Grabill Missionary Church 125th Anniversary
When we gathered on September 27, 2026, to celebrate 125 years of ministry at Grabill Missionary Church, we were doing more than marking a milestone. We were giving thanks for the faithfulness of God.
As I have reflected on this anniversary, I have felt deep gratitude for the generations of men, women, and children who have prayed here, served here, worshiped here, given generously here, and cared faithfully for one another. So much of this church’s story has been written not only through big moments, but through quiet acts of love, steady obedience, and everyday faithfulness.
Our story began with a small group of believers meeting in homes and rented spaces. They did not yet have a building to call their own, but they had faith in a God who was at work among them. Around 1900, when the church had about forty members and was saving to build its first permanent home, they learned that Joseph Ramseyer was beginning a ministry in Elkton, Michigan. Even then, they collected $200 to support that work.
I love that part of our story. Before this congregation had a church building, it already had a heart for the mission of God. Those believers understood that the work of Christ was bigger than their own needs.
In 1901, the congregation built one of the first church buildings in Grabill. Much has changed since then. Pastors have come and gone. Ministries have grown and adapted. Buildings have been updated. The community around us has changed too. And yet reminders of our beginnings remain. The bell from the original building now stands in the courtyard, and a stained-glass window from that first church is preserved in our hallway. These reminders connect us to generations of believers who worshiped, prayed, served, and trusted God long before us.
What we celebrated was not simply that a church has lasted 125 years. By God’s grace, Grabill Missionary Church is not only remembering 125 years of ministry; it is still a living, active community seeking Jesus together. We are not a perfect church, but God is still at work among us. There is still faith here, still love here, and still a desire to know Christ, serve others, and walk together in truth and grace.
As we celebrate this anniversary, we remember the past with gratitude, embrace the present with love, and look to the future with hope. We do not know what the next 125 years will bring, but we do know the One who holds the future. Jesus is still building His church and calling us to follow Him with humble and joyful faith.
Grabill Missionary Church’s story is still being written. By God’s grace, it will continue through people of every generation loving Jesus, loving one another, and serving their neighbors. God has been faithful to this church, and we trust Him to be faithful still.
- Pastor Kevin Brown
