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Prayers on the Prairie: Country church transforms with the times

Janelle Atyeo
Mar 15, 2020
Mar 15, 2020 Updated Feb 4, 2026

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When you pour a cup of coffee at Sun Prairie Baptist Church, the aroma hits you with a rich roastiness and you know there’s something different about this little country church on the South Dakota prairie.

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Sun Prairie sanctuary — Sun Prairie remodeled its sanctuary, replacing a choir loft and organ with space for the praise band.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Church windows — The church’s tower was refurbished in recent years, and while repairing the windows was too expensive they were saved and added as decoration in the interior stairwell.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Sun Prairie History — The original Sun Prairie church was built on the same site in 1890, but the congregation outgrew it.
Submitted photo

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Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.