Congregational History
An Overview of the History of Newark Lutheran Church
1885-2010
“With God and His mercy, His Spirit, and Word,
And loving communion at altar and board,
We meet with assurance the dawn of each day:
The Shepherd is with us, the Shepherd is with us,
To lead and protect us and teach us the way.”
--Carl Olof Rosenius
1885-2010
“With God and His mercy, His Spirit, and Word,
And loving communion at altar and board,
We meet with assurance the dawn of each day:
The Shepherd is with us, the Shepherd is with us,
To lead and protect us and teach us the way.”
--Carl Olof Rosenius
The Organization of Newark Lutheran Church
In mid-1885, two Newark residents, Knudt Williams and Herman Osmond, sought to organize a Lutheran congregation in Newark. They reached an agreement with Pastor Theodor Hansen, who was serving a congregation in Pontiac, to lead worship in Newark at least once each month. Initially this mission work rented the Baptist Church (for the fee of 75 cents in the summer and a dollar in the winter). On December 8, 1885, in a meeting held at the home of Eric O. Ulness (this home still remains at 202 Union Street), the congregation was officially organized and named The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Newark, Illinois.
In April 1886, the congregation voted to raise funds to purchase land and erect a church building. With completion of the church building, a call was extended to Pastor Ole Andresen, he accepted and became the first resident pastor. (CHURCH GROWTH AND EVANGELISM)
Pastor A. O. Mortvedt of Dell Rapids, South Dakota. After accepting this call, he began his ministry in Newark on the first Sunday in May 1900. During Pastor Mortvedt’s ministry, further repairs and renovations were made to the building as well as the excavation for a furnace and coal room. The Young People’s Society raised money to purchase the altar, chancel apointments, as well as the hymnals. In 1911, a parsonage was erected at an expense of $4,500 with ownership shared by the Norway congregation. (EVANGELISM AND TRADITIONAL BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION)
The next pastor to serve at Newark was N. G. Peterson, arriving in 1918.
On the advice of Pastor Peterson, a call was extended to Pastor L. L. Masted. During the early part of Pastor Masted’s ministry here, the building was raised by three feet and the area beneath excavated for the construction of a larger Sunday school room, kitchen, and furnace room. In 1935, as a part of the congregation’s 50th anniversary, a pipe organ was purchased and new pews were installed.
Early in the morning, on April 1, 1940, the building was struck by lightning and was completely destroyed. Only the pulpit (now used in the present Fellowship Hall), some folding chairs, and some hymnals were salvaged. For the time being, the congregation rented space from the grade school and high school in Newark, as well as the Methodist Church in Millington. The following compilation of the events leading to the construction, written by Gunder Overland, the last surviving charter member at that time, and delivered at the laying of the new building’s cornerstone on September 22, 1940:
“Not many days after, a mass meeting was called to be held at the high school building for the purpose of finding out what actions the congregation would take in regards to building a Church. The sentiment of the Church body was immensely in favor of building a new church, the material to be quarry stone, and the money raised by subscriptions. At this or the following meeting, a number of persons were appointed to call on every member as well as nonmembers for their gifts or donations, as the case may be. It must be acknowledged that in nearly every case, the people responded nobly and it also must be truthfully acknowledged that nonmembers did also nobly.
Every business and professional man, both in and out of the congregation, showed his willingness to help in having a new church built again and we thank them for their generosity. We most heartily want to thank both solicitors for their services and all who subscribed so willingly to the building of a new church.
A building committee was appointed at this time consisting of the following persons: H.B. Peterson, Chairman, Tom Bromeland, Roy Holverson, Oscar J. Knutson, Henry J. Larson, and Severvine Peterson. This committee, together with the trustees, has worked faithfully for the interest and benefit of the congregation and has in all their undertaking had the good of the congregation in mind. This committee entered upon the difficult and responsible duties at once after talking over the matter among themselves.
