Messiah Lutheran Church
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| We are Christ's church. We exist for others! |
About Us
Our History
Messiah began as a result of a survey conducted by the Board of American Missions of the Augustana Church in
1954. The first worship service was held in a small building on West 4th Street on Palm Sunday, April 3, 1955,
with 35 people present. In 1957, a plot of land (a cornfield) was purchased as a future building site. The first
service in the new building at 2700 West A Street was on November 4, 1962.
Due to the reorganization of the Lutheran Church in 1963, Messiah became a member of the Lutheran Church of
America (LCA). Today, Messiah is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and
remains a mission church. In May 1974, Messiah became a self-supporting congregation with no ties of support
from the Board of American Missions. In October 1975, the new educational unit was built with volunteer labor,
dedicated, and paid for. By the end of 1995, a new sanctuary was added to the west end of the church, including
offices and other rooms. The educational wing and other areas in the old structure were remodeled. In the
summer of 2006, Messiah raised the roof with donations from members and volunteer labor.
Messiah has a membership of 572 people, with three services offered on Sundays. Pastors serving Messiah since
the beginning have been Pastor Keith Johnson, Pastor Wendell Berggren, Pastor John Schmidt, Pastor Conrad
Schmitz, Pastor George Metzenthin, Pastor Russell Glaser, Pastor Sacia Young, and Pastor Eric Meissner.
Messiah is currently being served by Interim Pastor Lynn Parsons (Pastor Lynn).
Messiah began as a result of a survey conducted by the Board of American Missions of the Augustana Church in
1954. The first worship service was held in a small building on West 4th Street on Palm Sunday, April 3, 1955,
with 35 people present. In 1957, a plot of land (a cornfield) was purchased as a future building site. The first
service in the new building at 2700 West A Street was on November 4, 1962.
Due to the reorganization of the Lutheran Church in 1963, Messiah became a member of the Lutheran Church of
America (LCA). Today, Messiah is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and
remains a mission church. In May 1974, Messiah became a self-supporting congregation with no ties of support
from the Board of American Missions. In October 1975, the new educational unit was built with volunteer labor,
dedicated, and paid for. By the end of 1995, a new sanctuary was added to the west end of the church, including
offices and other rooms. The educational wing and other areas in the old structure were remodeled. In the
summer of 2006, Messiah raised the roof with donations from members and volunteer labor.
Messiah has a membership of 572 people, with three services offered on Sundays. Pastors serving Messiah since
the beginning have been Pastor Keith Johnson, Pastor Wendell Berggren, Pastor John Schmidt, Pastor Conrad
Schmitz, Pastor George Metzenthin, Pastor Russell Glaser, Pastor Sacia Young, and Pastor Eric Meissner.
Messiah is currently being served by Interim Pastor Lynn Parsons (Pastor Lynn).