Location: Minneola, Kan.

Presbytery: Midwest

Organization: June 1969

Membership: 19 communicant; 4 baptized

Pastor: Dan Bartel

The Minneola, Kan., Reformed Presbyterian Church was originally organized as an Associate Presbyterian Church on March 20, 1906, by a group of believers who had moved to the community. Church services were held in the Tedford schoolhouse nine miles south of Minneola. In 1914, trustees were instructed to buy a new building, which was moved by steam engine to a place four miles south of town. The congregation worshiped in this building with its bright blue pews until 1942, when the congregation moved to its current location in the town of Minneola.

In June 1969 the Associate Presbyterian Church merged with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, and so the congregation and became the Minneola Reformed Presbyterian Church. In summer 2006, the congregation hosted its 100th anniversary celebration, using Psalm 78A as the theme psalm. Although small, from this congregation a number of pastors, pastors’ wives, and missionaries have been sent out.

The first called pastor was H.S. Atchison in 1909. Harry W. Orr, Kermit Edgar, Paul Hindman, Ray McCracken, Ron Graham, Tony Cowley, and Stan Copeland have all served as pastors (we also claim Denny Prutow).

We take turns with other local churches in hosting a “fifth quarter” for high school students following football and basketball games, co-hosting a week-long summer vacation Bible school program with three other churches, and monthly take our turn conducting the worship service at our local nursing home. Minneola’s average weekly attendance is 12, with almost half being over the age of 87!

The women gather once a month in homes for a prayer time. A number of our men attend Revival on the Great Plains, a monthly fellowship meal and Bible study in Garden City, Kan., along with men from the Quinter, Kan., RPC and a couple of other local men. Services were held once a month for six months in Garden City with guest pastors to see if there was interest for a Reformed work in that area. Pastor Bartel and his wife take a turn with other local church people in conducting a midweek Bible study at the Minneola Long Term Care facility.

Prayer Requests

Pray for our congregation as we struggle with issues of aging; being a small Reformed group in the rural, sparsely populated area of our state; and that we would continue to be a light to those we come in contact with.

Fun Facts

Paul Hindman pastored for almost 30 years in Minneola and was the father to Ed Hindman, who recently retired after pastoring 42 years in one congregation. Paul was the pastor when the AP Church merged with the RP Church. Three current members have worshiped at Minneola for over 65 years.