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History of Amy Chapel
The history of Amy Chapel spans three centuries; from the 1880's to the present day. The Dunn County History (1984) indicates Daniel Fuller and his wife gave a parcel of land in 1881 for the building of a Baptist Church (1/2 mile east of current Cty Hwy H on Cty Hwy E). Church services were held when a preacher was available; Congregational, Methodist, Salvation Army and Baptists all holding services.
With the nearest town (Elk Mound) being a number of miles away, it was decided to open a post office in the community. The governor granted permission and a post office was housed in the store at the current intersection of Cty Hwy E & 970th St. The post office location needed to have a name. It was decided to call it "Amy" in recognition of a noted temperance worker, Amy Kellogg. With that, the Amy community was named.
In January of 1887, the Dunn County News recorded this: "Wm. F. Davis, the evangelist who was imprisoned for preaching the gospel on the Boston Commons in the summer of 1885 has held meetings in the Baptist Church in Amy several evenings this week. It is expected he will spend some time soon laboring in other parts of Dunn County under the direction of the Dunn County WCTU. He is a man of rare talent and education and much spiritual good is expected from his work among us."
For many years the church was closed. In the 1930's the American Sunday School Union was instrumental in opening the building again. Later, the First Baptist Church of Eau Claire, under the leadership of M.R. Siemens, remodeled the church and began holding services. This building burned in 1945. With the help of First Baptist, land was purchased about a mile east near Elk Creek Lake and a new building was built and dedicated in 1948 with the name "Amy Chapel". In 1952 it was purchased from First Baptist and has since been an independent work.
History of Village Missions
The story of Village Missions actually began in Ireland with a sermon preached by Thomas DeWitt Talmadge and subsequently printed. A young man read that sermon over 100 years ago, called upon God and found Jesus Christ as his Savior. Walter Duff, Sr. was gloriously saved that night. When he announced this to his parents the next morning at breakfast, his father told young Walter, "Walter, all Duffs are Christians. We attend church and give heavily to support it!" Walter looked at his dad and responded, "I know, Father, but last night, God saved my soul!" Walter then proceeded to live out his life motto: "I would sacrifice my all for my Christ, to be a soul winner."
The day came when Walter fell in love with one of the secretaries in his office. They married and had five children: Helen, Evangeline, Walter, Jr., Olive, and Haldane. It was 1912 when he decided to take his family to America. The custom of the day was that the father traveled to America first, and then sent for the family after all housing arrangements had been made. The ship the Duff family was to sail on was none other than the Titanic; after all, it was unsinkable and safe. However, Mrs. Duff decided she and the children could not wait that long and booked passage on another ship that would arrive earlier. They did not hear of the Titanic sinking and the loss of 1200 lives until they reached Boston.
The Duff family made their home in International Falls, Minnesota. A year later, the family boarded the train for Portland, Oregon and a climate wet and warm like Ireland. During his growing up years, Walter Duff Jr. took part in his father's evangelistic ministry. He passed our invitations door to door, took up the offerings, and played trombone solos. Later, as a young man, he was a traveling preacher in the Pacific Northwest for 13 years.
In February 1934, Walther Duff, Jr. was invited to preach in the Methodist church in Dallas, Oregon where he met Miss Edith Dunn. They were married on June 12, 1936 and spent the following summer in Ireland because Walter Jr. said "You'll never understand me unless you know where I came from." Three children were born to them: Priscilla Ann, Mary Margaret and Walter David. Reverend Duff served as pastor in several churches in Oregon and even one in Nebraska while attending seminary.
In 1948 Miss Mary Clark joined Mrs. Baugh, Walter Duff Jr.'s sister in ministry. It was the beginning of a lifelong working partnership that eventually results in what is today known as Stonecroft Ministries. It was through this ministry that Village Missions was born as a mission to send pastors to rural areas. It was launched at the American Bank Building, Portland, Oregon, on September 9, 1948. The Rev. Walter Duff, Jr., was designated as National Director. Their continued support by prayer, and close friendship has been vital to Village Missions in reaching rural America with the Gospel for Jesus Christ.
The news began to spread and Village Missions began to hear from all over the West. They received scores of letters asking for help to secure a pastor for their church. Rev. Walter Duff, Sr., challenged his son to "send out 100 missionary pastors to rural North America." Rev. Duff Jr. directed the sending out of over 600 missionaries during his lifetime.
In 1968, interested Canadians asked if Village Missions would consider the spiritual needs of Canada. The very first Village Missions field was opened that same year in Willow River, British Columbia. Now these many years later, Village Missions is providing leadership from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia in many communities and villages. Our Motto - One mission - two nations!
Rev. Walter Duff Jr. officially retired in 1991. In 1993 he was ushered into the presence of God after leading Village Missions for 45 years. In honor of the one who he had served so faithfully all of his adult life, the Tempo magazine issue in May/June 1993 headlines comprised just two words, "Well Done." Rev. Walter Duff Jr. was a man of conviction and prayer. His supreme goal was taking the Word of God to those in rural areas who did not have access to a gospel preaching church, or a compassionate shepherd to help them in the crisis needs in their lives. His conviction was expressed in his simple admonition to, "Preach the Word and love the people."
Village Missions continued to move forward under the leadership of Dr. Jack Canady, who became the Assistant Director of Village Missions on January 1, 1989 and National Director in March 1991. To move Village Missions from a Founder/Director to a Chief Executive Officer is no small task and it was accomplished by his grace and patience. Dr. Canady was given a sabbatical in July of 1999 and officially retired in June of 2000.
Rev. Donald Still became the Interim Acting Administrator in July 1999 and served in this position until a new Executive Director was hired in November 2000. The National Board of United Sates and Canada selected Rev. Brian Wechsler as the new Executive Director of Village Missions and he began his duties in November 2000. Village Missions continues to be dedicated to our all-sufficient Lord who supplies all our needs.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the word of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." (I Corinthians 15:58 NASB)
