Our Past...

It was June, 1937 when a young seminary graduate received a call to serve as pastor of a Lutheran mission in the Village of Kimberly. Wilmar Wichmann began by knocking on doors in search of Lutheran families looking for a church home. as well as any unchurched residents in the area. In September of that year, the congregation was organized with 19 families as members. During that first year they worshiped in the Kimberly Village Hall. Membership grew steadily in those early years with many of the baptisms being adults. On New Years Day in 1940, the footings were poured for a church and two-room basement schoolhouse on the corner of First and Pine St. in Kimberly. (seen above) Many had their doubts in those early years, wondering how it could be possible to build a church, a school, and support a pastor and teacher with 110 members? It was not only possible, but it flourished! “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.” In 1954 the parsonage was added, and three years later the construction of our school building was complete. In 1965, through the gift of a bequest, an additional two rooms were added to the school.