.......In the year 1858, when this part of Indiana was still swamp land, Evangelical preachers from the Illinois Conference can and hunted these lonely scattered people in their log houses and preached to them in the German language. One advantage these people had was that they had all studied the Bible in the public schools of their native country.
.......When they heard these powerful preachers, they meditated and spread the word and invited others to join them. So it happened that one family after another came, was converted, then joined with the Evangelical people. There were no churches but meetings were held in the homes and later in the little school houses. The schoolhouse in this locality was located in the village of Roselle, one half mile south of present day Wanatah.
.......So did the little flock grow in grace and in number, raised their families until the year 1872. At this time the family names were: Baske, Bessler, Donath, Fisher, Guse, Henning, Kapelski, Keil, Kalwitz, Kuss, Neuman, Peter, Peitz, Redman, Reinke, Rosenbaum, Weisjahn, Werner, Yarger, and Zipple.
.......In 1872 these people got together and built the Zion Church. The members hewed the timbers from their own wood lots and hauled by live horse power and erected the building. The writer still remembers the big wood-burning stove, the kerosene wall lamps with their reflectors, also the reed organ, and the long white pulpit with the black velvet cover. A water pail with a dipper was on the back bench, which was mainly for thirsty children or perhaps to stretch their legs more than to quench their thirst. The women took their places on the north side and the men on the south side.
.......The church was dedicated December 4, 1872. Presiding at the dedication were Presiding Elders Krueger and Lueder. It was known as the Zion Evangelical Church.
.......From time to time Evangelical or Revival meetings were scheduled and were well attended. Sometimes the minister in charge conducted the meetings, when Evangelists were not available. Over the years, many young people were converted.
.......Oakwood park on Lake Wawasee at Syracuse, Indiana was the site of the Camp Ground for Evangelicals of Northern Indiana. A week in July or August was set aside for a great Rally for dedication, business, and fun. Perhaps a good place for a young man or young minister to meet a young lady with whom to share a Christian life. Such an instance occurred for Zion Church.
.......The Sunday following the week of the meetings, the local churches were closed, and everyone who could, traveled with picnic baskets and attended Sunday School and Church services in the Tabernacle. Usually the Bishop gave the sermon. The young people who had been in attendance for the week, made up the choir and the day was a time of rededication.
.......The Zion Cemetery was laid out to the north of the Church. The plan was for the graves to be in rows running north to south. The first row on the east for children and the next rows for adults. Husbands or wives were privileged to have a plot reserved for the survivor. Otherwise an unattached person was expected to be buried in the next row.
.......Much contention arose over this plan and one family claimed a plot of ground south of the church building. As the family scattered and no longer made use of it, they decided to move the graves to a Valparaiso Cemetery.
.......The Cemetery Association was organized in 1939 and officers elected. Money was donated to the amount of several hundred dollars. Since then there have been few donations, but many memorials have been presented. The interest from the Trust Fund is being used for upkeep.
.......From about 1933 to 1954 the church was served by student pastors. One reason for this arrangement was the location of the Evangelical Theological Seminary at Naperville, Illinois. The convenience of transportation between the seminary and the Wanatah charge was in its favor.
.......Catachetical instruction has always been a part of Zion Church, sometimes under difficulties, sometimes impossible. In the late 1920's a class was organized, not for children alone but parents also. One evening each week for a year, the class met at Zion Church. Seventeen boys and girls were graduated at Easter Morning worship service in 1928. Several revival meetings during this period brought a number of conversions and a quickening of the spiritual life was brought about.
.....In the 1930's the church was remodeled and enlarged. A narthex was added to the west and a Chancel to the east end. The Chancel was divided with a pulpit to the north and a lectern to the south. A bronze cross centered the altar which was placed against the east wall.
.......A full basement east made and a furnace installed. For the first time Zion Church was illuminated by electricity to replace the Aladdin Lamps. Kitchen facilities were installed.
.......The Church was rededicated Sunday June 16. 1935. Dr. Kimmel. president of the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Naperville, Illinois was the speaker.
.......The minutes of a congregational meeting are interesting concerning this remodeling. It was September 1934, the height of the depression. The Zion congregation assembled in the Church and called meeting to consider remodeling. The meeting opened in a Christian manner by song and prayer. The Wanatah Trinity Church had been sold by district superintendent Johnson, the local pastor and trustees. many considered the congregation too poor to build this year. Opposition was strong and moments were tense, but more adequate quarters were necessary. Lumbar, trucks, gravel, cement blocks, lights, wiring, skilled workmen, ect. were discussed with much deliberation. A blue print was advised. Later, in September another meeting was called. Reports from committees, plans were discussed and costs were considered. People got busy and planned how much they could raise. Time, troops, and efforts were donated. The remodeling was carried out and in four years the debt was down to $218.00 and was soon liquidated.
.......Actually the merging of the Evangelical and the United Brethren Church denominations was an idea of the two outstanding leaders; Jacob Albright of the Evangelical and Philip Otterbein of the United Brethren in Christ. These men became friends and discussed their beliefs to this effect.
.......As early as 1933 negotiations were in the making. But not until November 11, 1946 did plans materialize. Bishops and delegates as well as visitors met in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
.....The final general conference opened on November 13, 1946 and the congregation's response was expressed with the singing of "Blest be the Tie that Binds". and now they were known as the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
.......The choir was organized in 1943. Weekly choir practice became the rule and rain or shine, cold, or hot, Thursday night is Choir practice. With a period of professional help this choir is outstanding.
.......Graded lessons were introduced in the children's department in the Sunday School, which met in the basement. The basement of the parsonage was also set up for classes.
.......In 1947 the Evangelical United Brethren Church celebrated its 75th anniversary. On November 9 of that year Rev. George Lozie, Conference Superintendent gave the sermon entitled "My Church" for the morning service. The evening service consisted of a historical pageant written by the Minister and one of the members.
.....Since Medaryville Church had left the circuit many years previously, there were discussions on a move to become yoked in fellowship with the Wanatah Methodist Church. San Pierre would then form a yoked Fellowship with the LaCrosse Methodist Church. Since the Evangelical United Brethren parsonage had for many years been located in San Pierre, it was decided to build a parsonage at the Wanatah site, Thus the minister was saved many miles of travel. The parsonage was built in 1948. It was dedicated in March 1950.
.......A memorial sidewalk was built from the parsonage to the church. The grounds were landscaped by the Purdue Extension Service.
.......During the early 1960's a building fund was set up with a vision to the future. The yoked fellowship with the Wanatah methodist Church was becoming more evident as the minister was serving both Churches.
.......In the mean time, both churches were making improvements. The parsonage and churches were kept in repair, both churches installed organs and the Zion Evangelical United Brethren purchased new pews. Restrooms were installed in both basements.
.......In 1968 after several years of planning between the heads of the Methodist and the Evangelical United Brethren denominations, came a decision to move foreword. The meeting took place in Dallas, Texas in October of 1968. The Churches were collectively known as the Faith United Methodist Church. They served two churches in the Wanatah area for two years. Later it was decided to assemble the fellowship at the country church siting more room for Sunday school rooms and the parsonage being located there.