STRASSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY

In 1867, five German families emigrated from Russia to Central Kansas.  With no homes or property of their own, they were hosted by gracious Mennonite families in the area until they could purchase their own land (for about $2.25-$5.00 per acre) and construct their homes out of dugouts in the earth.  The area where they settled was named after their community in Russia, simply "Strassburg."  

Despite the long hours spent working to transform the prairie into settled farms and homesteads, they set aside time to worship in their individual homes.  Soon they recognized the need to gather with other believers for worship and began to join together in each other's homes.  

In 1892, a small building (about the size of a single0car garage) was purchased and moved to the Strassburg area.  Come Sunday mornings, the worshipers would be found filing into the six, home-made wooden pews; three on one side for the men, with three facing them on the other side for the women and a low table for a pulpit on the North end of the church.  This congregation was known as "Die Bruder," or "The Brethren."

Even without a full-time Pastor much of the time, the congregation grew.  The Pastor of the German Baptist Church (now Emmanuel) in Marion, along with one of its members, devoted both time and resources to helping foster the congregation.  Eventually the need for a larger building was evident and the small building was torn down, making room for the new structure to be built in its place.  Today, this structure is still standing as the South part of the present church, with some modifications.

On July 16, 1911, the group officially joined the German Baptist Conference of North America (now the North American Baptist Conference) and became known as Strassburg Baptist Church.  They had 31 charter members and their first Pastor, Jon B. Reh, began serving at the church in 1912.

Following Rev. Jon Reh, there have been 16 other men fulfilling the calling of Pastor at Strassburg.  The church has seen many changes, from physical changes in buildings, features, and land, to cultural changes in language (German to English), ethnicity (from German to all different backgrounds), worship styles, membership (only rural members to a mix of town and country alike) and spiritual changes as people have given their lives to Christ, been baptized, and members have been mentored into full-time ministry.

Since those first settlers came 150 years ago, there have been times of hardship and times of tremendous blessing.  The most recent challenge the church faced was a four-year wait for their next Pastor after the retirement of Pastor Don Mashburn and his wife Cathy, following 26 years of faithful service.  God truly had His hand on Strassburg during this period and in August of 2024, the church was blessed by the arrival of their current Pastor and his family from South Dakota--Pastor Jim Millman.

This fellowship of Christians exists because of the Lord's mercy, grace and truth, and the redemption of His Son, Jesus Christ, the power of His Holy Spirit, and the foundation of His Word.  May Strassburg continue to carry on the vision and mission that began in the homes of those settlers so many years ago as we seek to serve the Lord, proclaim His truths, and minister to those around us.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!