By Eleanor A. Daniel
Dorothy Keister Walker Professor of Christian Education
Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee

“Welcome to Milton Christian Church, the heart of the community,” the sign proclaimed as we neared the north edge of the village. We were traveling on this Labor Day weekend to Milton, Illinois, to join in the celebration of the 150-year history of Milton Christian Church in the same building a block east of the state highway that runs through the middle of the village. I was going home.

Milton Christian Church is one of hundreds of rural congregations related to the Stone Campbell Movement. The literature describes the decline of rural America—dwindling population, erosion of the social structures, and above all, the struggle of rural churches to survive. The past and present of this church offer hope rather than despair.

A Community Profile

Located in Pike County in west central Illinois, which is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River and on the east by the Illinois River, Milton was never a large community, even at its peak. The county covers 830 square miles and twenty identifiable communities are listed in www.wikipedia.org. The county seat is Pittsfield, which claims about one-fourth of the total population of the county.

According to the 2000 census, Pike County had a population of 17,384. The racial makeup of the population was 97.4% White, 1.5% Black or African American, with the remaining 1.1% scattered among Latinos or Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asians. In other words, little ethnic diversity can be found. The population is divided as follows:

Under 18: 24.1%
18-44: 33.5%
45-64: 23.2%
65 and older: 19.2%

The median income per household was $31,127, with 12.4% living below poverty level.

Milton is located twelve miles southeast of the county seat. The population in 2005 was 274 (57.3% female, 42.7% male). At 34.2, the median age is younger than the county as a whole. Though nearly three-fourths (72.2%) of the residents have completed high school, only 4% have a college degree. None living within the village holds a graduate or professional degree. The average income is approximately the same as that for the county. The average person commutes 40.7 minutes to work.

No schools any longer exist within the community. Students are transported to Pittsfield, the county seat, for their education. Little retail business exists—a diner, a construction company, a hair salon, and an automotive service—all family owned--plus a branch bank, a self-service gas station, a full-service post office, and a Farm Supply plant serving the needs of farmers, and a few home businesses. The nearest medical facilities are in the county seat as well.

The History of Milton Christian Church

Early records of the establishment of the church are sketchy at best. Though it is likely that the church was formed as early as 1833, it is certain that the congregation has existed at its present location and facility since 1856. The land on which the building is located was given by David and America Hoover, and a building was constructed and occupied in June 1856.

In 1916, the church was remodeled. During the remodeling, the congregation met in a store building on the north side of the town square. This remodeling process converted the church building into the sanctuary much as it exists today with a high ceiling, beautiful stained glass windows depicting familiar Bible accounts and bearing the names of those who donated the window, and an “overflow” area that could be opened for seating when the sanctuary was full. That area is now used regularly for seating. This remodeled building was dedicated December 10, 1916. At that service, enough money was raised to pay off all outstanding debts against the building with a nice sum left to construct the parsonage that to this day stands immediately to the west of the building.

The Ladies Aid Society has played an important role in the history of the church. It was established shortly after the building was built, and it continues to meet, even today. In 1901, the Ladies Aid collected and paid $340 on the cost of new pews that serve the church to this day.

In the early 1940s, the church ceased passing the offering plate in the worship service, introducing instead a treasury chest that was made by a member of the congregation and is located immediately inside the entrance. It invites worshippers to leave their tithes and offerings in the chest as they come or go from the worship service. I well remember in my late childhood and early youth watching others drop into the chest their offerings and joining in that act of worship myself. It is a practice of the past rarely seen today in churches, but continues to shape the worship of this congregation.

Asked about this practice and its impact on giving, the minister said, “The giving at Milton is great. . . At first we [the pastor and his wife] thought it was strange, but it doesn’t put pressure on visitors to feel obliged to give. . .We periodically teach and preach about stewardship of money, time, and gifts. We have ‘matured’ new givers in the eleven years that we have been in Milton.

The history of the congregation notes that in the mid-1950s, a lighted sign was erected in front of the church. This was contributed by the youth of the church who worked all summer on a Bible drama presentation at which an offering was taken to pay for the sign. It was a summer of significant learning on many levels for the youth who participated, of which I was one.

In recent years an annex was added to the building, providing additional classrooms, indoor restrooms, a better designed kitchen, and more meeting space for fellowship activities.

A total of forty-one ministers have served the church since 1877 when the first full-time minister is listed. None of them has been widely known beyond Milton and Pike County. Names such as T. J. Shelton, F. N. Calvin, C. B. Dabney, Robert Hargis, Kent Sanderson, Otis Watson, Hobart Lash, Hansel Eason, Darrel Malcom, David Perry, and Al Roemer, and the current minister, Jerry Edison, are on the list. Most ministers served the church only three or four years. Two six-year ministries can be found—one in the late 1940s/early 1950s, the other in the early 1980s. But most notable is the eleven-year tenure of the current minister Jerry Edison.

