Messiah Mothers Good Shepherd In Rock Falls

GOOD SHEPHERD EV. LUTHERAN, ROCK FALLS Dedicated May 19, 1963

By 1961 the growth of the parish necessitated yet another crucial decision. Through its Building Committee and then its Voter Assembly Messiah Lutheran had wisely decided it should start another congregation rather than enlarge its new facilities, should the growth factor demand a decision one way or the other. When this pressure began to make itself felt in the late 1950's, joint meetings were held several times with the Church Council of Our Savior Lutheran of Hopkins in 1959 to explore a joint mission project west of Sterling or near Emerson to guarantee the survival of the twin-sister congregation if social changes should drain the strength of the strictly rural parish. The silence with which these proposed "discussions" were met in Hopkins told Messiah it had the wrong vision of the future.

About this same time Pastor Mueller's ministry was embracing more and more Rock Falls residents in Sunday School, in Saturday School and in the Adult Class. The PTR (Preaching-Teaching-Reaching) Committee was directed by the Congregation to explore possibilities across the river. Only one of the four strong Lutheran congregations in the twin cities was located in Rock Falls and both the Sterling ALC and LCA pastors believed another Lutheran church across the river was well indicated.

A study of potentials soon moved the focal point from the Coloma Court west side area to the Coloma School District east of the canal. A canvass was conducted by Messiah adults and young people who had been trained, and the results proved encouraging, so Messiah Lutheran applied for a Vicar to assist its pastor with this mission project.

Vicar Leon Hodges conducted the first service in the East Coloma School at Dixon A venue and McNeil Road October 2, 1960. For the next two years services and Sunday School were conducted there by Pastor Mueller or Vicar Hodges or Vicar Gary House. By that time the success of this venture of faith was clearly indicated.

Messiah Lutheran elected another Building Committee and Building Fund Committee, purchased 5 acres of ground at the corner of Martin Road and Dixon Avenue for $8,000.00, adopted plans for the new church, instructed its Building Committee to invest approximately $150,000 in the project with adequate provisions incorporated in the plans for ease of expansion in the future, and broke ground for the new church April 1, 1962. That same Spring Messiah Lutheran extended a call for a Seminary graduate, installed the Rev. Robert Jahn, recent graduate of Concordia Seminary, Springfield, June 14, 1962 as "assistant pastor in charge of the Messiah Mission," and dedicated the new house of worship May 19, 1963.

The rough-plate window and cross above the altar were dedicated to Pastor Eldor Mueller to commemorate "his vision, planning and work which made the daughter congregation and church possible." The $500.00 investment represented special offerings for this purpose.

Pastor Jahn's ministry continued until mid-1966, when he followed a call to Michigan. He was followed by the Rev. Edwin Schlade, who was called from Mobridge, S.D. and installed as "assistant Pastor in charge of the Mission" November 20, 1966.

Messiah Lutheran had determined from the outset to follow the practice of Dr. C.F.W. Walther, founding father of the LC-MS, in creating and nourishing the daughter congregation. As under his ministry some 135 years earlier, so Messiah Lutheran continued as a single parish in two places with one Church Council and Voter Assembly, both the General Fund and the Building Funds in common, one Sunday School staff, and joint organizations. It was resolved that this should continue until the nucleus at the Mission requested its independence. Meanwhile, every effort was made to maintain at least equal representation on the Council, etc. from the Rock Falls side, so that adequate in-training would guarantee leadership, maturity and stability when a separate Congregation would result.

The change-over was gradual. The first group to separate was the Sunday School, followed soon after by the Ladies Aid. (To this day, incidentally, the Men's Club functions jointly with the Mother Church.) Finally, an independent daughter congregation, now named Good Shepherd Ev. Lutheran Church, came into being January 1, 1968 with the transfer of 200 communicant members (from the 1,000 at Messiah Lutheran) forming the nucleus. The Mother Church resolved, however, to nurture the daughter additionally by assuming 80% of the outstanding indebtedness remaining on the property, including the $150,000.00 church and the $17,000 parsonage at 1311 Franklin Court. Happily the Certificate of Indebtedness obligation, which financed the entire project without outside help from the District or otherwise, was liquidated and celebrated with a "mortgage burning" in the summer of 1969. Pastor Schlade's ministry ended that same fall. The Rev. Curtis A. Peterson was installed March 15,1970. His ministry has been signally blessed.