The History of St. John's Lutheran Church, Effingham, Illinois

Before 1863    Services held in home of Christian Alt and led by layman Carl Hartmann.

1863-18??     Rev. Theo Martens (Champaign, IL) conducts missionary services once per month in homes.

18??-1866     Rev. Carl Meyer (Kankakee, IL) continues missionary services. Services moved to Court House.

Fall 1866     Resolution adopted to organize a Lutheran congregation in Effingham.

Dec. 10, 1866    Constitution adopted. Congregation named "St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession in Effingham, Illinois"

Jun. 10, 1867     Eleven children confirmed at the Court House by Rev. Meyer.

Feb. 9, 1868     Rev. H. Holtermann installed as Pastor.

1868     St John's second confirmation class confirmed by Rev. Holtermann.

Jan. 1868     Congregation resolves to purchase property to erect a church, school and parsonage.

Jul. 1, 1868     Congregation accepts tract of land 150' x 150' donated by Christian Alt.

Dec. 20, 1868     Church 50' x 30' x 12' costing $350 is dedicated.

Early 1869     Land for a cemetery west of Effingham acquired.

1869         Congregation resolves to build 30' x 20' x 12' school.

April 1869     Congregation resolves to call full-time pastor to preach and teach school.

1870        Rev. G. A. Feustel becomes pastor.

Spring 1872     Congregation builds first parsonage after Rev Feustel marries.

1872     Ladies Aid organized

1873     Congregation affiliates with "Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states".

May 1876     Rev. Feustel accepts call to another field. Congregation numbers 100 communicants.

Mar. 1877     Rev. J. C. Frese installed as Pastor.

1879     Congregation considers calling a teacher.

Oct. 1881     Rev. Frese accepts call to Champaign, IL.

Jan. 1882     Rev. Wm. Lewerenz installed as Pastor. English language services conducted occasionally.

Jan. 1883     St. John's pays off debt.

1884     St. John's resolves to call a teacher.

1886     Mr. Wm. Krueger accepts call as teacher.

1888     Plans to purchase land, build larger school, build teacher residence (Abandoned: due to a lack of funds)

1892     Rev. Lewerenz leaves St. John's. Congregation numbers 55 voting and 200 communicant members.

1892     Rev. C. C. Koessel installed as Pastor.

1894     Rev. C. C. Koessel called to Wisconsin.

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1894     Division within congregation. Some members leave and build St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Shelby Ave. Members later returned to St. John's

1894     Rev. Frederick Zagel installed as Pastor

1894     Teacher Krueger leaves.

1894     Mr. Henry Schroeder called as teacher. He serves several years. Rev. Zagel takes charge of school after Teacher Schroeder leaves.

1896     Bell tower added to church and bell installed.

1897     Congregation loses many members because Railroad Shops moved from Effingham.

1903-1904     Church remodeled and enlarged.

1911     Rev. Zagel leaves.

1911     Rev. Herman Pfotenhaur installed as Pastor. Congregation numbers 133 communicants.

1911     English and German languages used in services. English Bible class organized.

1911     Pastor relieved of school room duties. Lady teacher employed.

Sep. 10, 1916     Church observes Golden Jubilee.

Jan. 1917     Rev. Pfotenhaur accepts call to Kankakee, IL. Congregation numbers 170 communicants.

1917     Rev. Paul Roehrs accepts call as Pastor.

1917-1920     English language usage increases. Sunday school organized with 100 pupils. Day school stopped one year due to teacher shortage during World War I.

1920     Rev. Roehrs leaves.

1920     Rev. Theo. J. Mehl installed.

1920-1925     Young Peoples Society established.

1925     Rev. Mehl accepts call to Danville, IL. Congregation numbers 203 communicants.

Nov. 1, 1925     Rev. P. F. Plunkett installed as Pastor.

Fall 1926     New parsonage, funded by Ladies Aid, is built. Old parsonage moved to 807B W. Jefferson Ave.

1930     Walter Mueller becomes organist and choir director.

Jan. 1935     Congregation plans new church.

