Mission:

The Aurora Mennonite Church exists to witness to the world of God's love as revealed in His Son Jesus Christ, our crucified, risen, exalted Lord, and to proclaim salvation through repentance and forgiveness of sin in Jesus’ name.

Vision:

Our desire is to bring as many people as possible in to relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, helping those who respond learn to live as God's people, committed to building up one another in love and to ministering the love of Jesus to our community and world.

History of Church:

Mike Troyer and his family were the first Mennonites to come to Aurora. They came from Welshfield in 1893. In 1904, four more families: Joe Stutzman, Alex Stutzman, Courson Stutzman, and W.A. Howitt came to Aurora from Colorado. The next year, the Alex Miller family came from Sugarcreek. Families came because farms and farm land was very reasonable, as low as $28.00 per acre. Markets were good since the community was located on the Erie Railroad between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

The group soon decided they needed a place to hold church services instead of in the settler's homes. In 1906 a Sunday School was organized in a one room schoolhouse on Bartlett Road near Elliman. Alex Miller was the first superintendent. A year later the group moved to a schoolhouse across from the present school building. The membership grew rapidly from 28 in 1907 to 55 by May of 1909.

On March 15, 1909, E.B. Stoltzfus, with his family, arrived in the community and became the first resident pastor. For nearly 33 years, until his death in 1942, he served the church faithfully as pastor and bishop.

In 1909 the first schoolhouse was moved to the present church site. Alex Stutzman donated the land needed for the church. On July 30, 1912, it was decided to build a new building 34' x 50' and 14' high, with anterooms built on the south side of the building. Between July and November of 1912, the new building was completed and was dedicated on November 17, 1912. The buggy sheds were removed in 1925. In 1948, an addition was built to the south with balcony and inside toilets. In 1964, a kitchen was built in the basement. Groundbreaking for a fellowship hall and Sunday School rooms took place on July 6, 1969, and was dedicated on July 12, 1970.

Phase II of the building project was to remodel the sanctuary and basement. Re-dedication of the Sanctuary was held on November 26, 1972. In 1986, groundbreaking took place for a new addition and access for handicapped. This included ramps, new restrooms, office space, nursery, large foyer with two entrances and an enlarged kitchen. This was dedicated on May 31, 1987. Bob Stutzman was the contractor and builder for all of the building projects 1969-1987. Members donated help and contributed money.

Pastors who served the Aurora Congregation: Eli Stoltzfus 1909-1942, Alex Stutzman 1910-1942, Dan Raber 1911-1939, A.W. Hershberger 1912-1922, Mart Miller 1923-1926, Earl Miller 1931, Herb Troyer 1929-1942, Elmer Stoltzfus 1940-1970, Eugene Yoder 1940-1978, David Miller 1959-1976, Fred Erb 1977, Lawrence Brunk 1978-1987, Robert Troyer 1988-1990. Marlin Birkey 1990-1999, Glenn Steiner 2000-2001. Eli Stoltzfus was bishop from 1916 to 1942 and Elmer Stoltzfus was bishop from 1942-1970.

Some important events in this period were Women's sewing, 1909-1990; Sunday School Library in 1933; First Summer Bible School - 1938; Burton Congregation Gladstone Mission, and McElrath Mission were started; Plainview became Aurora Mennonite; Pipe organ installed in 1976; Boat Family, Ty and Hoa 1978; and the great positive period of Larlham VS and the church with a Larlham VS reunion on April 22-23, 1978. The highest membership was about 190 in 1940, when the Burton folks and the I-W boys attended. The present membership is 100.

In January, 2000, Elmer S. Yoder was hired to write an AMC CEntennial History (1905-2005). Release of the book along with a 100 year celebration took place on November 5 & 6. (The book is available for purchase at the church.) On Sunday February 3, 2002, Jess and Naomi Engle along with Anna, 12, Grace, 10, Marie, 8, candidated at AMC, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Sunday, February 10, the Congregation voted to affirm Jess, full-time and Naomi, half-time; 68 members, 26 non-members, total of 94 unanimous affirmations. Our invitation was accepted that Sunday. Sunday, June 30, 2002, Jess and Naomi Engle and family began work at AMC.

Tim Schultz began as interim pastor in the fall of 2009 and began as pastor January, 2011.