Edison came to the area first to preach for a small church about five miles south of Milton. Then in 1995, he began to serve both that congregation and the Milton church that had declined and was struggling financially. He served the two congregations for four years, then focused his ministry entirely with the Milton congregation beginning in 1999.

At least a dozen names were listed in the program on September 3 of those who were called “Timothys” of the congregation—those who had left to prepare for ministry. One had served for several years as a missionary in Korea. One married and has served with her husband, an elder, in churches where they have lived. Two have served with their minister husbands. One has had a long career in Christian education and as a college and seminary professor. One is currently a children’s minister. Two are preaching. One serves a para-church organization after having preached for several years. Four are younger people who are beginning in ministry or in college preparing for ministry. In short, the congregation has been faithful in sending out those who share in the ministry of the Church.

The Church Today

Edison describes the church when he was called as minister: “The church was declining in numbers, the building was in need of repair, and they were struggling financially. The morale was not high and there was no excitement in the spirits of the people.” But all that has changed.

The church has prospered during the last decade. The current Sunday worship attendance is 170-180. Over 70% of the congregation is under 40; only 20% is over 65. The influence of the church is wide. About 70% of the congregation drives from surrounding communities and farms.

Though a church is far more than a building and property, the physical facilities provide a strong indicator of the health of the congregation. It is surely true of this church. In the past eleven years alone, the following building and property renovations have occurred:

• Renovated and updated restrooms – and added handicapped accessible facilities and ramps.
• Put new siding on the parsonage and the church building
• Updated the steeple and placed a cross on the top of the church for the entire community to see.
• Repaired and sealed the leaky basement that often had four or five inches of water standing in it. Currently all space in the basement is used for five classrooms and a renovated church office.
• Made a church office in the building
• Remodeled the parsonage: original bathroom upstairs and the main floor bath; remodeled the kitchen and dining room completely; finished the garage to enclose with new doors, windows, and siding.
• Updated electrical wiring in the church facility and parsonage.
• Installed air conditioning at the church building.
• Laid new carpet in the sanctuary and new tile in the annex.
• Renovated the church library.
• Installed two new stained glass windows in the front of the sanctuary.
• Installed new windows in the parsonage.
• Completed new landscaping on the church property.
• Purchased land for an extra parking area.
• Installed a new baptistery.
• Removed an old oil furnace and replaced with a new furnace.
• Oiled and chipped the main parking lot.
• Removed some pews and replaced with stackable chairs for worship area.
• Bought a new piano and organ
• Added a new sound system.

The church is financially healthy—it currently has one small debt at the local bank. But they have a CD or two; much of the money has been invested in maintaining, remodeling, and improving the old building to keep it in good, usable condition. With that said, the church has also increased missions giving, college support, camp fees and offerings, and benevolence giving, and has been responsible for home repair projects for local families/individuals in need. The church also gives to Bible college students from the church each semester. It also gives and works annually in the food distribution program during the holidays for the whole county.

The congregation is much like many congregations. It currently has youth groups for ages Pre-K through Grade 12. There is a Saturday morning Bible Study for men. They have a steady Sunday School program with experienced teachers who are committed to their ministry of teaching over the years. They plan family canoe trips most summers and have a similar skiing outing in the winter. They have a children’s church for those two years of age through fourth grade. One very popular program they have had for the last several years is Family Fun Night. It is the last Sunday of every month from September through April and is geared for the entire church family. It has featured such things as a chili cook-off, Super Bowl party, dessert night, hayrides, board game night, and much more.

In Edison’s words:

Our youth group began with about ten youth and now runs each Sunday night over 55 total. The young people are excited, the teachers are excited and the parents are excited. For example just last Sunday night ( September 22, 2006), after almost every family had been involved in the town’s annual festival, we had a youth kickoff on Sunday night and we had over 120 in attendance. The fellowship and friendship was wonderful. The leaders are energetic and sold out for the Lord.

He continues:

Our Sunday School program has some very strong teachers. Three of them have been teaching for a combined total of 80 years: The experience and enthusiasm is evident in the scriptural knowledge of our young people. We have had steady attendance in Sunday school; but we feel that this is an area where we need to improve or look at adding small groups on other days to bring in more adults. VBS is still an integral part of the Christian education program of the church.

Edison describes how they have been innovative with the program:

Another area contributing to growth and to the excitement of the church would be our Vacation Bible School program. Each summer we have a Vacation Bible School for one week in July or August. We now do this endeavor at the local Christian campgrounds (only three miles away). We moved it from the local church to the camp for three reasons: (1) to move it to a neutral site where people would not hesitate to attend, (2) to let people know the camp and its services, and (3) to have the other area churches become involved. This has been a blessing and has resulted in many attending the churches currently. Five churches work together to host VBS and to present Christ to the community in a united way. We do not compete for attendees, workers, and resources.

So what makes this congregation so vibrant in a day when many rural churches are finding it increasingly difficult to thrive? Many factors may well contribute to the vibrancy. But a few, in particular, should be noted.