Apr. 21, 1935     Last service in old church. Ground breaking for new church. (Easter Sunday)

Oct. 27, 1935     Dedication of new Brick Church. ($22,000). Seating for 210 in nave and 60 in balcony. Chancel 16' x 12'. (Narthex still in use.) German language usage discontinued.

Sep. 1941     St. John's celebrates 75th Anniversary. Interior and chancel refurbished.

Oct. 1943     Rev. Plunkett accepts call to Evansville, IN.

Feb. 20, 1944     Rev. H. E. Zimmermann installed as Pastor.

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1947     Congregation adopts plans to enlarge church, double seating capacity, add transepts and chancel.

Jul. 10, 1949     Ground breaking Ceremonies for addition.

Jul. 16, 1950     Dedication of addition, 15 rank organ with chimes and furnishings ($80,000).

Oct. 7, 1951     Resolution to install a public address system approved.

Jul. 6, 1952     29 members from Immanuel Lutheran Church (Dutch Lane) received into membership.

Oct 1952     Debt retired.

May 2, 1954     Resolution to erect an educational building ($65,000) approved.

May 9, 1954     Ground breaking ceremony for educational building.

Jan. 9, 1955     Dedication of educational building.

Sep. 11, 1961     Approve purchase of Melzer property ($10,000) to be used for parking.

Feb. 1962     Resolution to add seven additional rooms to education building approved ($20,000).

Mar. 28, 1962     Ground breaking ceremony for education building addition.

Aug. 5, 1962     Dedication of addition to education building.

Jan. 1965     Approved resolution to install air conditioning in church.

1966     Centennial Celebration of St. John's. Congregation numbers: 700 communicants, 158 voters, 960 baptized souls, and 430 Sunday school enrollment.

Jun. 23, 1970     Rev. H. E. Zimmermann dies suddenly. Served St. John's for 26 years.

Sep. 13, 1970     Rev. Harlan C. Wendler installed as Pastor.

Jul. 1972     Mr. John Krueger installed as Director of Education, Music and Youth.

Sep. 1972     Walter Mueller retires.

1975     Mr. Krueger leaves St. John's.

Sep. 1975     Mr. John Baginski installed as Director of Education, Music and Youth.

1976 (approx)     Allen organ installed. Replaces pipe organ installed in 1950.

1980     Mr. John Baginski leaves St. John's.

Jul. 26, 1981     Rev. Michael A. Koschmann installed as Assistant Pastor.

1984 (approx)     Braille Center established.

May 1985     St. John's purchases Langston propery at 907 W. Jefferson Ave.

Apr. 1987     Rev. Koschmann accepts call to Riverton, IL.

Jul. 1987     Rev. Harlan C. Wendler retires to Springfield, MO.

Jul. 1987     Rev. Lester Bischoff begins as vacancy pastor.

Feb. 7, 1988     Rev. Robert Backhus installed as Pastor. Becomes first St. John's pastor to own his home.

Feb. 1988     Rev. Bischoff ends as vacancy pastor.

1988     Parsonages at 905 and 907 West Jefferson used for education and Youth.

Jan. 1989     Mr. Larry Brandt installed as Director of Christian Education.

1989     Radio ministry begins.

1990     Hand bell choir organized.

Jun. 1991     Rev. Paul Zimmernann installed as Assistant Pastor.

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1991    Church celebrates 125th Anniversary. Membership: 814 communicants and 1055 baptized souls.

1991     St. John's purchases house at 900 West Jefferson.

Feb. 1992     Congregation approves resolution to build a fellowship hall, meeting rooms and offices.

Oct 1992     Building For Tomorrow building fund campaign begins.

May 23, 1993     Ground breaking ceremony for fellowship hall.

Aug. 28, 1994     Dedication services for fellowship hall, meeting rooms, offices and furnishings.

1994     St. John's purchases house at 107 North Cherry.

1994 (approx)     Television ministry begins

Dec. 1994     St. John's Brass organized.

1995     Memorial built on Jefferson Avenue side of church to house original bell purchased in 1896.

1996 (approx)     Radio ministry ends. Local Christian radio station is sold.

