Here we will tell the story of the beginnings of our church and how we became what we are today.

 

Organized on December 3, 1927, under the leadership of Frank Brunning, Henry Fredericks, and Henry Bockelman, Sr.

    The first services were held on December 8th, in the Fox Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. L.W. Reuther, then a pastor living in Sheffield, conducted the meeting to adopt the Constitution. He served the congregation for several month until Rev. Paul Meyer was installed in May 1930. The first church parsonage was purchased in 1931 for $800.00. The parsonage was dedicated on June 21, 1931.

    Luther League is the oldest organization of the church. It began in May 1930. The Ladies Aid was organized in August 1930 with twelve charter members. The choir was also organized in 1930.

    The first class was confirmed on May 11, 1930. The class consisted of Gleneva Brunning, Esther Kruse (now Mrs. John Day), and Kenneth Freie.

    The first child bapitzed was Kenneth Bockelman.

    Services were conducted in both German and English for a number o years.

     The congregation soon needed more space so for a shor time the worshipped in teh Seventh Day Adventist Church.  Arrangements were made to hold services in a church owned by the German Evangelical congregation. This white wooden church was purchased in December 1930 for $2,725.00

    St. Paul was the first mission congregation of the A.L.C.  The congregation received financial support from the Mission Board of the A.L.C. for six years and eight months in the amount of $ 3,298.00. At the eighth annual meeting of the congregation held on January 5th, 1938, a resolution was adopted to declare itself supporting.

    In 1942 a basement was dug under the church for Sunday School and fellowship space. new front and back entrances were also added at this time.

   In 1945 the old reed organ gave way to a new Hammond Electric model. This year also saw the first use of individual communion cups.

   In it's 25th year, Sovick and Associates were hired to draw up plans for a new church. These plans were adopted on September 19, 1954. The structure would be 40' x 72' with a two level parish hall  measuring 30' x70'. Ground-breaking was held on April 10, 1954, on the existing lot. The adjoining lot to the south was purchased from Mrs. Herman Fredericks in the fall of 1953. The dwelling was sold and removed. as was the old church building.

   Cornerstone-laying ceremonies were held on July 31, 1955. During the time of construction, services were held in the Memorial Hall. By September of 1955, services were held on the second floor of the partially completed parish hall. Services were held in the new church for the first time in teh summer of 1956. Dedication was held on April 28th and May 5th, 1957.

    God has continued to bless St. Paul with growth in numbers and faith. to accomodate the growth of the congregation and it ministry, ground was broken for a new addition in 1997. The new fellowship hall, offices, kitchen, and classrooms were dedicated on September 13, 1998.

 May the Lord of the church continue His work through us in the years ahead.

 

Pastors:

L.W. Reuther  1929-1930                  Leroy Miller      1952-1956     

Paul T. Meyer  1930-1942                 George Krumrey  1957-1963

Norbet August 1943-1945                 Henry Erickson  1963-1965

Eldon Roever   1945-1947                 Craig Ause         1966-1972

E. R. Sommerfield 1947-1952           John M. Rohde  1972-1985

 

Timothy Larson     1985 - 1989        John Glov  1990- 1995

Jon Anderson  1996 - 2005             

Karla Griffen (Associate Pastor) 2000-2002

Pastor Glenn Leaf (interim) 2006

Pastor Dave Sorenson 2007- present