Eureka Church History
General History
As early as 1896, a church building was constructed in Eureka, Illinois. The congregation remained an integral part of the Roanoke church located six miles northeast of town on the vast prairie between Eureka and Roanoke. The Roanoke church was founded by Benedict Weyeneth, the first American Elder, and was attended by Eureka and Roanoke people. It was a common sight late in the nineteenth century to see people walking from the villages of Roanoke and Eureka to the church on the prairie.
In order to better accommodate brethren who lived in Eureka, a small meeting house was built in that village. This was primarily used for midweek services. On Sundays the brethren would travel to the country church for worship services. The Eureka building was not used for Sunday services unless the roads were bad or the weather was unusually inclement. A similar church was built in Roanoke for the same purpose. The little church in Eureka at 107 North Meyers Street was built in 1896 on property donated by Henry B. Schumacher. Early ministers were John W. Schmidt (who first occupied the pulpit), Carl Haecker, Samuel Schumacher, and Leo Grusy. It is said, George Haecker, Carl Haecker’s eldest son, remembers assisting Albert Hinnen in this project and digging the trenches for the foundation for the first church.
In the early 1940’s, with the invention of the automobile and better roads, there was a decline in the use of the church in Eureka. Both midweek and Sunday services were held at the Roanoke country church, which was now easily accessible from Eureka. The old church in Eureka was vacated in 1950. The next year it was moved to 514 West Center Street and converted into a residence.
The Roanoke congregation had become very large. It had grown from approximately 350 members in 1929 to over 600 members in the early 1950’s. It was decided on February 14, 1955, to build a new church in Eureka out of convenience. This would alleviate the space problem at Roanoke and provide a more central location of worshipfor the growing number of brethren in the Eureka area.
On March 21, 1956, ground was broken for the new church on West Cruger Street. This church is situated in the southwest corner of Eureka on a three and one-half acre site. This structure of brick, stone, steel and laminated wood had a seating capacity of 700.
In 1982, the Eureka church had grown to 220 members. However, by the late 1980’s, crowded conditions were being experienced in certain areas of the Eureka Church. On October 11, 1994, ground was broken to provide a new ground-level dining room, expanded baby rooms, Sunday school rooms, and fellowship area. On September 24, 1995, the congregation was able to enjoy our first Sunday using the new facilities.
The church continued to grow and by year 2000, the church had 419 members. By 2004, the church membership had grown to 430 members and by early 2006, the church had 458 members. In 2010, due to crowded conditions in the baby room, it was decided to remodel the basement to accommodate an additional baby room with sleeping rooms.
By 2012, differences and attitudes among church members across much of the Apostolic Christian church denomination, had reached a point that led to an unfortunate schism. In August 2012, a number of the members chose not to assemble with the Eureka congregation and split from the National Apostolic Christian Church denomination. The remaining members and friends continued to gather on Sundays and Wednesday evening’s to hear the truth and be strengthened thereby and to encourage each other.
In 2019, an interior update was completed to the entire main floor and balcony. New carpet was installed in the assembly and dining room. The benches in the assembly were shortened to provide more room in the aisles and were spaced apart to provide more movement between benches. The pulpit woodwork was replaced and a new stone back wall was added to the baptismal area.
Currently the Eureka congregation has approximately 346 members, friends and children gathering together as a church family.
History of Pulpit Ministry
With establishment of the permanent Eureka church in June of 1957, David Mangold of Roanoke was the first Elder to serve this church. Joe Rocke and Leroy Huber, already ministers in the Roanoke church, became Eureka’s first resident ministers at this permanent church. Joe Rocke had been ministering in Roanoke for some time and Leroy Huber had just been placed in the ministry on July 7, 1956. To support members and friends of the new church with spiritual guidance, Leroy Huber was selected to fill the role of Ordained Deacon on November 28, 1957. About 2 years later, he was elected Elder on December 6, 1959.
On November 21, 1961, Joe Rocke had a fatal accident. To support the Eureka church and assist Leroy Huber after Joe Rocke’s death, Vernon Leman and Walter Anliker were chosen to help in the ministry on January 7, 1962. Then, on January 14, 1963, Vernon Leman was asked to fill the role of Deacon for the Eureka church. The Eureka church continued to increase and on April 16, 1967, Marvin Schmidgall was added to the pulpit ministry. Feeling the need for some assistance in spiritual nurturing of the church and at the encouragement of the church, Leroy asked the church to fill the role of Ordained Deacon. Walter Anliker was selected to fulfill this role on January 9, 1977.
Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, the church continued to flourish and grow. The number of families making Eureka their church continued to increase, souls were called to repentance, and the blessing of God continued to be felt as church membership and attendance continued to expand. On November 21, 1982, Steve Martin was placed into the ministry. Jim Vierling was placed in the ministry on December 6, 1987.
On May 20, 1989, Vernon Leman retired from the ministry in Eureka. About a month later, due to failing health, Leroy Huber retired as Elder of the Eureka church on June 26, 1989. Walter Anliker was selected on September 10, 1989, to take on the responsibilities of Elder at the Eureka Church. Leroy Huber passed away on January 2, 2002 and Vernon Leman passed away on August 7, 2007.
In the beginning of 1989, former Eureka resident, Ervin Knecht and his family moved back to Eureka from Lamar, MO. While he was in Lamar, Ervin was placed in the ministry in the Lamar church. Our church practice has been when a minister moves to another congregation, he discontinues preaching unless the new church requests him to serve in the new congregation. On November 15, 1989, the church in Eureka asked him to continue his ministry at our church.
Due to failing health, Walter Anliker announced his retirement from the Eldership of the Eureka church. Ervin Knecht was chosen to lead the church as Elder and this transition took place on August 30, 1992. Walter Anliker passed away on February 25, 1994.
On March 23, 1997, Trent Meiss was placed in the ministry at Eureka. Trent had previously served as a minister in the Iowa City, IA, congregation, but moved to Eureka due to a job change.
Marvin Schmidgall retired from the ministry on March 27, 1999 and passed away on December 29, 2019.
By the year 2000, church membership and attendance was over 400. On January 7, 2004, Mark Zimmerman and Mark Schmidgall were called to serve in the ministry. Then, in early 2008, Steve Martin was selected by the church to become an Ordained Deacon. This took place in March of 2008.
Late in 2009, Ervin Knecht announced to the church that he felt it was time to pass the responsibility to another brother. Steve Martin was selected to be the next Elder and this transition took place on February 21 2010.
During August of 2012, a number of members chose to no longer assemble with the Eureka congregation. Among those were Elder Steve Martin and ministers Jim Vierling and Mark Schmidgall. At that time Ervin Knecht again assumed the role of Elder of the Eureka congregation and along with Trent Meiss and Mark Zimmerman, ministered to the Eureka church.
On January 23, 2013 John Cottrell was called to serve in the ministry. On September 25, 2013 Ervin Knecht announced his intent to retire from being an Elder and from the ministry. His desire was to begin the search for a new Elder and to place another minister in the ministry. On November 13, 2013, it was made known that Trent Meiss was selected to serve the Eureka congregation as Elder. On January 29, 2014 Bill Wettstein was chosen to serve in the ministry.
The transition of the Eldership from Ervin to Trent took place on March 2, 2014.
The Eureka church pulpit ministry was further expanded when Mark Dotterer and Brad Stoller were called to the ministry on September 26, 2018.
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows:
thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
Psalms 61:5