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More that 50 years ago, the Mennonite congregation at Hopedale began looking for a place to plant an outreach fellowship group. Under the leadership of Bishop Simon Litwiller, the congregation searched the area within a 25-mile radius of Hopedale to find a location. In the spring of 1945, Dillon was chosen for the new work. Sunday, the Dillon Mennonite Church will mark its 50th anniversary with special services at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and a potluck meal at noon.

Arthur Nafziger of Hopedale, Evangelist Laurence Horst of Goshen, IN, and former Delavan resident Vernon Broadfield of Wyeliffe Bible Translators in Texas will speak at the services. The Hopedale Mennonites chose an empty wooden frame building in Dillon for their project. It had previously served as a church so it was furnished with pews and an organ. Before it was put into full use, it was thoroughly cleaned and given two coats of paint.

John V. and Ina Troyer wee put in charge of the new church project. They enlisted the aid of Chancy and Elsie Litwiller and Simon and Ruth Birky to teach the Sunday school classes. The first Sunday school meeting was held on June 3, 1945, with 32 people attending. After the Sunday school, John Troyer presented a flannel graph lesson on a biblical topic. He continued these Bible lessons until 1952, when he was ordained to the ministry. At the 9:30 a.m. service Sunday, Troyer will once again present one of these flannel graph Bible lessons. Attendance at Sunday services continued to increase, until, on July 21, 1952, a meeting decided if the group should form a new congregation independent of Hopedale. Members were also asked whether the Illinois Mennonite Conference sing.

A few days later, work began. The septic tank, tile and footing were laid, but funds were soon gone and the new basement was covered to wait until more funds were available since the congregation had decided that any new building would be a cash-in-hand project. On July 31, 1956, members gathered and began dismantling the familiar old church building and laying the sub floor of the new building. The following Sunday morning, August 6, 1956, the first service was held in the new church basement. On March 17, 1957, just two weeks more than a year from the date of the groundbreaking, dedication services were held in the new sanctuary. The building comfortably seats 125, but as many as 200 have gathered for special services through the years.

 

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