Location: Clarinda, Iowa

Presbytery: Midwest

Organized: 1855

Membership: 23 communicant; 7 baptized

Pastor: Jack Baumgardner

The Clarinda Reformed Presby­terian Church was organized in 1855 and consisted of 13 families. Settling on rolling prairie previously occupied by the Sac and Fox Indians, the pioneers chose land for farming along the Nodaway River south of Clarinda.

After initially meeting in homes for worship, the congregation erected a combined school and meeting house in 1856. The present building, erected in 1918, is the fifth on the beautiful hilltop located 4 miles from town. The congregation is the only Reformed work in the southwest quadrant of Iowa.

The first two ministers, Joseph McCracken and David McKee, were born in Ireland; since then there have been 14 ministers. During her early years the congregation was instrumental in sending out families to help start other works such as Sterling, Denison, Long Branch, Wahoo, Superior, and Winchester. Many Covenanter ministers and missionaries, with names such as Caskey, Edgar, McMillan, and Carson, have roots at Clarinda.

Sadly, there has been a gradual decline in numbers from a membership of well over 100 in her earlier years to 30 today. One reason is the demographic change from family farms to large-scale corporate farming. This has resulted in thousands of rural churches closing in recent years. Like much of the Midwest which has been emptied of her rural population, now not a single Covenanter farmer operates within the boundaries of the original colony. What was formerly the cultural center for the congregation is now perceived as distant from town life. This presents a special challenge as the congregation, most of which lives in Clarinda, seeks ways to connect with, witness to, and meet the needs of people in the area.

After several years without a resident preacher, our congregation has been blessed through the faithful teaching of Pastor Baumgardner and his wife, Karen.  When they arrived in Clarinda in January 2008 it was with open hearts and an open home. Their kindness and hospitality have reached far beyond the members of our congregation.  They have hosted Bible studies for neighbors, young ladies, and wives of local Japanese businessmen.

The congregation hosts occasional psalm sings, summer vacation Bible school, math enrichment classes, and participates in the local meal program for the poor. Some members are also active in the Eastern Iowa family camp at Crooked Creek.  This past year, we hosted the presbytery psalm sing, winter youth conference and an RP Mission team.

Fun Anecdotes

Deacon Homer Woods, during one service, suddenly grabbed his leg and ran hobbling out the door. Rev. Remo Robb thought it was a cramp, but, after a “strange Scottish dance” on the porch, a mouse flew out of Homer’s pant leg.

Rev. M. S.  McMillan was known for studying his sermons while mowing the cemetery.

When a tornado took the roof off the church during his first Sabbath in the pulpit, Rev. William Pihl commented that he hadn’t realized he was called to be an open-air preacher!

Prayer Requests

Pray, as the Apostle Paul desired for the Thessalonians, that we will love one another, that we will increase in that love, that we will aspire to lead quiet lives, minding our own business and working with our own hands, and that we will walk properly toward those who are outside.