Denny Park Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA

FREMAD'S HISTORY
On January 29, 1890, eighteen young Norwegian immigrants met for the purpose of encouraging one another as they adjusted to life in the Seattle area and to fellowship around the Word of God, at the same time preserving their language and customs. Many felt the need of spiritual guidance.
At this historic meeting, this group organized and voted upon a name, which would be: "Den Kristelige Litteraer Ungdoms Forening - Fremad" which when translated would be: "the Christian Literature Society for Young People - Forward".
The annual dues for membership would be $1/one dollar and they decided to meet every Wednesday evening.
The congregation that is now known as Denny Park Lutheran had been organized in 1888 under the name of Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, with sixteen charter members. It was this congregation that Fremad gave support and became an integral part of this new and struggling fellowship of Scandinavian Lutherans, giving spiritual and monetary support.
Within one year the membership of Fremad had grown to one hundred thirty-six. From the beginning this society of "transplanted" young people maintained a consistent program of music and sermons as well as other devotional programming, always faithful to the Scriptures. The love for music and the need of a musical group at the meetings brought about the Norwegian String Band which has thrived under the leadership of several members of Fremad.
Through the years, Fremad has had the support of faithful pastors, several of whom could speak the Norwegian language. Faithful and consistent loyalty to our Norwegian heritage resulted in the congregation changing its name to First Norwegian Lutheran in 1919. By the year 1933, the congregation had developed into a bi-lingual church, having two morning services, usually two evening services, two choirs, two ladies' aids, and two youth organizations - the Luther League and Fremad, and a Norwegian mid-week prayer meeting. In 1945 the name of the congregation was changed to Denny Park Lutheran to identify its location in the city.
Through the years the Fremad Society has given strong support to the needs of the community, the local congregation and to world missions. When there was war in Europe, money was sent for relief in Norway, and for many years support has been sent to the Alaska Mission to Native Americans, formerly known as Landsforbund.
Fremad is credited with purchasing and giving to the congregation the first organ, the first piano, the upper center of the carved altar which frames the oil painting of Christ in Gethsemane, as well as the two side panels (1907-1927). When the present church building was being planned, the congregation had purchased a lot 60 feet by 120 feet which proved to be too small to accommodate the needs of the growing congregation as well as the architect's plans. Fremad purchased the adjoining lot for the sum of $3,000.00 and presented it to the congregation on February 4, 1939.
During the years that followed World War II, immigration from Norway opened up after being closed for a number of years. Many newcomers came to Fremad. Some came from Norway, but others with Nordic roots came from Canada and other parts of the United States. They came to hear the Gospel and music in their first language. Fremad provided these folk with warm Christian fellowship, as well as a church home away from home, always with a supplement of good food and coffee! A "Newcomers' Festival" was held each year with 200 to 300 in attendance. Other festivals have been held annually:
Winter Festival - Winter Fest (January or February)
Midsummer Festival - St. Hansfest (in June)
Fall Festival - Høstfest (in October)
Christmas Festival - Juletrefest
In 1957 the Fremad Christmas Festival had 650 in attendance. Through these one hundred years, dozens of faithful God-fearing folk have taken responsibility for offices, have labored with glad hearts to prepare programs, serve food, visit those who are ill or in need, and have given of their means to support worthy projects. It would be an impossible task to name these individuals, and then there are always those who "serve in silence". We will however, name the pastors who have served the congregation and encouraged Fremad as a society and ministered to the individual members. We will also name those who have served as formanm or president. We give tribute to all who have served and have been called Home as well as those who continue to minister in this unique manner, in the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us praise God together!
Pastors who served Denny Park Lutheran Church:
1888-1888 I. Tollefson 1914-1922 O. Gornitzka
1888-1893 C.O. Rossing 1922-1937 M.L. Nesvig
1893-1896 R. Tollefson 1937-1954 B.T. Gabrielsen
1897-1900 B.A. Borrevik 1955-1974 N.W. Stoa
1901-1905 T.J. Gronningen 1974-1979 C. Greenquist
1906-1909 E.J. Hinderlie 1979-1989 W.H. Hutter
1909-1913 E.B. Slettedahl 1990- D. Lindsay
1913-1914 G.A. Larson

Presidents for Fremad:
1890-1925 Christ Jacobsen, H.W. Wold, Kristian Jakobsen, Chr. Charlson, P. Hammer, Myklebust, H. Snartheim, George Stakke, M.A. Hansen, T. Bugge, Hovde, Joe Torkelsen, Mrs. Chellos, P. Torkelsen, K. Bralrud, Miss Nellie Teige Sandvig, Charlotte Brinkman, Paul Birkeland, John Ryan.
1926-1933 Mr. Hangslo, Albert Anderson, Christ Berg, Andrew Berg, Marselius Setervik, Paul Andersen, A. Dyrendahl, Miss Otilia Hansteen, Einar Hansen, Olaf Kristofferson.
1933-1990 Knut Mortensen, Knut Garseth, Nels Nydal, Louis Lind, Einar Knutson, Ove Myrland, Pastor N.W. Stoa, John Selle