Our Savior Evangelical Church celebrating 30 years

In January 1981, a member of Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 431 Waverly St. in Springville, inquired about the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s beliefs. A public meeting was held at the town hall in Springville when Pastor Mark Geischen, pastor of the only other WELS church in this area, came from Rochester and explained the basics of the WELS doctrine.

Members began meeting in each others’ homes for Bible studies and one member offered the use of his basement for church services and instructions for membership in the WELS. Shortly thereafter, worship services were held in the VFW Hall on Mechanic Street and, the following May, a permanent pastor, Bruce Becker, was called from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He shepherded the congregation through organization, incorporation, property purchase and the building projects that followed with a parsonage and worship facility at 431 Waverly St.

The building was dedicated on Feb. 2, 1986. Since then, a fellowship hall and Sunday school rooms have been added to the existing building, which were dedicated in April 2006. There have been a total of five pastors serving the congregation over the past 30 years and, at present, the congregation is in the process of calling a permanent pastor to be its shepherd again. Pastor Thomas Hilliard is currently serving the congregation as an interim pastor.

Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church will be hosting a potluck dinner after the service on Sunday morning, Feb. 5 beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday school and Bible study will begin at 8:45 and the public is invited to attend.