Vision and Beliefs

Statement of Faith:

Below are the highlights from the statement of faith adhered to by Hunters Ridge Community Church and the North American Baptist Conference. If you would like a more complete form of our statement of faith please contact the church office.   

1.  The Bible

We believe the Bible is God’s Word given by divine inspiration, the record of God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. It is trustworthy, sufficient, without error in the original writings-the supreme authority and guide for all doctrine and conduct (1 Peter 1:23-25, John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

2.  The Trinity

We believe in one living, sovereign, and true God, perfect in wisdom, holiness, justice, mercy, and love (1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 865; Deuteronomy 32:3-4). He exists eternally in three co-equal persons who act together in creation, providence and redemption (Genesis1:2, 26; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 1:1-3).

3.         Satan

We believe the holy angels are obedient spirits ministering to the heirs of salvation and glorifying God (Hebrews 1: 6-7. 14). Certain angels, called demons, Satan being their chief, through deliberate choice revolted and fell from their exalted position (Revelation 12: 7-9). They now tempt individuals to rebel against God (1Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8).

4.         Man

We believe God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Himself and to be stewards over His creation (Genesis 1: 26-28). As a result, each person is unique, possesses dignity and is worthy of respect (Psalm 139: 13-18).  Through the temptation of Satan, Adam chose to disobey God; this brought sin and death to the human race and suffering to all creation (Genesis 3; Romans 5: 12-21, 8:22). Therefore, everyone is born with a sinful nature and needs to be reconciled to God (Romans 3:23).

5.         Salvation  

We believe salvation is redemption by Christ of the whole person from sin and death (2 Timothy 1: 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is offered as a free gift by God to all and must be received personally through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2: 3-4; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Acts 20:21).

6.         The Church

We believe the Church is the body of which Christ is the head and all who believe in Him are members (Ephesians 1: 22-23; Romans 14: 4-5). Each church is a self - governing body under the lordship of Christ with all members sharing responsibility. The form of government is understood to be congregational (Matthew 18:17; Acts 6: 3-6; 15:22-23).

7.         The Ordinances of the Church

The ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28: 18-20).  The Lord’s Supper is the partaking of the bread and of the cup by believers together as a continuing memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. It is an act of thankful dedication to Him and serves to unite His people until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26).

8.         The State

We believe religious liberty, rooted in Scripture, is the inalienable right of all individuals to freedom of conscience is the ultimate accountability to God (Genesis 1:27; Acts 5:29).

8.         Society

We believe Christians, individually and collectively, are salt and light in society (Matthew 5: 13-16). 

9.         Christ’s Return

We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring all things to their appropriate end and establish the new heaven and the new earth (Ephesians 1: 9-10; Revelation 21:1).

Our History

We thought you might be interested in a historical perspective of Hunters Ridge Community Church. We have a long and meaningful history where people have brought the gospel to the Hutchinson, Minnesota community and surrounding communities.  

PRIOR TO 1899 – German Baptist families from the northeastern part of Germany settled in the community of Hutchinson. Services were held for several years in the homes of various families. Mr. Carl Fratzke built a room on the west side of his home for the purpose of worship. There was a general desire to join with a Baptist church and this led the pioneers of this church to join with Minnetrista Baptist Church, about 33 miles east of Hutchinson, located near St. Bonifacious. Having brought their letters of membership with them from their church in Reetz, Germany, they were accepted into membership at the Minnetrista Baptist Church.

On February 14, 1899 – The church was officially organized and recognized as German Baptist Church but met in a building known as the Danish Baptist Church. Rev. Henry Bentz was the Pastor at this time. There were 39 charter members. Then on June 19, 1899 - The first church building was completed and dedicated. All services were conducted in the German language.

Rev. A. Transhall served the church from 1900-1901.

Rev. W. Argo served from 1902 until 1905.

Rev. Thomas Stoeri came in 1906. During his pastorate the church purchased a parsonage on the corner of 4th Avenue N.W. and Main Street just west of the church.

