HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Historical Journey of Rolling Hills

In the summer of 1958, the then Topeka-Highland Presbytery purchased five acres of land in Bel Aire Acres, Johnson County, Kansas at 93rd and Nall Avenue for $30,000. The site, with farm building still standing on it, would be the location of a new Presbyterian church in a rapidly growing and expanding residential and commercial area. The first worship service at Rolling Hills took place on January 28, 1961.

The original sanctuary/office building has been several additions through the years, including the Fireside Room, Chapel, Fellowship Hall, the Kitchen, classrooms, the Ark and the Youth Room. Our grounds have also been enhanced by the addition of the Friendship Garden and the Columbarium.

Through the years, Rolling Hills has sought to glorify God and serve its community with:

• Meaningful worship services and a vibrant music program.
  
• Strong children and youth programs that include Sunday morning church school, fellowship activities and annual events such as Day Camp, Vacation Church School and the Youth Service Trip.
  
• Serving our Community through Christmas & Easter offerings that benefit local agencies, through our donations of financial resources, time and talents to help our neighboring Presbyterian churches, through our annual Food Basket program that reaches over 200 families in the area, and through our other outreach activities such as preparing meals for Shalom House on a monthly basis.
  
• An accredited Preschool and Mother’s Day Out Program that is attended by over 300 children in our community and has been in existence at Rolling Hills since 1965.

Rolling Hills has been faithfully served by members of the congregation, by many talented staff persons and several dedicated pastors, including the following Senior Pastors:

• Dr. Bob Ralston, 1959-1981
  
• Dr. William Murphy, 1969-2002
  
• Dr. William Smutz, 2002-2007
  
• Mr. Norwood “Woody” Brown, 2009-Present

At age 50, the members and friends of Rolling Hills are presently engaged in a vision process seeking God’s call into the future so that our faith community will continue to be a vibrant part of individual life and the Greater Kansas City area!