The History of the Church
When Immanuel Mennonite was founded in the early ’90s, immigration was just beginning to make its mark on Harrisonburg. Since then, immigration’s increase has not only altered the demographics of the city, but of the Newtown community and of Immanuel Mennonite. The church’s population has experienced consistent changes since its beginnings close to 30 years ago.
The church has also seen diversity in its pastors: both men and women, white and African-American. Under Basil Marin, who pastored for 12 years, attendance made its way into the 200s, with community members as well as students from Eastern Mennonite Church.
In the late 2000s, a large Hispanic population joined the church. In 2010, Immanuel helped the group to plant their own church.
“The composition of the congregation changes at that point, but that vision said, ‘Yes, go and start a church,’” Matthew Bucher, the current pastor, said. “It wasn’t, ‘No, we have to hold you here.’”
It’s common for members of the church to come and go, thereby making it so that many different people have gotten the chance to experience the church. The leaders work to make sure that members, both old and new, play an active role in the church.
“Every time different people come, that means different things happen in the congregation because of people’s interests,” Jerry Holsopple, a professor at Eastern Mennonite University and a long-time member, said. “We’re not a massive congregation who has this total focused plan, but what people are interested in, we support.”
The demographic makeup of the church has been altered, but its goal of embracing diversity has endured. While the welcome your neighbor sign has demonstrated that mentality to the world, it’s merely a reflection of the church’s history and members who make it up.
A declaration of the church’s mission and goals, signed by many of the members.
Janet Stutzman
After attending Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Janet Stutzman, an Oregon native, has been a permanent resident in Harrisonburg, Virginia since 1991 and a member of Immanuel Mennonite Church since its origin in 1993.
Two years ago, Stutzman’s peers saw her leadership qualities and asked her to take the role as president of the board of the Roberta Webb Child Care Center, which was created by the church to provide qualified educational child care in the neighborhood. Her passion for the community and being a grandma of three has made this role an excellent fit.
She is also active in the Kids Club that weekly welcomes about 40 neighborhood children. They tell bible stories, do crafts, and sometimes hold potlucks for the children and their families. These activities reflect back to another primary reason for the church’s creation, providing childcare to parents in need.
The child care center located in the church basement hosts many families and children of diverse backgrounds. “It’s like a little UN down there,” Stutzman said.
When the idea of creating the sign was brought to her, she thought it was an excellent idea. With the church’s original mission to be a good neighbor and be of assistance to the Harrisonburg community. This was just the next step to showing their commitment.
Being a member of the church for 25 years, she believes the Immanuel Mennonite Church has done much more than simply posting a sign to be a good “neighbor” in the Harrisonburg community.
Grace Meiser
At the age of 19, Grace Meiser is one of the younger members of Immanuel Mennonite Church. Her parents helped start Immanuel Mennonite Church and have been bringing her ever since she was a baby.
Meiser was a regular participant in the church’s Christmas plays as a child. Under the leadership of pastor, Basil Marin, she used to be involved with the church’s choir. Once she was older, she would occasionally help out with the kid’s club and teach Sunday school.
“Seeing all the kids and seeing them interact with the different scriptures and stuff like that is awesome,” Meiser said.
The church is good at involving current members in the church’s activities, according to Meiser. This is one of her favorite things about being a member. One can always finds place in the church by playing an instrument, reading scripture, or working to help children.
Meiser has noticed that the church has expand its initiative to invite people to the church Now the church members reach out to the neighborhoods and attending Christmas caroling during the holidays to draw people to the church.
Meiser loves the church’s openness to different members of the community.
“We are a church that are really good at helping people feel welcome and like they’re at home,” Meiser said. “I love how we try to reach out to people from all over the place and we do a lot in the community.”
Darwin Aguilar
Two years ago, Darwin Aguilar, his wife Bertha Nunez and their daughter Janelly Aguilar Nunez attended their first service at Immanuel Mennonite Church by invitation from a family friend.
“We feel so close to everybody because it’s a small church,” Aguilar said. “Everybody’s so nice. I just like the environment.”
Darwin Aguilar and his family arrived in Harrisonburg 12 years ago, leaving Honduras to start a new life in the United States. Aguilar was a professor teaching both math and electronic technology in Honduras. He now works as an engineer, repairing electronics devices in his basement.
Aguilar’s family, especially his daughter, Janelly Aguilar Nunez, enjoys attending the Church. Last Christmas, she played an angel in the church’s production of the Christmas story. Aguilar says seeing her in it is one of his fondest memories at the church.
While the church has an estimated 40 percent of members who speak Spanish as their second language, his family is the church’s only consistent attendants who speak it as their first. Sometimes, Aguilar is the one reading the scriptures.
Inclusive acts like this reflects on how the church lives out the ideas presented in their sign.
“They pretty much applied that sign with acts,” Aguilar said, “Like I said they’re pretty nice people. They’re open to receive everybody there.”