Trace Early Beginnings For Church at Idalia
From Rocky Mountain Conference "Pilgrim Call"
published by United Church of Christ, Richard A. Miller, Idalia pastor.
Preprinted in the Burlington Record (c. mid 1970's)
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       In the early 80's of the past century, a number of families from Nebraska and a few other eastern states came to what is known as the Idalia community in the eastern part of our state, to take up government homesteads.  It is indeed "open country," the wide expanses of the prairies.  Those early settlers were short of cash but long on faith to become an established group under God.  At first they met in private homes for worship services whenever there would be a minister from Denver to conduct the services.  Following their organization as a church in 1887, they built their first church, affectionately called "Ole Soddy."

       The country was sparsely settled but there were enough to form a church group.  To have a permanent pastor was difficult because of the isolation, together with the problem of being able to support a permanent pastor, but in faith, the group persisted.  Just to hold the small, struggling group together required the determination of faith to have an established church in their community.

       It was a hard life for these pioneers, but by the help of God and their persistence, they were able to leave their descendants a heritage of faith.  In the depression of the 30's, "the dust bowl" era, with crop failures, had they been of lesser faith they would not have left such a heritage.  Indeed in those trying years if some of them would have had the wherewithal to move, they would have done so.  Today it is a prosperous community of diversified farming and cattle ranches and an increasing amount of deep-well irrigation.

       The scenario has greatly changed over the years but "the plot" remains the same with 80 members dedicated to its continuance.  It is a challenge to all of us as members of the Body of Christ to dedicate ourselves more fully to the classic definition of true religion as set forth by the prophet Michaha, "God has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does God require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with you God?" - and with your fellow persons.