OUR HISTORY

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11)

The Midway Mennonite Church identifies with a church renewal movement that began in 1525 in the heart of the European Reformation. New students of God’s written word discovered that biblical descriptions of the church did not match their present experience of church life. They called for change, and when established church leaders were unresponsive, they set out on their own to proclaim the wonderful discovery they had made about the Christ who calls all people to a personal relationship with him in the context of the community of faith.

At great cost to themselves, the leaders of this new movement fanned the flames of renewal that would eventually spread out over all Europe and beyond. Today the Mennonite Church and other related church bodies have a membership of over 1,300,000 strong, and worshiping on six continents in almost 60 countries, over 60% of which can be found on African, Asian and Latin American soil.

Midway’s roots go back to 1801 when twenty year old Henry Stauffer walked from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, to settle in what we know as the Mahoning Valley. Others followed, including Bishop Jacob Oberholtzer, who formally established the church in 1807. As more settlers came to the area, their faith came with them. The church grew and outgrew the meetinghouses built for those early pioneers. Other meetinghouses were built in outlying areas, now known as the Leetonia and North Lima Mennonite churches. Midway’s current structure of worship was built in 1869 with many additions and upgrades in the ensuing years.

Today, more than 200 years after the first Mennonite cleared land to live in this community, the church still stands as a testimony to the vibrant faith passed along from generation to generation. Our prayer is that Midway’s faith community may continue to bring spiritual vitality to succeeding generations who come thirsting for God’s healing and hope in their lives.