A Family-Friendly Church South of Mason
Eden United Brethren Church sits on Eden Road just outside Mason, Michigan, about a mile east of the Barnes Road exit of US 127. The congregation has been part of this rural stretch of Ingham County for well over a century, and the buildings have grown up in waves to match the people who fill the pews. Eden's motto in practice is straightforward: a family-friendly church where people grow in faith and in community together. Sunday morning here blends traditional hymns, a contemporary praise band, a Sunday school hour for every age, and a relaxed fellowship break between the two - the kind of rhythm that has shaped the church for generations.
Visitors coming for the first time will find a sanctuary attached to a larger Family Life Center. The first large overhang from the parking lot, labeled Family Life Center, leads into the commons and gym used for the half-time fellowship and for the children's ministry called King's Kids. A second overhang on the left is the main entrance to the Worship Center sanctuary. Greeters meet people at the door, and a welcome table near the front holds information and small gifts for newcomers. The dress code is simply "wear something" - jeans and a hoodie fit comfortably alongside a shirt and tie.
The Eden Story: From a Country Schoolhouse to a New Sanctuary
The congregation traces its roots to the spring of 1893, when men from the Eden community met at the Eden School to discuss building a church in their little village. Raising the money took six or seven years, and Sunday school gathered at the schoolhouse in the meantime. On January 1, 1899, the Sunday school counted 35 people and an offering of 48 pennies. On June 6, 1900, the cornerstone was laid and the Dedication Service was held for the new Eden Methodist Church.
Through the 1930s attendance sometimes fell to five or ten people, and the survival of the little church is credited largely to the prayers and faithfulness of Paul and Clara Redman. In 1943 the trustees began the transition to the United Brethren in Christ denomination, and on June 29, 1944 the board met to elect the first officers of the Eden United Brethren Church. The congregation shared a circuit with nearby Housel United Brethren Church until the fall of 1946.
Growth brought a new sanctuary, fellowship hall, and classrooms dedicated by Bishop Clyde Meadows on September 24, 1967. Eden hired its first assistant pastor in 1970. Another building program broke ground on April 16, 1978; the original white country church was taken down, and on April 27, 1980 the present sanctuary was dedicated. A pole barn went up in the mid-1990s for lawn equipment and storage, and on November 14, 2004 a long-planned Family Life Center - kitchen, gymnasium, office, nursery, and Sunday school classrooms - was dedicated.
Just over two months later, on January 28, 2005, a devastating fire swept the church. Most of the building and its contents were lost, and the rest had to be demolished. The newly dedicated Family Life Center suffered smoke and water damage but survived. Mason United Methodist Church opened its doors for worship services while Eden rebuilt, and on September 4, 2006 a deeply grateful congregation dedicated a new sanctuary to the glory of God. The 100th anniversary in 2000 was marked with a large celebration of former pastors, parishioners, United Brethren pastors, and community friends, and the church continues to look back on more than a century of faithfulness.
A Sunday Morning Built Around Three Hours
The Sunday rhythm at Eden runs through three distinct blocks. Christian Education classes meet from 9:30 to 10:30 in smaller groups for deeper discussion, prayer, and fellowship. Half-Time Fellowship follows from 10:30 to 11:00, when coffee, snacks, and conversation fill the Family Life Center commons. The Worship Service runs from 11:00 to noon in the sanctuary, blending traditional and contemporary music with a sermon. Each Sunday afternoon, the service is recorded and uploaded to Eden's YouTube channel for those who want to watch or listen again.
Children are woven into every part of the morning. A nursery for infants through age 3 and a King's Kids ministry for children 3 years old through fifth grade are available during both Christian Education and the Worship Service. The elementary-age children dismiss from the sanctuary to the gym for King's Kids, and parents pick them up at the end of service. Sensory bags for children who need them are available at the welcome center or from a greeter.
The music ministry is intentional about blending the old and the new. Three to six vocalists lead Sunday worship. Traditional hymns are accompanied by some combination of piano, organ, and trumpet, while contemporary songs are led by the praise band or sung along with a video. An adult choir provides special music throughout the year and at Christmas and Easter. The music team is led by Youth Pastor Mark Anderson on acoustic guitar and vocals, with April Anderson and Rikki Anger-Higlemire on vocals, Lauren Fusilier on piano, and Matt Fusilier on drums.
Learning at Every Age: Christian Education, King's Kids, and Eden Student Ministry
Christian Education at Eden is the church's name for Sunday school. Six adult classes meet in the Family Life Center and Worship Center, covering study topics such as "Men of God" and "Women of God," "The Awe of God," "Hebrews - the Supremacy of Christ," "Surprised by Hope," the Standard Lesson Quarterly, and "All In." Teachers include Brent Steiner, Carol VanDouser, Matt Campbell, Larry Collar, and Theron Smith. Classes are open to newcomers; visitors can simply show up, notify a greeter, or email the church to be placed.
Children have their own classes during the same hour. Dalana Mata teaches preschool through third grade in Room 108, and Elaine Wright teaches fourth and fifth graders in Room 107. Youth in grades 6 through 12 meet in the Youth Room with Mark Anderson. The youth ministry, called Eden Student Ministry or ESM, also gathers for small-group Bible study on Sunday mornings and for Fusion, a youth-group meeting held roughly twice a month.
King's Kids is the children's church during the 11:00 worship service. Children ages 3 through fifth grade head to the gym for a program of their own, with leaders Colleen Briggs and Tonja Collar. The group also presents special music for the congregation and a Christmas musical each year.
