View source for Hilltop Community Church (Jackson, Minnesota, USA)

The Alpha Mennonite Church (first known as Jackson County Mennonite Church No. 1), 3.5 miles (5 km) northwest of Alpha, Jackson County, [[Minnesota (USA)|Minnesota]], was organized at the time of the dedication of the meetinghouse in May 1898; a Sunday school had begun in a rural schoolhouse the previous year. The first families—among them Snyder, Shearer, Garber, and Hemer—came from [[Cullom Mennonite Church (Cullom, Illinois, USA)|Cullom]], [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]]. S. G. Lapp of Roseland, [[Nebraska (USA)|Nebraska]], was the bishop here for several years, but in the spring of 1916 was drowned in a railroad accident on the way to Alpha. In 1907 he ordained C. J. Garber minister. In 1919 [[Kreider, John Mellinger (1869-1946)|Bishop J. M. Kreider]] ordained N. E. Landis as minister (later bishop) and C. M. Bute deacon. Active workers went from this base to 17 different fields including [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]]. The [[Sewing Circle|sewing circle]] (Dorcas Band) was organized 2 April 1902. The rural membership lived almost entirely north of Alpha and nearby Jackson, while 20 percent of the membership lived in town.

The church was remodeled in 1919, after being struck by lightning. It was renovated in 1939 and 1941. Membership in 1953 was 78. The congregation relocated into the town of Jackson, building in a wooded area. At that time it adopted the name, Hilltop Community Church. The new building was dedicated 7 July 1985. The membership in 2000 was 31. The church closed in Spring 2004; Ed Wenger was the last pastor.
= Bibliography =
Yoder, Holly Blosser. <em>The Same Spirit: History of Iowa-Nebraska Mennonites</em>. Freeman, S.D.: Central Plains Mennonite Conference, 2003.
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