It was decided the first thing for the committee to do would be to visit different cities, villages, and towns, and look for a model that would be acceptable to the congregation. I have been told they visited Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Ottawa, Somonauk, Leland, Sandwich, DeKalb, Joliet, Morris, Cropsey, and others. Cropsey was decided on as a model to be presented to the congregation. Some of the places the committee visited more than once. It can truly be said of the committee that they spared neither time nor their own money in order to find a model that they thought would be acceptable to the congregation. This they found at the village of Cropsey, Illinois.
A meeting was called and held at the high school auditorium for the presentation of this model to the congregation. It was accepted as the most suitable, both in model and material named. The committee on buildings and grounds was asked to go on with the work as soon as possible after the sight had been decided and where the church should be erected and to secure competent men for the building of said church.
Such a man was found in Mr. Volden of Lisbon and with his competent fellow carpenters, the work of the foundation was started after the congregation had decided by a majority vote on the present site where the church now stands.
Following a ministry of 19 years, Pastor Masted resigned in 1942 to accept another call. Later that year, a call was extended to and accepted by Pastor A. E. Windahl of Webster, Minnesota. He was installed on May 10, 1942 and served throughout the years of the Second World War.
Late in 1947, Pastor Windahl accepted a call to Hauge Lutheran Church in Kenyon, Minnesota. In October of that year, a call was extended to Pastor Benjamin Ostrem of Rothsay, Minnesota. Pastor Ostrem accepted the call, but did not arrive in Newark until the following spring. He was installed on April 18, 1948.
During Pastor Ostrem’s ministry, the congregation’s by-laws were amended to require monthly meetings of the church council. Previously, the council met only on an as needed basis. In February 1959, the congregation began construction of a new parsonage on the lots to the east of the church building. The parsonage was to be built of stone matching the church building at a cost not to exceed $30,000, of which the congregation was to raise two-thirds of the amount with the other third raised by the Norway congregation. Upon its completion, the parsonage was dedicated on May 22, 1960.
Other pastors who have served N.L.C.
· Pastor O. Paul Hougen
· Pastor L James Brooks
During Pastor Brooks’ ministry, a narthex and church office were added to the building. The kitchen and fellowship hall were also renovated as a part of this project. A rededication service was held on the Day of Pentecost, June 6, 1976.
Without a doubt, the longest lasting effect of Pastor Brooks’ work in Newark has been the fruit of the Mountain Movers ministry.
After a pastoral vacancy of ten months, Pastor William Ostroot of Story City, Iowa, accepted the call to Newark and was installed on November 13, 1976. In 1977, Pastor Maynard Halvorson was installed as a visitation pastor. During this period, a desire was expressed to have two Sunday morning services. Because the congregation was still yoked with the Norway congregation (now called “Fox River”), the question also arose about becoming a single point parish.
July 2, 1979 N.L.C. for the first time in history, a single point parish.
Other pastors who have served N.L.C.
· Pastor O. Tryvge Holter of Lutheran Valley Lutheran Church in Beloit Wisconsin
· Bill Shields ~ was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in a service at Newark.
· Numerous interim pastors
On February 28, 1988, a special congregational meeting voted to extend a call to Pastor Harlan Johnson of Perley, Minnesota. Pastor Johnson arrived in Newark on April 3, 1988, and was installed on May 15, 1988, by the AALC Presiding Pastor Duane Lindberg.
In 1991, the congregation received from Linnfred and Freda Moe, a bequest in excess of $300,000.
April 17, 1994, provided for a 3,780 square foot addition consisting of a spacious Fellowship Hall, kitchen, restrooms, elevator, and narthex. This addition was tied to the existing building by a beautiful glass walkway and finished on the outside with the same stone used on the existing building and the parsonage.
In August 1997, the congregation extended a call to Pastor Charles Sampson who had been serving at Redeemer Lutheran, a mission congregation in Ashton Illinois.
In March 2013, the congregation extended a call to Pastor Luke C. Emerson who had been just graduating from The Association of Free Lutheran Theological Seminary in Plymouth Minnesota. Pastor Emerson accepted the call and arrived in Newark with his family the first week of June 2013. Pastor Emerson resigned in May 2018.
In December 2019, the congregation extended a call to Pastor Jon Benson, who was serving at Trinity Free Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wisconsin. Pastor Benson accepted the call and began serving the congregation in February 2020.
