Southern Hills Mennonite Church

Then and now

In 1949, Mennonite Central Committee chose the Topeka State Hospital as a site for a Voluntary Service (VS) Unit. Twenty young people arrived in Topeka that year to participate in the VS program. In 1952, during the Korean War, 23 young Mennonite conscientious objectors arrived to perform their I-W alternative service at the Topeka State Hospital and Veterans Administration Hospital in Topeka. As these young people married, began to have families and put down roots in Topeka, they felt the need to establish a place of worship. In 1956, the fledgling congregation of 37 young people decided to organize formally as the Topeka Mennonite Fellowship.  In 1962, the Fellowship dedicated it’s new church building on our current location, and changed the name to Southern Hills Mennonite Church.

To this day, Southern Hill continues the tradition of peace and service.  From it’s location next to struggling neighborhoods, SHMC is engaged at the ground level in outreach ministries.  From food pantries and a blessing box, to hosting a community garden, SHMC believes it is important to get involved.  It includes being involved during times of disaster, locally and across the nation.  It means opening our church building for community meetings and inviting our neighborhood children to get involved in summer vacation bible school.  Representing Christ goes beyond just providing for the basic needs of our neighbors.  It also includes being involved in local and State advocacy work and mentoring and building relationships.   Please click on the Church Life tab above to read more specifics about our community outreach and involvement.