Rev. Oscar Autritt served the church from 1909-1913.

Rev. Henry Braun came in 1913 and served until 1916.

Rev. August Marquardt served as pastor from 1916 – 1923. It was during his ministry in 1917, that the Church was moved to 13 Fourth Avenue Northeast and was remodeled and enlarged. The Church was then known as Northside Baptist Church. Some of the services begin to be conducted in the English language.

Rev. C.M. Knapp served as pastor from 1923 – 1929. It was during his ministry the basement of Northside Baptist Church was finished for Sunday school rooms.

Rev. Emil Becker became the pastor and he served until 1935. By this time most of the services were being conducted in English.

Rev. Alfred Foll served as Pastor from 1935 – 1945. In the summer of 1945 the parsonage was remodeled and dedicated in September of 1946.

Rev. G.P. Schroeder served the church from 1945-1947. All services of the Northside Baptist Church were now being conducted in the English language.

Rev. W.G. Gerthe came in 1948 and served until 1951. On Sunday June 19, 1949 Northside Baptist Church commemorated its 50th anniversary – “50 Years by the Grace of God.”

Rev. D.S. Wipf served as interim pastor in 1952.

Rev. Rudolph Rapske served the church from 1952 – 1954.

Rev. Elmo Tahran came to the church and served 1954 - 1959.

Groundbreaking for a new church building took place on August 1, 1956. Then on May 19, 1957 - Construction is completed on the new church and the church is renamed Bethany Baptist Church. It was located at Grove Street and Linden Avenue – 800 Grove Street S. June 16, 1957 Rev. Martin Leuschner came and spoke at the dedication of Bethany Baptist Church. Previous Pastor, Rev. Emil Becker spoke during the evening worship service. Another lot was purchased across the street on Lynn Road for a new parsonage.

Rev. Bert Itterman came in 1959 and served until 1962.  On November 22, 1959 a dedication service was held for the new Parsonage of Bethany Baptist Church and was located at 830 Lynn Road. Also an organ was purchased in the summer of 1960.

March 18, 1963 an educational wing was added and dedicated at Bethany Baptist Church.

Rev. Etan Pelzer came to the church in 1963 and served until 1968. Then Dr. M. Vanderbeck served as interim pastor in 1968 and 1969. On June 8, 1969, the church celebrated its 70th anniversary.   

Rev. Wesley Gerber served as pastor from 1969 – 1974. On June 1 -2, 1974 Bethany Baptist Church celebrated its 75th anniversary. At this point the church was debt free and they burned the mortgage in February of 1974.

Rev. Ray Hinsch served as pastor from 1975-1979

Rev. Bob Lounsbury served from 1979-1984

Rev. Harry Kelm served from 1984-1991

Rev. Chuck Carlson as pastor from 1992-1999.

In 1997 new construction was completed and the church was now known as Hunters Ridge Community Church, named after the subdivision where the church is located.

Rev. Jerry Fluth was the interim pastor from 1999 - 2001

Rev. Howard Anderson served as pastor from 2001 - 2023.

Currently, Pastor Will Hope is serving as interim pastor.

We are thankful to the Lord! He has guided us through great times and through difficult times. We thank God for His ongoing work and we invite you to come and see what the Lord is doing through Hunters Ridge Community Church.

Leadership

Pastor Will Hope is the Interim Pastor for the church.

Ministry Teams

A brief explanation of the role our ministry teams play in the church.

Deacon Team

The Deacon Team is responsible for the spiritual nurture and care of members and regular attendees.

Leadership Team

The Leadership Team oversees the physical operation of the church. The team helps establish short and long term goals relating to properties, facilities and finances of Hunters Ridge Community Church.

Christian Education & Missions Team

The Christian Education and Mission Team has the overall responsibility for organizing, staffing, directing and evaluating the Education Ministries and Mission Activities for Hunters Ridge Community Church.