This congregation is blessed in so many ways and we will continue to hold true to Holy Scripture and as a congregation we will Shine the Light of Jesus, Share the Love of Jesus and Shape the people of Jesus. The future is bright and we are all excited to see what God is going to do next.
Praise Be To God
In mid-1885, two Newark residents, Knudt Williams and Herman Osmond, sought to organize a Lutheran congregation in Newark. They reached an agreement with Pastor Theodor Hansen, who was serving a congregation in Pontiac, to lead worship in Newark at least once each month. Initially this mission work rented the Baptist Church (for the fee of 75 cents in the summer and a dollar in the winter). On December 8, 1885, in a meeting held at the home of Eric O. Ulness (this home still remains at 202 Union Street), the congregation was officially organized and named The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Newark, Illinois.
In April 1886, the congregation voted to raise funds to purchase land and erect a church building. With completion of the church building, a call was extended to Pastor Ole Andresen, he accepted and became the first resident pastor. (CHURCH GROWTH AND EVANGELISM)
Pastor A. O. Mortvedt of Dell Rapids, South Dakota. After accepting this call, he began his ministry in Newark on the first Sunday in May 1900. During Pastor Mortvedt’s ministry, further repairs and renovations were made to the building as well as the excavation for a furnace and coal room. The Young People’s Society raised money to purchase the altar, chancel apointments, as well as the hymnals. In 1911, a parsonage was erected at an expense of $4,500 with ownership shared by the Norway congregation. (EVANGELISM AND TRADITIONAL BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION)
The next pastor to serve at Newark was N. G. Peterson, arriving in 1918.
On the advice of Pastor Peterson, a call was extended to Pastor L. L. Masted. During the early part of Pastor Masted’s ministry here, the building was raised by three feet and the area beneath excavated for the construction of a larger Sunday school room, kitchen, and furnace room. In 1935, as a part of the congregation’s 50th anniversary, a pipe organ was purchased and new pews were installed.
Early in the morning, on April 1, 1940, the building was struck by lightning and was completely destroyed. Only the pulpit (now used in the present Fellowship Hall), some folding chairs, and some hymnals were salvaged. For the time being, the congregation rented space from the grade school and high school in Newark, as well as the Methodist Church in Millington. The following compilation of the events leading to the construction, written by Gunder Overland, the last surviving charter member at that time, and delivered at the laying of the new building’s cornerstone on September 22, 1940:
“Not many days after, a mass meeting was called to be held at the high school building for the purpose of finding out what actions the congregation would take in regards to building a Church. The sentiment of the Church body was immensely in favor of building a new church, the material to be quarry stone, and the money raised by subscriptions. At this or the following meeting, a number of persons were appointed to call on every member as well as nonmembers for their gifts or donations, as the case may be. It must be acknowledged that in nearly every case, the people responded nobly and it also must be truthfully acknowledged that nonmembers did also nobly.
Every business and professional man, both in and out of the congregation, showed his willingness to help in having a new church built again and we thank them for their generosity. We most heartily want to thank both solicitors for their services and all who subscribed so willingly to the building of a new church.
A building committee was appointed at this time consisting of the following persons: H.B. Peterson, Chairman, Tom Bromeland, Roy Holverson, Oscar J. Knutson, Henry J. Larson, and Severvine Peterson. This committee, together with the trustees, has worked faithfully for the interest and benefit of the congregation and has in all their undertaking had the good of the congregation in mind. This committee entered upon the difficult and responsible duties at once after talking over the matter among themselves.
It was decided the first thing for the committee to do would be to visit different cities, villages, and towns, and look for a model that would be acceptable to the congregation. I have been told they visited Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Ottawa, Somonauk, Leland, Sandwich, DeKalb, Joliet, Morris, Cropsey, and others. Cropsey was decided on as a model to be presented to the congregation. Some of the places the committee visited more than once. It can truly be said of the committee that they spared neither time nor their own money in order to find a model that they thought would be acceptable to the congregation. This they found at the village of Cropsey, Illinois.
