Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Minneapolis and St. Paul were not the only twin cities in Minnesota history. 170 years ago, when our church was started, there was a sister settlement four miles up the river – Nininger City. The founder, Ignatius Donnelly (home pictured here), had grand plans for a utopian city that would replace St. Paul as the capital of Minnesota. He advertised that Nininger would become “the next New York City”. And, at first, people came. The original 3,800 lots were offered at $6 a piece. By the next year, over 200 houses had been built, along with stores, mills, and other businesses, and lots were selling for $300. But with the financial panic of 1857, money dried up, and within a few years, Nininger disappeared.
Hastings, on the other hand, carried on. A number of the Nininger houses were moved to Hastings. There is at least one of these houses still standing at 724 Ashland St. This house was once the home of Rev. G.W.T. Wright, one of the early pastors of our church.
Ignatius Donnelly’s dreams of a utopia in Nininger disappeared in a few short years. The dreams of the early Methodists in Hastings have lasted for 170 years and counting. I point this out only to give thanks to God for blessing us with 170 years of ministry. Proverbs 3 reminds us to trust in the Lord for whatever the future brings and to always look to God to direct our paths.
May God guide you this week.
Pastor Mark