Bluffton Country Apostolic Christian Church of America.
Branches:	ACCA
Date Founded:	1858
Formerly Called:	Newville, Vera Cruz
Attendance 2024:	1025
Website:	BlufftonCountry.com
Other Local Froehlich Churches:
Bluffton North(ACCA)
Bluffton(CAC)

History

In April 1851, a party of 42 people left Switzerland for America, arriving here on May 3, 1851. After travelling by lake and canal from New York, they settled temporarily in Wayne County, Ohio, before most of the original part of 42 moved on to French Township, Adams County Indiana, in March 1852. The decision to settle near the Adams-Wells County line was influenced to a degree by the preexisting Swiss community of Berne, Indiana.

In March 1858, Ulrich Kipfer II and Matthias Strahm began their search for someone to instruct them and their followers in the teaching of Frolich, and found Bro. Bela, who arrived in Adams County in April of that year. Within a short time, 18 souls repented, found peace with their God, and were baptized, along the banks of the Wabash River near Vera Cruz, Indiana. This is one of the changes from yesterday and today.

The first minister of the Bluffton congregation was Matthias Strahm, who served from 1858 until 1870. He was followed by Nicholas Baumgartner, in 1867 to 1900. In 1870, Jacob Shar became minister, in 1879 Adam Hartman, and Ulrich Kipfer II and Jacob Klopfenstein in 1880. Samuel Fiesley was chosen minister in 1889 and served until his death in 1898. John Aeschliman was chosen minister in 1898, and served until his death in 1930. Godfrey Rauch was also chosen for the ministry in 1898 and ordained elder several years before his death. Daniel Gerber and John Moser were chosen for the ministry in 1903. Henry Dotterer was the eleventh man to be chosen minister. He was followed by Samuel Aeschliman and William Fiechter, who were both chosen in 1936. Bro. Aeschliman was ordained elder in l. In 1947, John Yergler was sen for deacon, and to serve as ay ministers, Orville Ringger was chosen in 1954 and Carl Kipfer in 1959.

The first church to serve the Bluffton congregation was erected in 1867 and used until 1881. This was a simple, one-room building constructed of rough logs, donated from a local woods. The preaching at this time was in German. The second church building was constructed in 1897, and later remodeled and enlarged in 1933. This was a wood frame building, which rose 2½ stories above ground level; it had a full-size basement and had the resemblance of a large country schoolhouse. There were five rooms, which included the kitchen, located in the basement; the top floor used as the assembly room; and the remaining rooms were used as Sunday School rooms. This church building was approximately 60 feet square, with a seating capacity of 800 to 1000. Long, low sheds were located near the church, which were used to house the horses and buggies during bad weather. The baptismal services were usually held outside at that time. The baptismal box was about 24 inches deep, 30 inches wide and 7 feet long, and the water had to be pumped by hand. During World War 1, some English sermons were preached-usually one sermon in German, and one in English. In 1942 or 1943, all German sermons were discontinued. In 1900, there were approximately 50 families serving dinner, which consisted of homemade bread, butter, apple butter, honey, coffee and milk, and sometimes cheese. The third church building was completed in 1950. Roman brick, steel, and stained glass were used in the construction of the church, and all the interior wood, including the pews, is fumed oak. The baptizing site is located at the base of the pulpit. The building rises 76 feet to its roof, which is red tile. The sanctuary is 82 feet wide and is 170 feet in depth. The church has a seating capacity for 1400, which includes the balconv. An additional 300 seats can be obtained by opening a sliding wall in the balcony. The church is surrounded by a parking lot paved with asphalt, for approximately 400-500 cars.

The lunch today is quite different than that served in the past. The rolls, bread, butter, cookies, milk and coffee are not made at home, like they were in days gone by.

In 1964, we had 744 members, and 630 friends attending Sunday School, and 258 families serving lunch.

Many changes have taken place during the past sixty years in our church - preaching changed from German to English; the first church building, to the present building, the horse and buggy to the automobile; etc. One of the things that has not changed, and for which we are very thankful, is the wonderful, precious word of God, and that our loving Father is still calling dear souls to seek their soul's salvation, before the door of grace is closed. Even though we do have a large congregation, we feel there is still a lot of love and respect shown among the members and friends, for which we are very thankful and hope will continue throughout the coming years.

The church is, above all, a brotherhood in Christ. "Let brotherly love continue" and increase. Our lives can be a song of praise to God, by remaining true and faithful, until we are taken from this world.

