|
On January 10, 1965 at the annual meeting of Miller Lutheran Church, Robert Quayle moved that an invitation be sent to Ellington Prairie Lutheran Church to merge with Miller if that was their desire. The motion passed unanimously and the letter was sent to Ellington Prairie for their annual meeting on January 11th. At that meeting , Ellington Prairie thanked Miller for the invitation and selected two committees: one to look into the merger and the other to assess the possibility of rebuilding.
These committees reported on February 4 with Dr. Herman Siefkes, District President of Iowa, present. The Ellington Prairie congregation voted to merge with Miller.
On February 17, 1965, the councils of both congregations met. All 18 members were present. They decided to hold a special meeting after church to select a name for the congregation. The nominating committee from each congregation was to submit a slate of officers for the new nine member church council.
This special meeting was held on February 25th. 65 members were present. After considerable debate and two ballots, the name "Faith" was selected. Those present voted unanimously to for a new congregation. The officers elected were Lester Anderson, Kenneth Gast, Lawrence Juhl, Richard Larson, Ronald Brager, Gaylord Holm, Kenneth Olson, Norman Rankin, and Lester Rogness. By unanimous vote, Rev. Arno Frerichs was extended the Call to serve the new congregation.
On March 24, 1965, the Articles of Incorporation were signed by the officers of the congregation. these Articles were filed with the State of Iowa on March 29, 1965.
A special meeting of each congregation on April 19th, each congregation conveyed all of its real and personal property over to Faith Lutheran Church. When this was done, the congregations dissolved. The cemetery, thus, became the property of Faith Lutheran.
The Charter members of Faith Lutheran included 23 families from Ellington Prairie and 41 from Miller. The original membership was 268 baptized and 168 confirmed.
In July a special meeting was called to discuss remodeling the existing church. the council-appointed study committee: Dick Larson, Ron Brager, Martin Rogness, Larry Juhl, Jennie Baker, Ruth Olson, Ruth Juhl and Vivian Anderson, became the building committee. Mahaila Putz and Agnes Larson replaced Ruth Juhl and Vivian Anderson. The committee was given the authority to contract the building, and did so at a cost of $50,000.
Work on remodeling began in August. The lot to the East of the church was purchased in December so that there would be ample space for parking. Shortly thereafter, Rev. Rerichs accepted the Call to serve St. James Lutheran Church in Mason City and left on January 16, 1966.
Work on the remodeling was completed for dedication on April 24,1966. Rev. Frerichs returned from Mason City for the service and Dr. Herman Siefkes presided.
Rev. Wendell Debner, a recent graduate of Luther Theological Seminary, served Faith Lutheran from July 3,1966 until May 1, 1970.
Faith was without a pastor for 14 months following Rev. Debner's resignation, but under the able leadership of Karl Gabelmann as congregation president, services continued to be held and the program of the church went on.
On April 5, 1971 Rev. Thomas Reuss was Called from Wartburg Theological Seminary to serve the congregation. He began his ministry on July 1, 1971.
In 1974, the Iowas District of the ALC sponsored the Bridge of Fellowship with the Japanese Evangelical Lutheran Church of Japan. Faith hosted 2 Japanese women: Miss Hiroko Okamoto and Mrs. Kiku Yamada. They stayed with the Merle Halls from September 13-18th and participated in worship, a congregation potluck and an afternoon program in which they shared something of the church in Japan. This was truly an enriching experience for them and for us. Pictures from Japan, donated by Mrs. Yamada, are in the narthex picture file. These pictures and the book "More Than Healing", donated by Mrs. Yamada's congregation, are constant reminders of the Bridge of Fellowship- 1974.
In December of 1974 after every member was visited by the church council, the church debt for the remodeling was paid in full. The mortgage will be burned at the 10th anniversary service. In the process of raising this money, the congregation exceeded the budget for 1974 by over $2,000, over subscribing to all 3 funds.
Pastor Reuss accepted a call as an Associate Pastor at Central Lutheran, Des Moines, and left in January of 1975. He was suceeded by another graduate of Wartburg Seminary, Rev. Kenneth Helmke. He began his ministry in June of the same year.
During the first months of Pastor Helmke's ministry, Faith Lutheran celebrated it 10th Anniversary. A special service was held on Sunday, November 16th, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Warren Salveson of the Iowas District staff was guest preacher.
Following the service there was a potluck dinner and a short program. Former pastors in attendance were Thomas Reuss and Harris Hostager.
Many things have happened in the 10 year history of Faith Lutheran. 82 members were added to the Family of God through the Sacrament of Baptism. 80 were confirmed in the faith. 34 couples were united in marriage. 29 members and non-members were buried. Membership at Faith has remained fairly constant, with 10-20 transferring in and out every year. The continuing support of the established families of the congregation, as well as the added strength of the younger couples, Faith Lutheran will remain strong for decades to come.
That is where the emphasis of any celebration of an anniversary lies: In the present future. We look to the past to give ourselves hope and confidence for the present and future. The past 10 years of Faith Lutheran, along with the histories of Ellington Prairie and Miller Lutheran, show us that God has been among us! Knowing and believing this, we can look ahead to the next 10 years, trusting God to be with the congregation of Faith Lutheran. |
