Since its humble beginnings in a rural Chaska barn, Valley Evangelical Free Church has helped spread the love of Jesus throughout the community for five decades and counting.
The congregation will celebrate 50 years of fruitful ministry during golden jubilee events on Sept. 12 and 13. Church members, regular attendees, former attendees and the community are invited to participate.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, Valley Free will host a 50th Anniversary Celebration Picnic on its west lawn. Lunch will be served, along with games for all ages and live music.
At 9 a.m. on Sunday, the congregation will conduct an outdoor worship service to mark “50 years of God’s faithfulness” to the local church. Root beer floats will be served following the special service.
“We are taking a moment to pause and think about all God has done in and through our church — not just the building, but the people,” said Stephanie Wipf, chair of Valley’s 50th Anniversary Committee. “Many new churches don’t survive within the first few years of being established or planted. Our church has overcome those odds and remains active and impacting our community.”
Wipf noted the committee’s guiding Bible verse for this year is Psalm 100:5 — “For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”
“We hope these celebrations and this milestone will bring new passion to our congregation to continue to remember God’s faithfulness to us and think about what He will do through us in the next 50 years,” she said.
To kick off the summer festivities, current attendees were encouraged to conduct acts of service throughout the community, Wipf said. The committee also has been sharing videos of former pastors as well as church members who have gone on to start ministries or plant new churches through the years.
Church History
In 1976, a small group of families organized as a nonprofit named Valley Ministries. Ron Hess served as pastor that first year. The initial Sunday evening services were held in a barn west of Chaska. Soon after, the small congregation moved to space at the Shakopee Mall.
After David Sletten took on the pastoral role in 1977, the church rented space at Chaska High School to hold services and offer programming.
As Sletten ended his tenure in 1983, the church became affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and began meeting at Chaska Middle School.
In 1988, the congregation moved into its own church building at the corner of Highway 41 and Engler Boulevard. The 7,000-square-foot structure was constructed at a cost of $382,000. An education wing was added in 1992.
“Valley has been a fixture in the community for 50 years and we’re thankful for how the Lord has allowed us to be a conduit of His grace,” Pastor Ben Bathelemy said. “Our desire is not to celebrate ourselves, but rather God’s faithfulness. It isn’t about us, it’s about Him. Our hope and prayer is that the Lord will allow Valley another 50 years of bringing glory to God by calling all people into abundant life in Jesus Christ.”
Community Impact
The congregation has experienced plenty of change and growth since it first gathered in 1976.
But the congregation has always remained true to its Christian values and the preaching of God’s word, according to longtime member Audrey Bentson.
Bentson and her late husband, Jim, first attended Valley Free in the mid-1980s.
“We were living in the Chaska community but attending church in Richfield,” she recalled. “In 1987, our kids attended a Valley Backyard Vacation Bible School in downtown Chaska, and we’ve been attending here ever since.”
Since becoming a member, Bentson has been very involved in children’s ministry, including Awana, Vacation Bible School and Sunday school.
“I am proud of the heritage we have passed on to so many kids and families,” she said. “Teaching kids biblical truths and seeing them come to love Jesus has given me great joy.”
She’s especially thrilled that her granddaughter is now involved in Valley’s youth group — Crux.
Cindy and David Just started attending Valley in 1979 after seeing an ad promoting the new church in the Chaska Herald newspaper. The congregation was meeting in the library of Chaska High School at the time.
“We were a small group and were able to form close, intimate relationships,” Cindy recalled. “Meeting in a space that’s not designed for church was a challenge — there was a lot of setting up for church and tearing down after church. But we were young and everyone pitched in to help.”
The Just family was looking for a church that was actively involved in the Chaska community, and they found that at Valley Free. Cindy listed off many ministries the church has launched over the years, including a radio show, a bookstore, concerts in the downtown park, Valley Fest, breakfast for teachers, Recovery Alive, and more.
“I hope that the community has seen that Jesus can use imperfect people to share His love with the people of Chaska,” she said. “It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years. We’re excited to celebrate God’s faithfulness to Valley — through both the awesome times and the challenging times. And the best is yet to come.”
Dan Koehnen is another longtime member of Valley Free, attending for 44 years. He recalled when the wooden cross, constructed by Dave Butterfield, was hung inside the newly constructed sanctuary. It has never moved from its original spot.
“Pastor Doug Dudgeon called me up and said we needed a cross,” Koehnen recalls. “I told him I’d see what I could do. Dave Butterfield had a woodworking shop in Carver … two days later we hung that cross that’s in the church now.”
He also remembered how the church purchased its baby grand piano. One Sunday, the pastor announced to the congregation that a nice piano was available for purchase. A special offering was collected on the spot.
“A short while later, Garth Bergquist, who was head usher at that time, walked in and handed the pastor a note,” said Koehnen, recalling the surprised look on the pastor’s face. “We had raised $12,000.”
Arlene Borner has attended the church for more than 40 years. She said she’s made lifelong friends through church programs and small group involvement.
Borner said she’s excited to celebrate the golden jubilee in a few short weeks.
“I hope it is meaningful to new families as well as us ‘oldies,’” she said.
