Hebron RP Church

Location: Clay Center, Kan.

Organized: Nov. 9, 1871

Members: 41 communicant; 20 baptized

Pastors: Ron Graham & Jonathan Haney (Manhattan church planter)

Websites:kansas.net/~hebronrp and manhattanreformed.net

The Hebron RP Church in Clay Center (pop. 4,334) looks average enough, but, as is usually the case in Kansas, you don’t have to scratch too far below the surface to uncover rich gems of history, character, and the Lord’s blessings.

Clay County received a number of settlers following the Civil War, among them enough Covenanters to successfully petition the Reformed Presbyterian Synod to start a new work there. Rev. Matthew Wilkin arrived as a church planter in 1870, receiving $38 after four months of laboring. The church was organized on Nov. 9, 1871, having branches in the townships of Republican City and Eagle Bend. Two years later, these sites would represent two different congregations: Republican City and Tabor (in Eagle Bend).

While the Tabor congregation would remain active only until 1924, the Republican City congregation exists today as the Hebron RP Church. The name change was most likely brought about to avoid confusing the Republican City Reformed Presbyterian Church with a “New Light” congregation of the same name in the same town. Another way to distinguish the two congregations was that the New Lights had a church building, while Hebron met in a shed known as “The Tabernacle.” One member described this shed as “not as good as a stable ought to be,” though possibly it was an improvement over the prior worship location, under the shady limbs of an oak tree.

Hebron RPC would eventually erect a church building on a lot near present-day Idana. Although the building we worshiped in from 1879 to 1978 no longer stands, the Hebron Cemetery still occupies the location, and the bodies of several church members are buried there, including Dr. J. G. Vos (pastor, 1942–54). It was during his pastorate at Hebron that Dr. Vos began publication of the well-known periodical, Blue Banner Faith and Life.

In the mid 1970s, the congregation voted to move into Clay Center, where we have been since 1978. The congregation has maintained a biblical witness and Christian testimony throughout Clay County, and, more recently, has been heavily involved in the efforts to plant a congregation in Manhattan (Kansas), a.k.a. “The Little Apple.”

Although we may look like an average congregation, the Lord has actually brought together quite a variety of people. We travel great distances from every direction to meet in Clay Center, Our small congregation of average Kansas folks includes both airplane and helicopter pilots, a museum curator, a ham radio operator, a bluegrass musician, a Gideon, military veterans from four foreign conflicts, and two accordion players. Our oldest member recently celebrated her 97th birthday, and the youngest member celebrated being born only a few months ago. We have one married couple about to commemorate their first wedding anniversary, and another couple who have had a happy anniversary 62 times! Although this practice is sometimes frowned upon in Reformed circles, Hebron observes a church calendar with four major feasts: the Valentine’s Banquet (fundraiser for the Covenanter Youth), the Spring Pancake Supper, the K-State Welcome Back Picnic, and the Hay-Rack Ride/Barbeque at the Milligans’ farm. Yes, we’re just a small Kansas church, but that can say a lot.

Prayer Requests

Pray for more young families to come into the congregation and the church plant.

Pray for the Bible studies being held in nursing homes and in the county jail.

Pray for the power of the gospel to change hearts in Clay Center and Manhattan.

Pray that the Lord would establish and sustain congregations in both locations.