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Historically, Orchard Hill Reformed Church was a project of
the Reformed Church In America under the auspices of the regional
Reformed Churches. The initial study by the Church Extension
Committee started in early spring of 1961. In May of that year,
this committee reported to the area churches, giving the results
of their study. It was authorized to purchase a site and, on
October 23, 1961, official approval was given to establish
a new church. It also voted to hold a $30,000 fund drive among
these area Reformed Churches. The Local and State Committee
also granted approval to the site on the basis of the results
of a door-to-door survey in the Orchard Hill area. From that
humble beginning, Orchard Hill Church has been blessed by God
throughout the years.
June 26, 1962 |
Ground breaking for Orchard Hill Church |
Sept. 2, 1962 |
The first service was held in the parsonage on Clearview
Drive |
Dec. 23, 1962 |
The first service was held in the new sanctuary |
April 26, 1963 |
Official organization (26 families and 8 denominations
were represented in the original group) |
April 14, 1964 |
Orchard Hill Boy Scout Troop began under the leadership
of Frank Luchtenburg |
May 30, 1974 |
The congregation voted to call our first Campus Pastor |
Sept. 12, 1982 |
Began two morning worship services |
Sept. 11, 1983 |
The congregation voted to add an educational wing at
an estimated cost of $173,000 |
Nov. 18, 1987 |
Plans for the new sanctuary were presented to the congregation
and the appointment of a Finance Committee was approved |
May 21, 1989 |
Ground breaking for the new sanctuary with a cost of
approximately $700,000 |
June 9, 1991 |
The congregation voted to purchase 20 acres of adjacent
land south of the church for $100,000 |
May 2, 1993 |
The congregation voted to convert the parsonage to a
student ministry house |
Jan. 23, 1994 |
We began having three Sunday morning worship services |
April 18, 1994 |
The church adopted “Foundations of Faith” as
a statement of what the church believes |
Feb. 26, 1995 |
The congregation approved plans for a building addition
of a new kitchen and classrooms to wrap around the existing
fellowship hall |
Jan. 19, 1996 |
The wrap-around building addition was dedicated ($300,000) |
Jan. 19, 1996 |
The congregation approved a plan to exchange some of
our 20 acres for land more adjacent to the church |
Aug. 25, 1996 |
A college worship band began to help lead worship during
the 9:45 a.m. service |
May 21, 1997 |
The congregation approved the expansion of the Orchard
Hill House ($109,000), and the building of a Family Life
Center |
March 15, 1998 |
The congregation approved the building of a Community
Center and new classrooms ($1,718,000) |
Nov. 22, 1998 |
The congregation approved a $170,000 investment in furnishings
for the Community Center |
Jan. 18, 1999 |
The Saturday evening service REAL was approved by the
Leadership Board |
Feb. 27, 1999 |
Dedication of Orchard Hill Church Community Center (construction
and furnishings: $1,953,700) |
April 2000 |
The first Orchard Hill Church magazine, The Connection,
was published |
June 2000 |
The Leadership Board and congregation approved the finalization
of the structure for the Staff Management Team |
Jan. 2003 |
The Structure Task Force was formed |
Dec. 20, 2004 |
The congregation approved the addition of 12,900 square
feet for additional children’s space, lobby space,
and Coffee House |
Jan. 9, 2005 |
Grundy Center Campus service began in the Grundy Center
Theatre |
Aug. 28, 2005 |
The Gathering (all-church—CF & Grundy Center
Campuses) was held at the Gallagher-Bluedorn on the UNI
Campus |
Sept. 9, 2005 |
Began two worship services at Grundy Center |
Dec. 28-29, 2005 |
First Onefest event at the UNI-Dome |
May 20, 2006 |
Dedication of children’s space, lobby space, and
coffee house |
Sept. 10, 2006 |
8:30 a.m. service in the Community Center was held (replaced
11:00 a.m. service in the Sanctuary) |
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Charter Members
George & Wilma Barkhoff
Charles & Erma Christiansen
Alan De Beer
Harold De Beer
Sheryl Dirks
Johanna Heyenga
John Heyenga
Cathy Humke
Marge Laipple
Dan Lindaman
Darrell Lindaman
Vernon & Mae Lindaman
Frank & Marian Luchtenburg
Mark Luchtenburg
Mary Ellen Meier
Wayne & Verla Ubben
Wanda Van Duyn
Craig Zabel
Kevin Zabel |
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