Church History

History of Messiah Lutheran

The first service of what eventually became Messiah Lutheran Church, was conducted in the Hearn Building on June 7, 1970. Initial plans to begin worshiping together were drawn up in March of that year by the members of United Lutheran Church in Hampton who were
living in Aurora. The pastor at United Lutheran, Delmar Klover also served as the pastor of
this worshiping

community.

In June 1971, the worshiping community in Aurora held an organizational meeting to incorporate as a congregation separate from United Lutheran in Hampton and at that time, formally became Messiah Lutheran Church. By the end of 1971, there were 25 charter members of the congregation. Also, by this time, a building fund had been established anticipating the day when Messiah would have a permanent home in which to worship.

While still worshiping in the Hearn building, the congregation purchased a 2.2 acre building site in the Condon addition in the south part of town. Around that time, the former Otterbein United Methodist Church building at 11th and K became available. Following much debate whether to build at the new site or to purchase an existing  building, it was decided to purchase the Otterbein United Methodist Church building.

After an initial offer of $10,000 was rejected, the congregation purchased the building for $25,000 on May 19, 1975. The move to the new building was accomplished in a  mere two hours. Pastor David Sites, who became Messiah's pastor in September of 1974, officiated at the dedication ceremony.

Pastor Jim Gleason became Messiah's pastor in June of 1979. Until December of 1984, when Pastor Gleason accepted a call to another congregation, the pastors had all shared duties between Messiah Lutheran and United Lutheran of Hampton.   

In September of 1985, Pastor Steve VanderTuig was called as the first full-time pastor of Messiah Lutheran.  By August of 1987, the congregation purchased a house at 907 2nd Ave. as the parsonage. In 1995 Pastor Steve retired from Messiah Lutheran after going on medical disability due to Multiple Sclerosis. In August of 1995, Pastor Al Duminy was installed as Messiah's new pastor.

In 1996, a building committee was formed and initial fund-raising efforts had begun.  In 1999, work began on a new worship facility on South 18th Street, with the guidance and leadership of the ELCA Mission Builders as well as a lot of sweat equity from the congregation.

financed by the congregation was $650,000.

In July of 2002, Pastors Sheryl & Chris Kester-Beyer were called to serve Messiah Lutheran. Pastor Sheryl serves full-time at Messiah, while Pastor Chris serves part-time at Messiah and half-time at United Lutheran in Hampton; thus Messiah's historic ties to United continue.  
 
In May of 2011, following years of continued growth, Messiah voted to move forward with a much needed building addition, primarily to meet the education needs of the congregation. In October of 2011, Messiah made it's last loan payment on the present building and a new building committee has begun initial planning for the proposed addition with a target date of spring 2013 for construction to begin.