A meeting was called and held at the high school auditorium for the presentation of this model to the congregation. It was accepted as the most suitable, both in model and material named. The committee on buildings and grounds was asked to go on with the work as soon as possible after the sight had been decided and where the church should be erected and to secure competent men for the building of said church.
Such a man was found in Mr. Volden of Lisbon and with his competent fellow carpenters, the work of the foundation was started after the congregation had decided by a majority vote on the present site where the church now stands.
Following a ministry of 19 years, Pastor Masted resigned in 1942 to accept another call. Later that year, a call was extended to and accepted by Pastor A. E. Windahl of Webster, Minnesota. He was installed on May 10, 1942 and served throughout the years of the Second World War.
Late in 1947, Pastor Windahl accepted a call to Hauge Lutheran Church in Kenyon, Minnesota. In October of that year, a call was extended to Pastor Benjamin Ostrem of Rothsay, Minnesota. Pastor Ostrem accepted the call, but did not arrive in Newark until the following spring. He was installed on April 18, 1948.
During Pastor Ostrem’s ministry, the congregation’s by-laws were amended to require monthly meetings of the church council. Previously, the council met only on an as needed basis. In February 1959, the congregation began construction of a new parsonage on the lots to the east of the church building. The parsonage was to be built of stone matching the church building at a cost not to exceed $30,000, of which the congregation was to raise two-thirds of the amount with the other third raised by the Norway congregation. Upon its completion, the parsonage was dedicated on May 22, 1960.
Other pastors who have served N.L.C.
· Pastor O. Paul Hougen
· Pastor L James Brooks
During Pastor Brooks’ ministry, a narthex and church office were added to the building. The kitchen and fellowship hall were also renovated as a part of this project. A rededication service was held on the Day of Pentecost, June 6, 1976.
Without a doubt, the longest lasting effect of Pastor Brooks’ work in Newark has been the fruit of the Mountain Movers ministry.
After a pastoral vacancy of ten months, Pastor William Ostroot of Story City, Iowa, accepted the call to Newark and was installed on November 13, 1976. In 1977, Pastor Maynard Halvorson was installed as a visitation pastor. During this period, a desire was expressed to have two Sunday morning services. Because the congregation was still yoked with the Norway congregation (now called “Fox River”), the question also arose about becoming a single point parish.
July 2, 1979 N.L.C. for the first time in history, a single point parish.
Other pastors who have served N.L.C.
· Pastor O. Tryvge Holter of Lutheran Valley Lutheran Church in Beloit Wisconsin
· Bill Shields ~ was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in a service at Newark.
· Numerous interim pastors
On February 28, 1988, a special congregational meeting voted to extend a call to Pastor Harlan Johnson of Perley, Minnesota. Pastor Johnson arrived in Newark on April 3, 1988, and was installed on May 15, 1988, by the AALC Presiding Pastor Duane Lindberg.
In 1991, the congregation received from Linnfred and Freda Moe, a bequest in excess of $300,000.
April 17, 1994, provided for a 3,780 square foot addition consisting of a spacious Fellowship Hall, kitchen, restrooms, elevator, and narthex. This addition was tied to the existing building by a beautiful glass walkway and finished on the outside with the same stone used on the existing building and the parsonage.
In August 1997, the congregation extended a call to Pastor Charles Sampson who had been serving at Redeemer Lutheran, a mission congregation in Ashton Illinois.
In March 2013, the congregation extended a call to Pastor Luke C. Emerson who had been just graduating from The Association of Free Lutheran Theological Seminary in Plymouth Minnesota. Pastor Emerson accepted the call and arrived in Newark with his family the first week of June 2013. Pastor Emerson resigned in May 2018.
In December 2019, the congregation extended a call to Pastor Jon Benson, who was serving at Trinity Free Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wisconsin. Pastor Benson accepted the call and began serving the congregation in February 2020.
This congregation is blessed in so many ways and we will continue to hold true to Holy Scripture and as a congregation we will Shine the Light of Jesus, Share the Love of Jesus and Shape the people of Jesus. The future is bright and we are all excited to see what God is going to do next.
Praise Be To God