Beliefs Rooted in the 1815 Confession of Faith
Eden holds to the historic Confession of Faith adopted by the United Brethren in Christ in 1815. The church teaches belief in one true God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - who created and sustains all things. Jesus Christ is affirmed as both God and man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, who suffered, died, was buried, rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God interceding for believers. He will return to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit is confessed as equal in being with the Father and the Son, comforting the faithful and guiding them into all truth. Eden teaches that the Old and New Testaments together constitute the Word of God and the only true way to salvation, and that without faith in Jesus Christ, true repentance, forgiveness of sins, and following after him, no one can be a true Christian. The church believes in a holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Two ordinances are practiced - baptism and the Lord's Supper - with the understanding that each believer is free to follow their own conscience on the manner of observance.
The United Brethren in Christ denomination is evangelical, emphasizing salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The denomination has more than 400 churches in nine countries, with about 65 percent in the United States and Canada. International headquarters is in Huntington, Indiana, and Eden is affiliated with Huntington University and with two United Brethren camps.
Food Pantry, ECHO, and Community Outreach
One of the most visible ministries at Eden is the food pantry. Coordinator Jennifer Scott oversees a drive-up service most Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon, and the pantry is also open during regular office hours. Donations of non-perishable food and personal care items are accepted at any time. The current priority list includes cereal, pancake mix and syrup, canned tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, jelly, frosting, coffee, toilet paper, and paper towels.
ECHO - Eden Church Helping Others - is the church's outreach program, formed in the fall of 2007 by merging the Mission Ministry Team and the Women's Missionary Fellowship. Led by Missions Director Mary Redman, ECHO supports missionaries and mission work in Macau, Spain, Sierra Leone, India, and Jamaica. Locally the team has served meals at the Lansing City Rescue Mission and contributed to Right to Life and Child Evangelism Fellowship. Meetings run at 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the commons.
The Deacons, or Spiritual Care Ministry Team, pray for assigned church attendees, make hospital and funeral visits, and administer a benevolence fund that helps individuals and families with food, shelter, home repairs, transportation, medication, and utilities in emergencies. Adrian and Rose Ambler serve as head deacons, with Don and Sharon Dunsmore, Carol VanDouser, and Roger and Tanya Herrera on the team.
Connect Sports: A Local Youth League
Eden partners with Mason First Church of the Nazarene and Aurelius Baptist Church to run Connect Sports, a community youth league organized by Lee and Janet Larner and Jordan and Rebekah Wurmlinger. Sports rotate through the year: basketball from January to March, soccer from June to August, flag football from September to October, and cheerleading alongside each of those seasons. Archery is also offered. Coaches commit to one weeknight practice and one Saturday game, and referees and concessions volunteers are needed throughout each season.
Camps, VBS, and Summer Programs
Eden affiliates with two United Brethren camps. Camp Living Waters, a 100-acre property in Luther, Michigan, sits inside the Pere Marquette State Forest and offers horseback riding, backpacking, hiking, snowmobiling, and access to the Lake County ORV trail system. Camp Barakel is a year-round, Christ-centered camp on 350 acres in northeast Michigan that hosts nearly 10,000 guests a year. Camp Director Kate Morehouse helps connect Eden families to both. Each summer Eden runs its own Vacation Bible School, directed by Lauren Fusilier; the 2026 program is a community effort called "Road Trip," partnered with Mason First Presbyterian, Mason First United Methodist, and Aurelius Baptist Church.
Music, Hospitality, and the Teams Behind Sunday Morning
Beyond the worship band, an adult choir provides special music throughout the year. The Hospitality Ministry Team, led by Sharon Dunsmore, runs the weekly half-time fellowship and coordinates special banquets, breakfasts, bridal and baby showers, holiday events, and meals brought to families during illness or bereavement. Kitchen Director Tami Porter keeps the food table ready. The Assimilation Ministry Team, led by Carol VanDouser, oversees the worship services and connects newcomers to the church family through the worship team, ushers, greeters, audio-visual volunteers, and welcome activities.
A Properties Team led by Chad Samson, along with Phil Samson and Mike Samson, handles the buildings and grounds. A Security Team under Bryan Martin, Mike Raab, and Matt Campbell monitors cameras and safety protocols. The Technology Team, led by Rodney Lane, manages computers, software, the church's online presence, the wireless network, and the calling system used for the prayer chain. Cathy Steiner heads the Finance Team, which oversees budgeting, giving statements, payroll, and tax filings.
Pastors and Office Staff
Dan Bentz has been Eden's Lead Pastor since 2006 and previously served as Associate Pastor from 1998 to 2006. He and his wife Kim moved to Mason from Pennsylvania in November 1998 with their three children, Andy, David, and Rebekah. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible from Lancaster Bible College and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Huntington University.
Mark Anderson is Eden's Youth Pastor and also leads the music for worship. He and his wife April and their children live on the west side of Mason; April teaches sixth-grade science. Mark has served at Eden since 2002 and holds a Bible Certificate from New Tribes Bible Institute and a Youth Ministry degree from Spring Arbor University.
Jessica Lane serves as church secretary and as the nursery ministry leader. Rhonda Harrington is the church treasurer. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and visitors can reach the office by phone at (517) 676-1376 or by email at edenubchurch@wowway.biz. Online giving is available through Easy Tithe.