I observed to Edison that the church appears to be the healthiest it has ever been. He noted:

The process began when I first accepted the call to Milton Christian Church. The first month that I was serving as minister, the elders came to me and said they were going to resign and step down. Their remarks were what turned the tide in the ministry I have had at Milton. They said, ‘There’s nothing wrong, but we know that we will hold you and the church back. You are going to have new ideas and we don’t want to slow the church down.’ All were huge supporters of the new ministries and made themselves available for counsel. Their commitment to attendance and encouragement of the younger generation was and is a major factor in the spiritual well being of the congregation. Wow, what wisdom God gave these men, and what humility they showed in this one act. That same humility has been present here at Milton.

Those godly men have been replaced by a current eldership that seeks the best for the congregation. Edison observes:

Another reason for such growth is our current elders. They are open and up front as men of God and their relationship with me as the minister. We discuss everything and sometimes we don’t agree, but when we leave the meeting, we are united and that is what is shown to the congregation. The decisions aren’t made to disagree or agree with each other; they are made with the Church Body in mind. Potential elders are nominated by current elders and affirmed by the congregation.

Currently the church has two elders, but often calls upon three retired elders from whom they seek advice and counsel. They do not have a rotation of elders and deacons. Some have served for many years; others are new to the office. Edison sees his role as working hand-in-hand with the elders and deacons, casting the vision for the church. He says, “Over the years, the elders have had to deal with some difficult situations. This has been done with love and mercy and with the Scriptures as guidance.”

Edison also points out the role of families in the congregation:

Also another reason for the healthy church would be families with children are making church attendance a priority and the teaching of their children a priority. It is wonderful to see, when I sit down with a child and talk to them about Jesus that they already know that Jesus is the Son of God and why they need him in their lives. One day we were doing a work project that involved some intense labor, not only did the men show up to help, so did the women and the children. Almost every activity that is done at the church is open to the entire family. Ministry, however, belongs to everyone.

As Edison observes, “Each responsible person does his or her own ministry or task and they do it very well. When a responsibility is completed, the praise doesn’t go to them, it goes to God. No one wants their name mentioned or given out; they just want the Lord praised.”

But Edison himself is very much a part of the community. He has coached basketball at the middle school and high school for seven years and has coached soccer at the Pike County League for six years. He is a member of the county Mental Health Board, the Village Board, Pike County Matters (a board that oversees and makes decisions for a building used by another church to have community activities), Mississippi Valley Christian Service Camp board, president of the Corn Carnival Festival that draws about 2,000 people in attendance each year, president of the Ministerial Alliance, vice president of the Pike County Unmet Needs committee, and member of Habitat for Humanity.

In short, this man has immersed himself in the lives of those whom he serves. His long ministry has paid rich dividends. Of that, he says:

I have developed friendships and people have put their trust in me and my ministry. They have learned that parts of the ministry are confidential and over time have realized that those confidences have been kept. I have assisted/ counseled families through sorrow and times of hurting, and rejoiced with them in times of triumph and celebration. We have raised our two sons in the parsonage, and the church has seen us in joy and triumph in parenting and family relationships. They have also seen us deal with our mistakes in parenting and family life. They have seen us grow as spouses, parents, and adult children of our own parents. We are common folk, just like everyone else, and in the 11 years that we have lived here, they have come to know that first hand. Our neighbors in the small town of Milton have been tolerant of loud music, lots of teens coming and going at all hours, late nights, and ESPN blaring full blast from every TV in the house. They know us as people, not just as the preacher’s family in a two-hour period on Sunday morning.

That, after all, may reach and teach others far more effectively than any other method.

Celebration Day

The anniversary celebration day dawned clear and pleasant—a good day for folks to gather to celebrate a grand heritage. The church building was packed for the morning worship service. Folks had come from California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and many places in Illinois. Cars filled the parking lot and lined both sides of the street for a block or so. The minister preached a strong sermon recounting the past, reflecting on the present, and calling for continued faithfulness into the future.

The church had prepared for over 200 for a catered feast. Not everyone could fit inside; some had to eat at tables in a tent erected beside the building. The afternoon program was a time of joy and reminiscing as five of the “Timothys” present shared their appreciation, three former ministers brought greetings, and the minister who served the church at the time of the centennial celebration in 1956 shared memories and challenges.

All of that was followed by a cake and punch reception. I left at 4:00 p.m.—with many folks still there. It had been a great day of celebration.

Conclusion

Milton Christian Church demonstrates that rural churches need not be dying, impotent places. It isn’t a perfect church. None is. It isn’t in a perfect setting. No church is. But godly leaders have made wise decisions, and a faithful minister has come to make the place home. And the results are apparent. Maybe Edison puts it best:

To best sum up Milton Christian Church and the excitement and the healthy atmosphere would be to say that the people are willing to work and serve and let God get all the credit and praise. It is spiritually managed by godly men who work behind the scenes for God’s glory.

Whatever its size or wherever its location, any church like this one can be the heart of the community!