The Journey Begins

Prior to 1947, Reverend Arnold Frei of American Union Sunday school attempted to organize Sunday school in the Gordon School. Reverend Frei lived in Brainerd and started Sunday Schools throughout rural Crow Wing County. He also organized Camp JIM (Jesus Is Mine) on Hardy Lake, west of Brainerd. In 1946, Pastor Jacobson informed his Swanburg congregation of a movement to organize a church in Crosslake and was given permission to "canvas the area". By 1947, Pastor Johnson had replaced Pastor Jacobson and reported to his congregation that the Crosslake area was organizing and he would like to help. Faith’s building plans were loaned to Crosslake along with the congregation’s blessings.

In March 1947, Sunday school began in the Gordon School (Crosslake Auto Corner) and the first meeting of Ladies Aid met in the home of Mrs. Gerald Fernlund. Meanwhile, the M.M. Swann family donated land for a proposed building and the ladies aid began fund raising activities.

The Bachelor Club donated the funds that had earlier been earmarked for a World War II memorial. Ground breaking took place September 7, 1947 with donated labor, funds, and materials form various community members. Ted Clements coordinated the building project. Crosslake Evangelical Lutheran Church was officially accepted into the synod of the Northwest as a sister congregation of Swanburg on November 11,1947 with 46 charter members. Our new congregation agreed to pay Pastor Johnson $25.00 per month and he was installed by Dr. Gerberding February 29, 1948. Lutheran services were conducted in the Gordon School until Easter Sunday April 17, 1949, when the congregation moved into their partially completed building. Work continued as funds and materials became available with much of the labor donated.

Neil Borchman was the first baptism of the newly formed congregation in the Gordon School. (January 11,1948) and his cousin, Linda Fernlund, was the first baptism in the new building on April 24, 1949. The first class to be confirmed was Donna Rae Anderson, Grace Halstrom, Joanne Carson, Dorothy Boozel, and Darlene Young on June 5,1949.

Bill and Joyce (Williams) Allen were the first wedding on October 15, 1949. The first funeral of the new congregation was for John Kenneth Haff, infant son of Mr. & Mrs. Milton Haff May 8, 1948, which was a graveside service. The first funeral (August 9,1950) in the new building was for Cheryl Ann Chenevert, infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Chenevert.

On July1, 1952, the new building was dedicated with Pastor Johnson and Reverend Paul Bishop presiding. Membership was 153, confirmed 116. Pastor Weeden conducted the funeral for Neal Anderson before being installed as pastor of Swanburg Crosslake.

On January 1,1955, the Women’s Missionary Society was formed and met one evening per month. The Ladies Aid became Lora Grover Circle in honor of Ethel Forster’s mother. Evening Circle adopted the name of Ruth Naomi Circle May 13, 1956. Pastor Peterson organized and instructed a group of Ladies to assist with altar duties and acolytes: the beginning of our Altar Guild August1, 1956.

On June 25, 1958, the Organ Grinders were formed to raise money for a new organ and by August 23, 1958, they presented a check for $1,290.00 to the council. The new organ was purchased in 1959. Most of the youth of Crosslake Swanburg met twice per month. The first monthly meeting was a study-discussion group. The second was a social gathering. This drew youth from all the surrounding area, regardless of church affiliation and did many service projects.

A lot on Cross Lake was purchased in 1960 and a new parsonage was built in 1961 at a total cost of $13,991.38. Several members of the congregation worked on the building.

At a June 12, 1961 meeting, Lora Grover and Ruth Naomi Circles voted to merge into ULCW, but to maintain separate meetings under UCLW umbrella. Our congregation continued to grow with many summer visitors making it necessary to have two services during summer months.

In 1965, outdoor worship services began at the drive-in theater behind the old fire hall. John Rohr, owner of theaters here and in Pine River graciously brought his equipment out each Sunday morning and set up for us. The rented organ, altar, and lectern fit in a trailer that was pulled up in place for services.

The 1966 tornado did a lot of damage to our sister congregation, both to their church building and to their homes. Several Crosslake members went up to temporarily cover the hole in the roof of the Swanburg church, while the members took care of their homes.

The 20th Anniversary was celebrated with a congregational banquet in 1967. The church parking lot was blacktopped in 1968. A new LCA constitution was accepted by the congregation in 1969. By 1970, there were 154 confirmed members.

In 1972, forty acres were purchased on Dagget Pine Road and clearing began for a new outdoor facility. Again, much of the labor was donated. Our new facility was dedicated June 7,1973.

Rhiney Boldt organized a choir meeting/rehearsal along with a George Washington party on February 22, 1975. The first Jul-Kaffe Fest was in December 1976.

In 1979, our parish hall was built under the direction of Ted Hoffmeyer and his architect son, Albert, with dedication on January 20, 1980. By 1984, we voted for an addition to it. A balcony for choir and a new organ were added to the back of the church in 1983. There were two mortgage burning celebrations; one for the original parish hall -January 1983 and for the addition in October 1985. A record attendance of 6740 was set at the outdoor facility in 1985, its 20th year. The first communion served at the outdoor was in 1986. By 1988, our congregation had grown to 573 baptized members and an architect was chosen for a new building.

Also in 1988, Jeffrey Martin, our first intern arrived to spend his junior year in congregational work. In 1989, Tom Regan joined us, followed by Mose Henney (1990), Jack Shannon (1991), and Tim Perrin (1992). The interns were from Wartburg Seminary. Each, not only gained experience, but also added so much to our congregational growth. When it was time for them to return to Wartburg, we said goodbye with saddened hearts.

Our old church building was moved to Deerwood July 31, 1991, to become the home of the Lighthouse Community Church. Our worship services were held at the outdoor worship center and the parish hall until November 17, 1991, when we moved into the new sanctuary. In 1993, Stephen Ministries were started. Faith voted to sever our two-point parish relationship with each becoming a separate congregation.

Danielle Clayton was selected as our part-time youth leader, coming to us from Tentmakers. In 1994, Richard Erickson retired in our area and served as our interim pastor.

Our parsonage was sold in 1995 and we became debt-free. In 1995 Rev. Len and Darlene Anderson accepted a call to Crosslake and moved from Gethsemane in Virginia, MN to start their ministry in Crosslake, moving us into the second 50 years. In 1996 we added air conditioning, a new organ and Pam Goerges became our youth director.

1999 brought more changes as Pastor Len Anderson announced his retirement after forty years in ministry.  However, the new millennium brought us another Pastor Anderson.  We welcomed Pastor Mark Anderson and his family, when they came to us from First Lutheran Church in Brainerd, MN.  We didn't even have to change names on the office door!   

Our congregation has grown considerably and we now have 1,015 baptized members. 

As we continue to grow, we give thanks to God with each step, always remembering that it is by His Grace, we have made the Journey through the past 50 years