Southern Gospel cruise to benefit First Christian Capital Campaign fund

Stephanie Himmel is associate minister of the First Christian Church of Hannibal. She was installed as Commissioned Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in November 2024. Contributed photo

Stephanie Himmel is associate minister of the First Christian Church of Hannibal. She was installed as Commissioned Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in November 2024. Contributed photo

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

Brandon Himmel, music minister of the First Christian Church, will entertain during a night of Southern Gospel Music on the Mississippi River, aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat, which departs from the Center Street dock at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2025.

The dinner cruise will serve as a fund-raiser for Hannibal’s iconic First Christian Church. 

Money raised, in conjunction with the ongoing capital campaign, will go toward maintenance and repairs for the building, constructed in 1890 at a pivotal point along Broadway, Hannibal’s landmark artery.

Stephanie Himmel, associate minister, said the funds raised will be used to help maintain the historic building.

“We suffered some damage in storms a few years ago,” she said. “It is an historic building, and costs tend to be higher with that,” she said. “The funds raised will be used to repair, maintain and restore.”

The concept of the fundraising cruise was conceived by Capt. Steve and Sandy Terry, long-time members of the church, and owners of the Mark Twain Riverboat.

“Capt. Terry is opening up this opportunity to the public, to enjoy a wonderful evening of music and be able to support our presence in the downtown community,” Stephanie Himmel said.

Brandon Himmel, Stephanie’s husband, is a native of Bluffs, Ill. The two married in 2019, and “I joined First Christian in 2021, because Brandon came to lead the worship.”

Stephanie, 32, the daughter of Bob and Susan Wathen, grew up in Hannibal, in another denomination. “I owe a lot of who I am to the example (my parents) have set as faithful ministers,” she said.

When she arrived at First Christian Church, “There had been some pastoral changes at the church, and they asked me to lead as a youth minister,” she said.

“That led to a culmination of a call that God had placed on my life a few years prior; moving in the youth ministry position, moving me forward with a commissioning process to be a minister with standing” in 2024.

Since accepting the job as youth leader, she has been taking courses through Phillips Theological Seminary, covering 21 ministerial competencies.

In addition, “I’m in the process of finishing my four-year degree.”

More than a building

Stephanie Himmel is understanding of the concept that the church is just a building, in which to provide community outreach. “Maintaining the building in the downtown area is very much important to us,” she said.

The church mission is:  “We are called to be the FACE of Jesus, in Hannibal, sharing God’s Forgiveness, Acceptance, Compassion and Encouragement with our neighbors.”

The church was recently recognized by the United Way as their philanthropic group of the year, “for our efforts in (providing an) emergency warming center,” she said. Insurance issues prevented the program from taking place inside the church building, but when the need arose, Trinity Episcopal Church opened its doors for the program to proceed. “We’re the face of the award; we started the program last year, and it grew into economical endeavors made possible by efforts of others in the community,” she said.

In addition, the church is celebrating its 35th year of proving space for the WEeCare Preschool and Day Care facility.

“That’s quite an accomplishment,” she said.

For 17 years, Brandon Himmel sang with his father and brother in a group called “Anticipation.”

Tickets for the cruise are $50, and may be reserved by calling the Mark Twain Riverboat at (573) 221-3222.

The First Christian Church of Hannibal is conducting an internal capital campaign for the maintenance of the building, which was constructed circa 1890 on Broadway. A fund-raising Gospel music dinner cruise will be conducted on behalf of the church at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24. Featured musician will be Brandon Himmel. Contributed photo.