Pastor Search Team Updates

Strassburg Baptist Church Profile

Strassburg Baptist is a small country church that is Christ centered, Biblically grounded, and family friendly! Founded in 1911, we still meet at that same location in Marion, Kansas. The Strassburg church started as several German families meeting together to worship in various homes and is now a growing family of ~100. Marion, Kansas is a small agricultural community in central Kansas. Population of ~2,000. Located in Marion County in the Flint Hills; it holds the county seat. ~10 miles from Hillsboro; ~58 miles from Wichita.

Covenant and Core Values

We believe that the Bible is God’s Word given by divine inspiration. Every word in the Bible is without error in the original writings. It is completely trustworthy and the supreme and final authority in faith and life. We believe in the trinity of the Godhead, the fall of man and his need for regeneration, the virgin birth, man’s redemption through the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ, salvation by faith alone in Christ, the perseverance of the saints, the local church as constituted of baptized believers, observance of two ordinances which are baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper, the personal premillennial return of Christ, and the bodily resurrection of both the redeemed unto eternal life and the lost unto eternal punishment. We affirm the congregational form of government, autonomy of the local church, and the separation of church and state.

Having been led by the spirit of God to receive our Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, and on the profession of our faith being baptized in the name of Father and of Son and of Holy Spirit, we now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We purpose, therefore, by the aid of Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the harmony and advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the church to spread the Gospel throughout the world, to give relief to the poor, and to provide for the local expenses of the church.

We further purpose to have family and private devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our relatives and friends; to walk circumspectly in the world, to be just and honest in our dealings, faithful in our work, and committed to the standards of God’s Word and Christian ethics in our personal lives; and to be zealous in spreading the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We believe that marriage was ordained by God at creation as the sacred union of one man and one woman. All sexual relations must, therefore, be reserved for that union. Christian marriage is a representation of Christ’s relationship to His church. Ministers in this church are not authorized to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies or civil unions, and will only perform covenant marriage ceremonies for one man and one woman as biologically designed and revealed at birth. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, any attempt to change one’s gender or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God.

We also purpose to watch over one another in brotherly love, to remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress, to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech, to be slow to take offense, and to always be ready for reconciliation without delay.

The purpose of this fellowship shall be to worship our God together, encourage and equip the members for Christian service and in Christian character, fellowship worthy of the name of Christ, and bring people in our community to Jesus Christ as well as spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

History

The history of Strassburg Baptist begins around 1876…. Many German families emigrated to America after living in a Russian settlement named Strassburg in February of 1876. Worship was conducted in individual’s homes as families; most of whom lived along the “Strassburg Road”….

Realizing the importance of fellowship, they later began meeting together in each other’s homes…. In the year 1892, they bought a small frame building in Marion and moved it to present location on Pawnee Rd. “DIE BRUDER” was the name they gave themselves. In 1905, as the congregation grew, the old building was torn down and a 28’ x 40’ building was built.

Between the years 1905-1911, a lot of growth happened in the congregation, however, they had no leader/pastor. Jacob Ehrlich greatly desired to see the church grow and assisted in many ways continuing the fellowship. Also, Rev. John Sievers from the German Baptist church in Marion, traveled out certain Sundays to hold a regular service. July 16, 1911, the group applied for membership with the German Baptist Conference of North America (now North American Baptist). The church was named Strassburg Baptist; there were 31 members at that time. Sievers continued until 1912 when John B. Reh served as pastor until 1916, with assistance from Jacob Ehrlich.

In 1916, under John Pankratz’s part time leadership, an addition was made to the church building, a basement was added.

in 1922, G.M. Pankratz became the first official full time pastor at Strassburg. The church basement was added on to. After he moved on from Strassburg in 1930, the church was without a Pastor for 4 years. The Sunday School group, Women’s Missionary Society, the Choir and Christian Baptist Youth Fellowship carried on the work.

Later in 1934, J.H. Kornelson began as pastor. The church had a refreshed interest and the Sunday School group was reorganized.

In 1944, under Roy Siebel’s leadership, a parsonage was purchased.

An addition was made to the church in 1949 under Loyal Funk’s leadership.

Since that time many pastors have served at Strassburg including Arthur Shultz, Leonard Hinz, Charles Littman, Don Decker, Howard Bishop, Lester Buenning, James Brygger, Perry Kallis and Steve Vetter. Most recently, Don Mashburn retired after 26 faithful years to our fellowship; the longest serving pastor to the Strassburg Church. Sunday school programs, children’s ministries, music and building projects have started and grown…. The most recent building project being the fellowship hall in 2008 (see Physical Facilities). The parsonage was torn down January 2021.

Events/Worship Times

Worship Service Sunday mornings at 10:45am
Adult/or Family Sunday School Classes Sunday mornings at 9:45am
Children’s Sunday School Classes Sunday mornings at 9:45am
Christmas Eve Service
Easter Sunrise Service/Potluck
Vacation Bible School (1 week program every summer)
Youth Group (8th-12th grades)
Mens Fellowship Breakfast (each February)
Ladies Bible Studies

Music & Praise Team

Our music team is comprised of several men/women who are serving Jesus by leading our worship time each Sunday morning. Styles range from contemporary Christian worship pieces to more of a bluegrass sound with the traditional hymns.

Outreach

We support many missionaries and organizations. Many of our members are volunteers at the local food bank; some also deliver meals for the local Meals on Wheels ministry.

Our Expectations

Some preferred attributes/traits we would be looking for:

Bible believing/teaching….. no ear tickling
man of prayer
good communication ability
personally stable
spiritually authentic
caring “people person” in visiting sick/elderly church members
loving, compassionate and humble servants heart
open to counseling (in turn being personally accountable/transparent/honest)
speaking skills in delivering messages

The Pastor shall have the general oversight of the entire work of the church; shall be advisory member of all departments, boards, and committees; shall preside at the meetings of the church for worship and shall perform the duties ordinarily expected of pastors.

Memberships & Affiliations

Strassburg is a member of North American Baptist Conference; Southwestern Association – Central Plains Region.

Our church has many believers helping in the administrative side of the fellowship; Deacons (3 on leadership team at all times), Trustees (Groundkeepers), Christian Education Committee (Sunday School adult/children’s classes, VBS Director etc), Finance committee, Treasurer, Hospitality/Flower committee just to name a few.

Currently, Strassburg is made up of 103 members; ~70 people actively attending.

Physical Facilities

The property currently has the church building (built 1905) and fellowship hall (built 2008). The church is located ~2 miles north of the Marion Reservoir in Marion County; off of Pawnee Road, ~10 mins from Hillsboro and Marion.

Survey Results

As a search team, we conducted multiple surveys with the congregation on the core values of our fellowship; asking what some of the largest influences on our church are. Below are the top results: