Detailed History of Faith Lutheran Church
The history of Faith goes back to 1863 when immigrants established Wood River Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. By 1905 a group who wanted an English service broke off and formed English Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The first pastor was Rev. J. A. Tweten, who was installed on August 12, 1906. In 1907 Rev. Tweten also began serving the Wood River Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
In 1909, the Rev. S. L. Thompson was installed at English Lutheran and Wood River. He also conducted occasional services at Yellow Lake, Webster, Logging Creek, Ekdall and Karlsborg. Thompson ended his ministry at English in 1915, but he served Wood River until 1917.
Rev. T. E. Danielson of St. Olaf Lutheran and students from Luther Seminary filled the English pulpit at various times until 1917.
In 1917 English Lutheran, St. Olaf and Wood River became one parish. They called Rev. K. A. Kasberg in the fall of 1917.
In 1918, some people from St. Olaf and Wood River became a new parish known as Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church. Rev. Kasberg served both congregations until he died on March 29, 1924.
In 1924 English Lutheran and Bethany began sharing a pastor. Rev. H.J. Wicker accepted the call to be the pastor of these two congregations in July of 1924. Om October of 1924 the church women and all confirmands 18 and older were granted voting privileges.
In the early summer of 1927, Rev. O.A. Olson became pastor. At the annual meeting in January 1928, Mrs. A.M. Anderson was elected for a two-year term as the first woman trustee.
In 1930 Bethany and English Lutheran furnished a room in the new hospital. In the fall of 1931 Rev. Harry Walker accepted the call to become pastor.
In June of 1941 Rev. Walker resigned, and On December 7 of that year (Pearl Harbor Day) Rev. James Falk began his ministry. In 1946 Bethany and English Lutheran helped the Luther League build a cabin at Luther Point Bible Camp.
Rev. Falk resigned in 1953 and Rev. Tenner Thompson, Jr. arrived in the spring. In 1954 Bethany Lutheran was struck by lightning and burned. They worship with English Luther through the rest of the year while their new church was being built.
English Lutheran celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 5, 1955. Rev. J. O. Tweten, the church’s first pastor spoke at the 8:00am service. Rev. R. J. Meland, who helped organize the church gave a greeting and sang “Behold A Host Arrayed in White”.
In October 1957, Rev. Wesley Haugen accepted the call to be pastor, and he and his family moved into the just-completed parsonage on Wisconsin Avenue.
In 1960 First Lutheran (better known as Swedish Lutheran Church, established in 1884) passed a resolution to join with English Lutheran.
In 1961 it was decided that a bigger building was needed and the financial drive began in October of that year. Rev. Haugen resigned in 1963, and Rev. Alan Madson accepted the call. His coming sparked renewed energy for constructing a new building. At a special meeting on July 19, 1965, the vote to build a new building was passed. Ground was broken on our present site August 11, 1965. At the annual meeting in January of 1966, the decision was made to change the name of the congregation to Faith Lutheran.
On Sunday, September 11, 1966 we had our last worship service at English Lutheran, and walked to our new building, Faith Lutheran, where we dedicated the building with an open house and organ concerts in the afternoon and evening. Rev. Madson’s artistic talents inspired the stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
Our first full worship service in our new building was held September 18, 1966.
In January 1969, Rev. Madson resigned. In February 1969, Rev. Myron Carlson and his family moved into the parsonage and began their ministry.
In January 2000 it was decided that both Bethany and Faith were each large enough to have their own pastor. Each congregation is now independent and each has their own full time pastor. Both congregations expressed gratitude for their many years together.
In January 2001, Faith called Rev. Myron Carlson to serve Faith only. After 37 years as pastor at Faith, Rev. Carlson retired in August 2006.
In 2006, Rev. Michael Soppeland was named as interim pastor, under a two year contract. When his contract expired, no permanent pastor had been called, so Rev. Arthur Bruning was appointed to fill the pulpit.
In April 2009, Rev. Victor St. George was called to be pastor. On August 2009 at the national assembly of the ELCA, a resolution passed that upset some members of Faith. Unable to find common ground, a vote was taken on December 6, 2009 to leave the ELCA. The vote was defeated, leading to the departure of the dissenting members, who formed a new congregation along with other people from other congregations.
On August of 2012, Rev. Victor St. George resigned. From September 10, 2012 until August 14, 2013 the congregation was served by Rev. Mark Hendrickson, interim pastor.
On January 18, 2014, Rev. Sandra Hutchens began to serve as pastor at Faith.
During Rev. Carlson’s pastorate, it was decided that the congregation needed a paid youth and family coordinator. Chris Bengea was the first to be hired. Jan Herman and Butta Ryan served for one year. Julie Hendrickson took the position in 1987. Bethany Westre worked with both Faith and Bethany in 1988. Debbie Romback serve from 1991-1992. Betsy Monge served from 1993-1996. Lisa Steen served from 1996-1998. Heather Jensen served from 1998-2003. Mandi Amundson and Becky Berg began to serve in the fall of 2003. When Becky left, Lisa Michaels began to serve. When Lisa left, Mary Hoffman began to serve. Mary left in 2012, but returned in 2014. She and Mandi continue to faithfully serve the youth and families of Faith today.
We have been served over the years by faithful secretaries and treasurers/bookkeepers. Eileen Lundequam was secretary from 1975-2004. Anne Kallman was the treasurer from 1977-1997. Jay and Sheila Odegard took over the treasurer work in January 1998 and converted everything over to the computer. Sheila Odegard took over the financial part of the secretary’s job in April 2002, and became the administrative assistant in 2004, when Eileen Lundequam retired. In August of 2013, Sheila Odegard became the church bookkeeper, and Patti Swenson became the administrative assistant. In June of 2014, Patti Swenson resigned and Sheila Odegard became the administrative assistant. Cheryl Schillerberg was hired as bookkeeper and secretarial back in September 2014.
Sheila is resigning in the near future (the call of those grandbabies and a heavy workload in her other full-time job). On July 19, 2016, Jennifer Bybee was hired to be administrative assistant. Cheryl continues to be our bookkeeper and oversees our website.
We have also been served over the years by many choir directors, pianists, and organists over the years. The choir directors include: Morris Skinner, Alice Biederman, Ed Manteufel, Andy Johnson, Kjellgren Hestigan, Berdella Johnson (who served at various times for more than 30 years) and most recently Todd Anderson, who has served off and on since 1992.
The organists and pianists who have served us are: Laura Dahlberg, Alice Biederman, JoAnn Freese, Myrna Gardin, and Linda Dahl. Linda, JoAnn, and Myrna still serve us faithfully today.
We have had many people in charge of cleaning the church. Records indicate that Thomas Tollefson was the first janitor in 1906. More recently, Betty Skinner served from 1973-2003, Lowell Olson served from 2003-2007, Jon Hall served from 2007- the fall of 2013. Kristy Hjort and her husband Louis took over in September of 2013 and still serve faithfully today.
In October of 1975 we began airing our worship service on WCMP out of Pine City. This ministry serves the elderly, shut-ins and a large number of listeners in nearby communities. This wonderful outreach ministry continues today on 100.3 FM.
In 1993 discussions were held about expanding the building. In the fall of 1995, ground was broken for the addition which doubled the space in the social hall, added a council room, a youth and family ministry office, 3 rooms for Christian Education, ample storage space and a room for choir robes and music.
In addition to all of the people named above, there are countless unnamed individuals who have contributed their time, talents and money to English Lutheran and Faith Lutheran over the past 116 years. We owe thanks to everyone, past and present, for their service to Christ and this congregation.
As we gather today to celebrate 50 years of ministry in this building, may we remember with love and thanksgiving that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, some of whom shed sweat and tears to make this day possible. May we also give thanks for those today, who are present or scattered, whose sweat and tears have also made this day possible.
The first pastor was Rev. J. A. Tweten, who was installed on August 12, 1906. In 1907 Rev. Tweten also began serving the Wood River Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
In 1909, the Rev. S. L. Thompson was installed at English Lutheran and Wood River. He also conducted occasional services at Yellow Lake, Webster, Logging Creek, Ekdall and Karlsborg. Thompson ended his ministry at English in 1915, but he served Wood River until 1917.
Rev. T. E. Danielson of St. Olaf Lutheran and students from Luther Seminary filled the English pulpit at various times until 1917.
In 1917 English Lutheran, St. Olaf and Wood River became one parish. They called Rev. K. A. Kasberg in the fall of 1917.
In 1918, some people from St. Olaf and Wood River became a new parish known as Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church. Rev. Kasberg served both congregations until he died on March 29, 1924.
In 1924 English Lutheran and Bethany began sharing a pastor. Rev. H.J. Wicker accepted the call to be the pastor of these two congregations in July of 1924. Om October of 1924 the church women and all confirmands 18 and older were granted voting privileges.
In the early summer of 1927, Rev. O.A. Olson became pastor. At the annual meeting in January 1928, Mrs. A.M. Anderson was elected for a two-year term as the first woman trustee.
In 1930 Bethany and English Lutheran furnished a room in the new hospital. In the fall of 1931 Rev. Harry Walker accepted the call to become pastor.
In June of 1941 Rev. Walker resigned, and On December 7 of that year (Pearl Harbor Day) Rev. James Falk began his ministry. In 1946 Bethany and English Lutheran helped the Luther League build a cabin at Luther Point Bible Camp.
Rev. Falk resigned in 1953 and Rev. Tenner Thompson, Jr. arrived in the spring. In 1954 Bethany Lutheran was struck by lightning and burned. They worship with English Luther through the rest of the year while their new church was being built.
English Lutheran celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 5, 1955. Rev. J. O. Tweten, the church’s first pastor spoke at the 8:00am service. Rev. R. J. Meland, who helped organize the church gave a greeting and sang “Behold A Host Arrayed in White”.
In October 1957, Rev. Wesley Haugen accepted the call to be pastor, and he and his family moved into the just-completed parsonage on Wisconsin Avenue.
In 1960 First Lutheran (better known as Swedish Lutheran Church, established in 1884) passed a resolution to join with English Lutheran.
In 1961 it was decided that a bigger building was needed and the financial drive began in October of that year. Rev. Haugen resigned in 1963, and Rev. Alan Madson accepted the call. His coming sparked renewed energy for constructing a new building. At a special meeting on July 19, 1965, the vote to build a new building was passed. Ground was broken on our present site August 11, 1965. At the annual meeting in January of 1966, the decision was made to change the name of the congregation to Faith Lutheran.
On Sunday, September 11, 1966 we had our last worship service at English Lutheran, and walked to our new building, Faith Lutheran, where we dedicated the building with an open house and organ concerts in the afternoon and evening. Rev. Madson’s artistic talents inspired the stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
Our first full worship service in our new building was held September 18, 1966.
In January 1969, Rev. Madson resigned. In February 1969, Rev. Myron Carlson and his family moved into the parsonage and began their ministry.
In January 2000 it was decided that both Bethany and Faith were each large enough to have their own pastor. Each congregation is now independent and each has their own full time pastor. Both congregations expressed gratitude for their many years together.
In January 2001, Faith called Rev. Myron Carlson to serve Faith only. After 37 years as pastor at Faith, Rev. Carlson retired in August 2006.
In 2006, Rev. Michael Soppeland was named as interim pastor, under a two year contract. When his contract expired, no permanent pastor had been called, so Rev. Arthur Bruning was appointed to fill the pulpit.
In April 2009, Rev. Victor St. George was called to be pastor. On August 2009 at the national assembly of the ELCA, a resolution passed that upset some members of Faith. Unable to find common ground, a vote was taken on December 6, 2009 to leave the ELCA. The vote was defeated, leading to the departure of the dissenting members, who formed a new congregation along with other people from other congregations.
On August of 2012, Rev. Victor St. George resigned. From September 10, 2012 until August 14, 2013 the congregation was served by Rev. Mark Hendrickson, interim pastor.
On January 18, 2014, Rev. Sandra Hutchens began to serve as pastor at Faith.
During Rev. Carlson’s pastorate, it was decided that the congregation needed a paid youth and family coordinator. Chris Bengea was the first to be hired. Jan Herman and Butta Ryan served for one year. Julie Hendrickson took the position in 1987. Bethany Westre worked with both Faith and Bethany in 1988. Debbie Romback serve from 1991-1992. Betsy Monge served from 1993-1996. Lisa Steen served from 1996-1998. Heather Jensen served from 1998-2003. Mandi Amundson and Becky Berg began to serve in the fall of 2003. When Becky left, Lisa Michaels began to serve. When Lisa left, Mary Hoffman began to serve. Mary left in 2012, but returned in 2014. She and Mandi continue to faithfully serve the youth and families of Faith today.
We have been served over the years by faithful secretaries and treasurers/bookkeepers. Eileen Lundequam was secretary from 1975-2004. Anne Kallman was the treasurer from 1977-1997. Jay and Sheila Odegard took over the treasurer work in January 1998 and converted everything over to the computer. Sheila Odegard took over the financial part of the secretary’s job in April 2002, and became the administrative assistant in 2004, when Eileen Lundequam retired. In August of 2013, Sheila Odegard became the church bookkeeper, and Patti Swenson became the administrative assistant. In June of 2014, Patti Swenson resigned and Sheila Odegard became the administrative assistant. Cheryl Schillerberg was hired as bookkeeper and secretarial back in September 2014.
Sheila is resigning in the near future (the call of those grandbabies and a heavy workload in her other full-time job). On July 19, 2016, Jennifer Bybee was hired to be administrative assistant. Cheryl continues to be our bookkeeper and oversees our website.
We have also been served over the years by many choir directors, pianists, and organists over the years. The choir directors include: Morris Skinner, Alice Biederman, Ed Manteufel, Andy Johnson, Kjellgren Hestigan, Berdella Johnson (who served at various times for more than 30 years) and most recently Todd Anderson, who has served off and on since 1992.
The organists and pianists who have served us are: Laura Dahlberg, Alice Biederman, JoAnn Freese, Myrna Gardin, and Linda Dahl. Linda, JoAnn, and Myrna still serve us faithfully today.
We have had many people in charge of cleaning the church. Records indicate that Thomas Tollefson was the first janitor in 1906. More recently, Betty Skinner served from 1973-2003, Lowell Olson served from 2003-2007, Jon Hall served from 2007- the fall of 2013. Kristy Hjort and her husband Louis took over in September of 2013 and still serve faithfully today.
In October of 1975 we began airing our worship service on WCMP out of Pine City. This ministry serves the elderly, shut-ins and a large number of listeners in nearby communities. This wonderful outreach ministry continues today on 100.3 FM.
In 1993 discussions were held about expanding the building. In the fall of 1995, ground was broken for the addition which doubled the space in the social hall, added a council room, a youth and family ministry office, 3 rooms for Christian Education, ample storage space and a room for choir robes and music.
In addition to all of the people named above, there are countless unnamed individuals who have contributed their time, talents and money to English Lutheran and Faith Lutheran over the past 116 years. We owe thanks to everyone, past and present, for their service to Christ and this congregation.
As we gather today to celebrate 50 years of ministry in this building, may we remember with love and thanksgiving that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, some of whom shed sweat and tears to make this day possible. May we also give thanks for those today, who are present or scattered, whose sweat and tears have also made this day possible.