History of Immanuel Lutheran Church
1874
- The German Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wentzville was organized November 7th. The Rev. Fredreich W.G. Matuschka of New Melle served the congregation.
1880
- The Rev. Theodore Masse was installed as the first resident pastor.
- Opened a Christian Day School.
1885
- The Rev. P.E. Beil was installed as pastor and teacher.
1889
- Immanuel Lutheran Church became a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
1890
- Rev. A. Schupmann was installed as pastor and teacher.
1895
- Rev. H.J. Mueller was installed as pastor and teacher.
1899
- A new church building was dedicated on November 12th.
1900
- A new parsonage and the first school building were dedicated.
1911
- The Ladies Aid Society was organized October 20th.
1915
- Rev. H.J. Mueller resigned due to ill health.
- Rev. H.D. Mensing was installed as pastor and teacher.
1917
- The second school building was dedicated August 12th.
1918
- The first English service was conducted in February.
- First Adult Bible Class was organized December 10th.
1919
- A new pipe organ was dedicated.
1920
- The Rev. A.E. Miessler was installed as pastor and teacher on October 20th.
1921
- Electricity was installed in the church, school and parsonage in April. An electric blower was installed on the pipe organ.
- Miss Selma Berkemeier became the first full time school teacher.
1922
- The Walther League, church youth group, was organized February 22nd.
1931
- The Sunday School was organized February 22nd.
1932
- The first “Immanuel Bulletin” was printed.
1939
- The newly erected “dining hall building“ was used the first time January 15th.
1947
- The first commissioned teacher was installed, Mr. Herman Ansorge.
1952
- On May 4th, two morning services were inaugurated at 8:00am and 10:30am.
1955
- Kindergarten was started with Mrs. Selma Mueller as the first teacher.
1956
- The classes in school were divided into two rooms, lower room grades 1-4 taught by Mrs. Delores Wirgau, the upper room grades 5-8 taught by Mr. Otto Wirgau.
1957
- Rev. A. Miessler preached his farewell service on January 13th, after 36 years at Immanuel.
- The Rev. William Gerike was installed on February 3rd.
1959
- The hot lunch program was started in school with Mrs. Betty Doyle as first cook.
1963
- The Rev. Jakob Heckert was installed on July 21st. He continued to serve the congregation until 1970.
1971
- Rev. Francis Lieb was installed as pastor on July 18th, and served the congregation for three years.
1976
- The Rev. Mark Mueller was installed as pastor on June 20th. He guided the congregation until 1979.
1982
- The Rev. Lloyd Hackbarth was installed on August 29th as pastor.
1986
- The annex to the church was dedicated.
1988
- Rev. Warren Ruland was ordained and installed on September 11th as assistant pastor and principal.
1990
- The Christian Activity Center (CAC) was dedicated in August.
1992
- Mr. Duane Hingst, Executive Secretary, Missouri District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, presented a certificate of approval from the National Lutheran Schools Accreditation to Immanuel Lutheran School.
1994
- Mr. Roy Bohning was installed as the first full-time principal on August 28th.
1995
- The Day Care Center was opened in August.
1996
- The Rev. Dwain Sliger was installed as associate pastor on December 1st.
1997
- With major repair & the addition of new ranks of pipes, the pipe organ was rededicated on September 7th.
1998
- The first Saturday evening service was held January 3rd. This gave us three services each weekend.
1999
- The formation of our Education Wing Task Force in order to expand our Day School.
2000
- The beginning of school construction and the addition of the Worship Task Force.
2001
- Pastor Sliger installed as senior pastor after many faithful years of service by Pastor Hackbarth. Added 9:30am service on Sunday.
- Lloyd Hackbarth served as interim principal for Immanuel Lutheran School.
2002
- The founding of a Ministry Leadership Team to establish our Mission, Vision and Values which would guide our Ministry.
- Rebecca Hoskins hired as full-time principal. Preschool enlarged from one classroom to three. First cheerleading program instituted. First Student Council instituted.
2003
- Called Christa Stec, Lay Minister, to serve as Director of Music Ministry and expand our current worship. Also, began the P&BC for the expansion program. We partnered with DCA for the design phase of our new sanctuary.
- Immanuel Lutheran Church joined the Lutheran High School of St. Charles County Association. First all-day Kindergarten began. Renovations to school playground were completed.
- “Garden of Grace” dedicated (school/church inner courtyard).
2004
- LIFEnite was initiated.
- Added Rev. Jason Auringer to assist Pastor Sliger. Implemented Pastor Hackbarth to begin our Senior Ministry. In keeping with our Mission and Ministry, added a part-time Director of Christian Education and Director of Christian Outreach.
2005
- Moved services to CAC to expand our worship ministry.
- Seventeen acres donated for new sanctuary on Highway N.
- Rev. Auringer installed as associate pastor.
- Saturday evening service resumed July 16th in Immanuel Lutheran Heritage Church.
2006
- Bryan Blackford called to replace retiring administrator
2007
- Groundbreaking for new worship facility on Highway N.
- Dan Stec installed as Director of Next Generation Ministries (Family Ministries).
2008
- Actual construction begins on new worship facility.
- Pastor Auringer installed as Senior Pastor.
- Implementation of 10 yr strategic plan begins, focusing on Worship, Day-school, & Families.
- Allison Dolak installed as school administrator.
- Rev. Mark Sell added as pastoral assistant.
- A new capital campaign, “Building: Character... Community... Commitment” launches.
2009
- June 28th First worship service in new facility located on 17 acres on Hwy N; the new location includes over 50,000 square feet of classrooms and a 600 seat sanctuary.
- Dedication Service on August 30 with Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing as guest preacher; nearly 500 attend service filled with music and praise; outdoor carnival attracted hundreds who enjoyed food, music, and games.
2010
- Pearce campus is sold in March with the school moving to Hwy N location in June.
2011
- Jill Kirk, daughter of longtime pastor, Rev. Lloyd Hackbarth, begins serving as Music Director in January.
- June brings construction on the Multi-Purpose Building.
- Pastor Liefer is installed as Associate Pastor on June 26.
- November kickoff of “Uplifting”, a new capital campaign. Funds received go toward $35,000/month mortgage.
2012
- The Multi-Purpose Building completes construction. The completed building features a high-school-sized gymnasium, full kitchen, and youth room/cafeteria.
- Voters adopt a new constitution, restructuring Immanuel to operate under a Policy-Based Governance.
2014
- Keith Pelster is hired as Business Manager.
- Kirk Neugebauer is installed as Immanuel’s first-ever vicar.
- Immanuel celebrates is 140th Anniversary with a community festival in the Multi-Purpose Building. The heritage bell is displayed and a time capsule is opened.