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A Brief History of ALC
A Scandinavian Lutheran Church was organized at the Ole Tweed farm on August
3rd, 1882, but was dissolved in 1883 due to the language barrier into
St. John's of the ELC (Norwegian Synod) and Salem of the Augustana (Swedish
Synod). Pastors in Wilmot or Ortonville served these two congregations. St
John's was a small, white frame building located on the NW corner of the
intersection of highways 12 and 15 (then old 77). In 1940 the congregation
acquired and moved into the brick Odd Fellows Hall west of the City Auditorium
on Main Street. The Salem Lutheran Church, built in 1903, was a white frame
building on the NE corner of Grant St. and West 5th Avenue. The two
congregations, after years of struggling to exist separately, decided one
church would be better and stronger than two and merged. American Evangelical
Lutheran Church was organized and incorporated on January 29th, 1947 into the
ELC Synod with 355 charter members and about 75 Sunday school children.
Rev. Robert L. Otterstad, pastor of St John's since 1946, became the first
pastor of ALC. Church services were held at Salem. Sunday school and occasional
special services were at St John's and the Auditorium. Rev. Otto Dale served
from 1949 to 1951, and planning began to build a new church. Rev. Clarence
O. Johnson was pastor from 1951 to 1960. The parish unit (which became the
fellowship hall and Sunday school rooms) was built for $51,000 and dedicated in
1952. The mortgage was burned in 1954. Services were held here until the
sanctuary was built for $141,000 in 1956 and dedicated on June 23rd,
1957. Rev. Johnson's son, David, was ordained at ALC in 1960. Rev. W. LeRoy
Elster served from 1960 to 1969. A part-time secretary was hired in 1960,
eventually evolving into a full-time position. The parsonage at 912 S. Viola
St. was built in 1966 for $50,000.
Rev. Harold Verhulst served from 1969 to 1982. The Parish Education
unit/Multi-purpose addition was built onto the north side of the church for
$290,000 and dedicated on April 22nd, 1979. During Rev. Verhulst's pastorate
ALC was also served by two interns and three associate pastors. In 1971 the
front of the sanctuary was redecorated and Eugene Doudt built a 14 rank pipe
organ for $16,500. ALC has broadcast the early Sunday worship service on KMSD
AM 1510 since 1975.
Rev. James Hulberg was pastor from 1982 to 2000, along with two different
associate pastors, two different "tent maker" associates, and four different
youth directors. The congregation's families have, since 1986, been assigned to
one of thirteen "Love in Action" groups, each of which serves in various ways
for one month during a thirteen month period. Rev. Jennifer Torstenson Thomas,
a daughter of the congregation, was ordained at ALC in 1998. Rev. Robert
Possehl served as interim for one year following Rev. Hulberg's retirement.
A husband and wife team of Rev. N. Craig Werling and Rev. Janine Rew-Werling
were installed to lead American Lutheran on August 26th, 2001. The congregation
voted on 18 Jan. 2004, 157-72, to move forward with a fund drive for a three
million dollar new church building project. The congregation had been studying
the question of whether to remodel or rebuild since 1998. On May 23rd a special
congregational meeting voted 145-33 to approve the project with Hasslen
Construction of Ortonville, MN for 3.25 million dollars, as well as financing
the moving and construction of the organ, sale of the old church at 111 W. 5th
Ave., and approval of a 1.4 million dollar short-term loan. The groundbreaking
ceremony at the new church site on six acres purchased from the Flynn estate,
bordering on the north side of the 4-H grounds, was on May 26th. SD Synod
Bishop Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl presided in the rain, but as the ceremony
concluded a beautiful rainbow appeared.
The first Sunday worship in the new building at 401 S. Flynn Drive was on June
5th, 2005 with 430 in attendance. The church dedication, with Bishop
DeGroot-Nesdahl presiding, was on July 31st. The David Salmen organ was
dedicated on August 28th with a concert by Chelsea Chen.
Our mission statement says, "American Lutheran Church is called to be a
welcoming community of Christian disciples, growing in faith, love and service
and nurturing bold new disciples in response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
The Holy Spirit has brought Lutheran Christians in Milbank through many
challenges and changes since those faithful visionaries met at Ole Tweed's farm
in 1882. Encouraged by the example and work of all who have gone before us, we
look for God to guide us through the opportunities and challenges that lie
ahead as we continue to build the church on Christ our foundation.
| Pastors: |
| Robert L. Otterstad | 1946-49 |
| Otto Dale | 1949-51 |
| Clarence O. Johnson | 1951-60 |
| W. LeRoy Elster | 1960-69 |
| Harold Verhulst | 1969-82 |
| James Hulberg | 1982-2000 |
| Robert Possehl (Interim) | 2000-2001 |
| N. Craig Werling | 2001- |
| Janine Rew-Werling | 2001- |
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| Associate Pastors: |
| Intern Bruce Baum | 1971-72 |
| Intern Gerry Giese | summer 1973 |
| John Smith | 1974-76 |
| Roger Hanson | 1977-80 |
| Thomas Schwarz | 1981-83 |
| Gary Bachman | 1983-86 |
| Tent Maker Angie Gunderson | 1986 |
| Tent Maker Jonathan Haag | 1987-90 |
| Robin Schaunaman | 1997-2001 |
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Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
Click Here
401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
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