, Terri Bock, suggested we also include a Prayer List of what was shared during “Joys and Concerns” in the service.  This provides an opportunity for everyone to lift each other up in prayer.  On November 3, 2013, we rededicated our fellowship hall as Fulbright Hall in honor of Pastor Pat and Sherry Fulbright who served us so well when it was built and for years after.

 

We are blessed to have such a beautiful brick building with stain glass windows, vaulted ceiling and beautiful wood trim.  Our church is five mile east of Harlan nestled in the country side next to the Scipio Cemetery.  North Scipio Christian Church is our new name.  We have treasured our relationship with the Methodist over the years, but in 2023 our members chose to follow God’s leading and become a new church.  We meet every Sunday for worship beginning at 9:30 am.  Listed above are the weekly activities we have to encourage Bible study and prayer. We have Vacation Bible School every summer typically in July.

 

Our current pastors are Lead Pastor Ken Herb and Pastor Cody Etter.  Our members look for reasons to be together to worship and serve the Lord for His glory and our joy.  We would love to meet you and have you join us in worship to further God’s Kingdom. As we move forward to become North Scipio Christian Church, we treasure the connections that we have had in the past and look forward to what God wants us to be in the future.  We are relying on the revealed Word of God to show us the way.

                                    

                                                ---compiled by Glenn Brace, Betty Eager, Donna Fordham, Shari Roy