La Prairie Mennonite Church Expansion project Eglise Evangélique Mennonite de la Prairie Projet d'agrandissement
A brief history... Just as Lutherans claim Luther and Calvinists claim Calvin, Mennonites can be traced to Menno Simmons (1496-1561), a Dutch priest who joined up with the Anabaptist community in 1536. Outlawed and persecuted in Switzerland, Anabaptists searched for refuge in the Rhine Valley, where they were tolerated. After many years of persecution, Menno Simmons would become the spiritual leader of these weakened and clandestine groups. The first Mennonites arrived in Montbéliard in 1710. There is evidence of the first Mennonite meeting house in 1751, and the community possessed its own cemetery at Mont-Chevis. In 1775, a church was set up at Les Gouttes Farm, before moving to the Le Canal Chapel in 1832. With the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) and the influx of refugees coming from Alsace, the community grew so much that the chapel became too small. The project for a new church building came into being. In 1927, the Mennonites acquired the La Prairie Farm from the Baron Dumas de Chabaud-Latour. The architectural plans of Eugène Rées, a local architect, were selected. The La Prairie sanctuary was completed in 1930, and totally financed by the local community. As for the original farm building, it was renovated over the years to meet the needs of the congregation. Mennonites in France and Around the World There are approximately 2,050 Mennonites in France spread out among 32 churches, mostly in Eastern France and the Paris Region. In the world, there are 736,000 in Africa, 431,000 in Asia Pacific, 199,000 in Central and South America, 682,000 in the United States and Canada, 64,000 in Europe for a total of 2.1 million (2015). The Mennonite World Conference (www.mwc cmm.org) gathers together Anabaptist and Mennonite groups from all over the world. Eglise de la Prairie Address: 1-3 route de Grand-Charmont, 25200 Montbéliard, FRANCE
La Prairie Mennonite Church today... The congregation has more than 230 members, about 400 people, including children and friends regularly attending the church. Congregational leadership consists of a group of elders and deacons, elected by all of the church members. La Prairie Church is a member of the Association of Evangelical Mennonite Churches of France (AEEMF), which is the national conference of the French Mennonites. La Prairie Church is deeply rooted in Montbéliard and its surrounding area and maintains a very close relationship the numerous Christian congregations in the area. It is a member of the local branch of the French National Council of Evangelicals (CNEF). La Maison Blanche in Bethoncourt-Champvallon In 1967, an activity center was opened in the Montbéliard suburbs. Nowadays, the center serves as a meeting place and hosts several activities including Quartier Libre (an inner-city children's program) and other community projects. Cultur'Ovive Cultur'Ovive is a cultural association that organizes concerts, conferences, discussion groups (Alpha courses) and other events, as well as educational, athletic, and social activities where church members and their friends combine their skills and sense of community to serve Montbéliard and its surrounding area. Humanitarian Aid Abroad Financial support is given to various organizations: Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the French Mennonite Mission Committee (CMMF), Service Fraternel d'entraide (SFE the French/Swiss Christian NGO involved in Laos), Serving In Mission (SIM), Le Pélican (involved in Afghanistan), Caisse de Secours (the French Mennonite relief committee) and more. In addition to its regular worship activities, the church manages several projects: Shelter in Montbéliard La Prairie Shelter was opened in March 1996 in Montbéliard. It provides accommodations for rehabilitation purposes, and, at the same time, welcomes anyone in need of moral support. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, from 2-5 pm. Outreach Programs in France Since their establishment, Mennonite churches have been caring for their neighbors, especially the least of these. - In our region, the SERVIR Association provides long-term care for 145 dependent, elderly adults in their two nursing homes, and offers full services to 74 children placed by the child welfare or juvenile protection services in their two shelters. - In Alsace and the Paris region, several charitable organizations provide care for children, adolescents and adults with physical and mental disabilities. Thanks to these services, a total of 3350 people receive the best of care tailored to their needs. All of our efforts are done in the name of Christ which gives everything its meaning. Eglise de La Prairie Address: 1-3 route de Grand-Charmont, 25200 Montbéliard, FRANCE