Dec. 1996     Rev. Paul Zimmermann accepts call to Lodi, CA.

Jul. 1997     Rev. David Wiist installed as Assistant Pastor.

Jul. 1997     Mrs. Carla Holtz installed as Director of Eagle's Nest Pre-school.

Sep. 1997     Eagle's Nest Pre-school begins with 33 Students (3-5 year olds).

1998         Welcome Center begins.

May 18, 1998     Future Is Now debt reduction campaign begins.

Aug. 1998     St. John's purchases house at 904 West Jefferson Ave.

Nov. 1998     St. John's purchases house at 902 west Jefferson Ave.

Sep. 1999     Eagle's Nest Pre-school expands to two classrooms, seven classes with 116 Students (2-6 year olds) and 2 additional teachers employed.

1999     Television ministry ends. Local TV station changes ownership.

Oct. 26, 1999     Voter's meeting minutes reports 1261 Baptized souls, 928 Communicants and 135 voting members.

Nov. 1999     Rev. Wiist accepts call to Onalaska, Wisconsin.

May 7, 2000     Rev. Backhus resigns as Senior Pastor at the end of late service. Rev. Backhus accepts call as Assistant Pastor of St. John's. Thus making way for the calling of a new Senior Pastor.

June 2001     Over 200 children attend VBS.

Feb. 2002     Assembly of God Church invites St. John's to send a lay person with them to do Belize mission for one week.

Mar.14, 2002     St. John's extends a call to Rev. Theodore C. Gall to become Sr. Pastor.

Apr. 9, 2002     Rev. Gall informs St. John's he has accepted its call to become Sr. Pastor.

Apr. 28, 2002     Pastor Backhus preaches his farewell sermon to the congregation. A Special service is held at 1:30 PM in his honor.

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May 4, 2002     Pastor Backhus officially retires at 12:00 noon on his 60th birthday.
His theme "As always in the church to God alone be all the glory"

May 2002     Rev. Dick Krenzke, Shelbyville, IL is vacancy pastor.

June 2, 2002     Rev. Theodore C. Gall is installed as Senior Pastor.

June 30, 2002     Larry Brandt resigns as full time DCE. Remains on a part-time basis.

Feb. 2003     Voters agree to the renovation of the interior of the church. Project called "A Light For Our Path". Included is the moving of the altar to the front of the chancel; new wiring and lighting and painting of the entire area.

Feb. 2003     St. John's sends 5 lay persons to Belize mission for one week.

May 2003     Carla Holtz resigns as Pre-school Director/Teacher.

June 2, 2003     "A Light for Our Path" construction begins.

July 2003     Voter's Assembly approves adding $260,000 to the mortgage to finance the repair of the roof, the tuck-pointing of the church exterior and the repair of the tunnel.

    Present Membership: 1132 Baptized, 989 Communicant, 141 Voting.

Aug 16, 2003     Dan McClure installed as Director of Christian Education at all services.

Aug 16, 2003     Elizabeth McClure installed as Pre-school Director/Teacher at all services    

Sept 6,7 2003     Chancel Renovation is completed and dedicated to the Glory of God at all three services.

Mar 16, 2004     Voter's Assembly approves the beginning of STEPHAN MINISTRY. 50 hours of training for Nancy Marrs.

Sep 14, 2004     Voter's Assembly approved selling property at 107 North Cherry Street.

Jul 17, 2005     St. John's receives Vicar Earl Brown for 2005-2006 seminary year.

Aug 9, 2005     Voters approved the exchange of its property at 107 North Cherry Street.

    with property located at 201 South Cherry Street plus $12,000

Sep 29, 2005     St. John's received the property at 201 S. Cherry St. in exchange for property located at 107 Cherry St. + $12,000.

Dec 2005     St. John's receives $250,000 gift to reduce building fund debt to $58,000.

Jan 24, 2006     Voters approved resolution to call an Assistant Pastor.

Jan 29, 2006     St. John's burn the mortgage held on the 1993-94 addition to the church.

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