Ministers

Ministers
Name	Born	Baptized	Minister	Deacon	Elder	Retired	Wife	Also Served
Mathias Strahm	12/21/1814	1/31/1905				1/1/1875	Magdalena Kipfer
Ulrich Jr. Kipfer	7/29/1829	1/31/1905				1/1/1907	Marie Trittenbach
Jacob Schar	5/29/1843		<1879			1/1/1880	Elizabeth Myer	Silverton, Silverton(ACCN)
Jacob Klopfenstein	12/3/1836						Elizabeth Beyer
Nicholas Baumgartner	10/15/1831		1/1/1861		1/1/1890	3/2/1901	Barbara Gerber
Adam Hartman	1/15/1840		1/1/1880		1/1/1887	1/1/1888	Mary Ann Sutter
John Aeschliman	7/4/1850		1/1/1898			1/1/1930	Elizabeth Barger
Godfrey Rauch	11/29/1856		1/1/1898		10/1/1913	7/21/1936	Magdalena Strahm
Samel Feisley	7/25/1829		1/1/1889			1/1/1910	Elizabeth Pfonder
Daniel Gerber	2/9/1867		1/1/1903			1/1/1933	Frances Reimschisel
John Moser	12/21/1865		1/1/1903			8/13/1941	Priscilla Steffen
Henry G. Dotterer	5/22/1888	2/7/1904	5/1/1929			12/25/1955	Mary Reineck
Samuel Aeschliman	12/31/1891	6/26/1911	7/5/1936		7/21/1941	1/26/1975	Minnie Gilliom
William Fiechter	12/24/1887	5/5/1915	7/5/1936			1/1/1966	Salome Aeschliman
John Yergler	1/17/1899	3/18/1918	12/22/1946	10/1/1950	11/21/1966	4/17/1977	Ella Isch
Orville Ringger	7/31/1915	5/27/1934	4/18/1954		1/26/1975	8/21/1988	Naomi Gerber
Carl Kipfer	8/14/1912	7/12/1942	12/27/1959			1/1/1977	Nova Fiechter-Steffen
Jim Rinkenberger	4/28/1943	8/15/1965	2/22/1978			2/22/2004	Jeanne Gerber
Kent Ringger	6/22/1945	1/3/1965	2/20/1983			5/20/1990	Jan Gerber
Ed J. Schwartz	11/6/1949	9/17/1967	2/20/1983		10/19/1986	2/13/2015	Jeni Fiechter
John Reinhard	9/7/1954	3/25/1973	12/5/1984			12/16/2018	Pam Yergler
Ron Kipfer	6/12/1948	9/17/1967	2/28/1988			2/28/2016	Linda Gerber
Gary Tonner	6/8/1945	1/13/1963	2/28/1988			1/15/2012	Diann Gerber
Mark Gerber	9/4/1955	4/22/1973	2/5/1992			11/29/2020	Barb Hoffmann
Allen Stoller	2/24/1952	6/17/1973	2/5/1992			1/1/2012	Susan Pacala
Lynn Fiechter	11/28/1962	10/26/1980	10/20/1999		3/8/2009		Ronda Meyer
Troy Leyse	5/23/1969	1/29/1989	10/15/2006			12/3/2023	Kelly Manges
Chad Gerber	10/13/1973	7/11/1993	9/19/2010				Jami Moser
Vince Pfister	8/20/1979	2/7/1999	11/18/2012				Brandy Ringger
Kole Meyer	12/27/1983	4/18/2004	2/22/2015				Amy Neuenschwander
Mark Reinhard	3/19/1981	1/11/1998	2/11/2018				Angie Beer
Brent Kaehr	2/14/1973	5/16/1993	1/15/2020				Allison Ringger
Todd Drayer	6/26/1984	11/14/1999	10/8/2023				Nicole Wiegand

Attendance

Attendance
Year	Total	Members	Sunday School	Year	Total	Members	Sunday School
1953	-	704	453	1996	1450	860	395
1956	-	672	515	1998	1485	905	400
1959	-	644	635	2000	1500	915	400
1962	-	712	660	2002	1550	915	375
1965	-	780	630	2004	1400	915	320
1968	-	828	860	2006	1330	920	260
1971	-	830	650	2008	1300	925	245
1974	-	898	486	2010	1250	880	210
1977	-	966	476	2012	1240	870	200
1980	-	1035	467	2014	1171	817	198
1983	-	1120	497	2016	1180	831	250
1986	-	860	348	2018	1150	830	320
1989	-	880	390	2020	1050	820	315
1992	1520	900	400	2022	1025	750	300
1994	1475	890	395	2024	1025	740	330

Cemetery

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