Project of reorganization of our premises Today, our buildings are too small, incompatible, and no longer in compliance with the new government regulations. The sanctuary, originally built to accommodate 280-300 persons, no longer allows us to comfortably welcome people attending our congregation. Over the past years, the restructuring of the use of the church s premises has become a key element in response to the vision of the church: To serve and worship God To serve all those seeking God, by being a church that welcomes, teaches and equips all on their quest. To serve the world in the struggle against injustice, loneliness and the spiritual deserts of today s society. With this goal in mind, a task force was created in the fall of 2012, and, in collaboration with the Rolinet Architect s Office, charged to envision a global project that would give La Prairie Church the means of effectively meeting today s challenges and providing a structure for future generations to continue to welcome and serve. In this project, we envision: - the acquisition of about half an acre of land behind our current property. - building a brand new sanctuary with the capacity of welcoming 500 people behind our current buildings. - the renovation of the balcony of the former sanctuary in order to provide an office for the Editions Mennonites (the French Mennonite publishing house). The space on the ground floor under the balcony will house the Center of French Mennonite Archives; the remainder of the ground floor will provide space for the organization of meetings, exhibitions, or smallerscale concerts, adding up to a surface total of 1200 square feet. - the transformation of the former farm building to provide space for the kitchen, toilets, the nursery (on the lower floor), and rooms for the youth group and Sunday school (on the upper floor). - An entrance hall connecting the current buildings, that will be used as a reception area. This project will provide a total surface of 14.000 square feet for a global cost of $2,000,000. Eglise de La Prairie Address: 1-3 route de Grand-Charmont, 25200 Montbéliard, FRANCE
Designs of the new premises Eglise de la Prairie - Address: 1-3 route de Grand-Charmont, 25200 Montbéliard, FRANCE Phone: +33 3 81 94 51 66 - Email: egliseprairie@yahoo.fr - Website: www.egliseprairie.fr
How to support us? The majority of the funding for this project comes from church members and friends of the church who are committed to this undertaking. If you would like to join them in their efforts you can help to finance an area of one of the new premises. Examples of costs per square foot: - land: $54 /square foot - new sanctuary and entrance hall: $2,000 /square foot - renovation of the former sanctuary: $1,400 /square foot (cultural center) - renovation of the former farm building: $1,400 /square foot (youth center) For your donations: Send money by PayPal or a bank transfer: IBAN (International Bank Account Number): FR92 2004 1010 0401 9601 4X02 572 BIC (Bank Identifier Code): PSSTFRPPDIJ For more information visit our website: www.egliseprairie.fr Eglise de La Prairie Address: 1-3 route de Grand-Charmont, 25200 Montbéliard, FRANCE
Where are we located? La Prairie Church is located in Montbéliard, a city in the Burgundy Franche Comté region in eastern France situated at about 8 miles from Switzerland. The Montbéliard urban area has a population of about 160,000 and forms with Belfort a metropolitan area which has a population of about 310,000. France Task Force: Boux Frédéric, Chevassus Philippe, Geiser Jean-Luc, Graber Michel, Graber Philippe, Kauffmann Hélène, Kauffmann Sébastien, Klopfenstein Bérénice, Klopfenstein Philippe, Morel René, Pechin Yves, Quoniam Christophe, Schultz Denis, Reutenauer Roudy, Russo Jérémie, Widmer Etienne, Widmer Jean-Claude, Widmer Jean-Paul Translation: Schultz Jean-Samuel, Schultz Sarah, Blough Janie Graphic Design: Tissot François-Xavier Photo Credit: Nardin Claude, Tissot François-Xavier Architects: Rolinet & Associés (www.rolinet.fr) Our website can be easily visited by using the QR code: "We may make our plans, but God has the last word." Proverbs 16:1 Eglise de La Prairie Address: 1-3 route de Grand-Charmont, 25200 Montbéliard, FRANCE
Eglise Evangélique Mennonite de la Prairie 1-3 route de Grand-Charmont 25200 Montbéliard - FRANCE Tél: 00.33.3.81.94.51.66 Email: egliseprairie@yahoo.fr Internet: http://www.egliseprairie.fr Coordonnées bancaires / Bank references IBAN: FR92 2004 1 01 0 0401 9601 4X02 572 - BIC: PSSTFRPPDIJ