Growing Through Change
Ground was July 3rd 1950. Beginning the following month the entire offering on alternate weeks was designated for the building fund. The entire congregation, including both men and women, worked every night on the building.
The non-denominational congregation chose the name: "The Soul's Haven Community Church." it bore this name until 1994 when the congregation voted to change it to "Valleyview Evangelical Friends Church."
The Church incorporated on July 14th 1950 and on September 10th, 14 people officially constituted the church members. Early the next year, Reverend King presented the deed to the congregation and the church was occupied in June of 1952.
Our church grew over the next two decades through a strong emphasis on outreach programs and a bus ministry. This expansion necessitated the addition of the Sunday school building and the fellowship center, both of which are located behind the church.
During the 1980's, the church sanctuary and entrance were remodeled. Growth came to a standstill in the late 80's and the congregation felt the need for affiliation with a like-minded denomination that could assist with providing pastoral candidates and a wider fellowship. The search resulted on December 15, 1988 uniting with the Evangelical Friends Church Eastern Region, headquartered in Canton, Ohio. By this affiliation, we adopted the doctrine and organizational pattern of EFC-ER.
Our first pastor coming from the Friends was Ernest Lauffenberger, who ministered here from 1990 to 1993. When Lauffenberger moved on to a church in Van Wert, Roger Wood was called as an interim pastor on a part time basis. During his two and a half years of service, the congregation completed a basement remodeling, adding and office, nursery, class room and a library. A new outside sign was added to reflect the name change to Valleyview.
At about that time the motto, "The Church of the Simple Faith" was adopted, to reflect our Friends (Quaker) heritage, with it's distributives of simple, moderate lifestyle and worship.
In April of 1995, the congregation invited church member Wallace White to become associate pastor and to begin pastoral training under the direction of EFC-ER's Ministerial Accredit ion Board. White became full-time pastor after Wood's retirement at the end of 1995.
The congregation undertook major renovation of the exterior of the buildings in the summer of 1997. The bricks on the three buildings were stained white and sealed. Shutters were added to the rear buildings.
Russell and Esther Zinn, Friends missionaries to Taiwan, retired to Delaware in October of 2006. Our congregation welcomed Russ to the staff as Pastor of Prayer and Missions. Our congregation is currently pastored by Reverend Joshua Walker who was called to serve upon Wallace White's retirement in 2008.
Looking to the Future
Valleyview Evangelical Friends Church is preparing for a new period of growth and development, showing the way to new life in Christ for the people within and around the community of Delaware.
Valleyview continues to be actively involved in community outreach by providing a local food pantry and serves as a collection center for the Operation Christmas child shoe box ministry. We are also the local meeting place for the Delaware County Young Life Group.
Our men, women, and children actively participate in our various small groups such as Women's Missionary Fellowship, God's Guys, Bible Studies, Prayer Groups, Youth nights, and our Praise Team. We offer various activities throughout the year including; Family fun and game nights, fall outings and many other activities to encourage Christian growth and fellowship within our congregation and community.
