NAVIGATION
133 Plus Years of Grace
In 1874, Rev. Friedrich Matuschka of New Melle Lutheran Church gathered the Lutherans together in Wentzville and organized a congregation, which would become Immanuel Lutheran Church. The first church building was built in 1874 and still remains on Second Street in Wentzville. Members of that first congregation included such familiar names as Koenig, Demien, Borgelt, Dierker, and Schierbaum, just to mention a few. The first child born after the congregation was organized was Elizabeth Ida Demien on January 24, 1875. The first wedding performed in the new congregation was that of Johann Bornhop and Wilhelmines Colbes on June 23, 1886. In 1880 the Rev. William Maesse was installed as the first full-time pastor of Immanuel. The church building was used as a school and Pastor Maesse was the teacher. Tuition of $1.00 per child per month was charged. Rev. Maesse accepted a call to Fairmont, MN in 1884 and was followed by the Rev. P. E. Beil, who resigned because of ill health in 1890. During this time, the congregation became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states. Rev. H.J. Mueller followed the Rev. Beil. The small frame building on Second Street soon became too small so the congregation purchased a five acre tract of land on the western edge of Wentzville. The dedication of the present church building took place on November 12, 1899. A parsonage and school were built in 1900/
Up until 1921, the pastors of the church taught the Christian Day School. Miss Selma Berkemier was the first teacher hired and taught until 1930. From 1930 to 1946 Concordia Seminary vicars taught the students. In 1947, the first permanent male teacher was hired. As the school continued to grow, a new building was dedicated in 1958 and the second part of this building completed in 1976. Another addition to the school was dedicated in 1999. Today we are still rejoicing and giving God the glory for the increase He has given our school.
Rev. H.D. Mensing preached the first English service on February 17, 1918. The Rev. Arthur Miessler was installed as pastor on October 31, 1920, and continued to serve Immanuel for 36 years. In 1957, Rev. William Gerike was installed as pastor. During his years as pastor, Immanuel reached out and assisted their brothers and sisters in starting mission congregations in O’Fallon and Troy, MO. Pastors Jacob Heckert, Francis Lieb, and Mark Mueller served Immanuel during the sixties and seventies. After a vacancy of 33 months, Rev. Lloyd Hackbarth accepted the call to lead Immanuel. The year was 1982. Rev. Warren Ruland later joined him in 1988. In 1994, Mr. Roy Bohning was installed as the first full-time principal. In 1995, a daycare was opened to meet the needs of working families in our church and community. On December 1, 1996, Rev. Dwain E. Sliger was installed as Associate Pastor and served in that position until 2001, when Pastor Sliger became Senior Pastor following the retirement of Rev. Hackbarth. Rev. Steven C. Ward served as Associate Pastor from 2002 to 2004. In June of 2005, Rev. Jason Auringer was installed as Associate Pastor before becoming Interim Senior Pastor in June of 2007.
On March 28, 2004 the congregation signed a contract with Daniel Cook & Associates (Building God’s Way) to begin plans for construction of a new sanctuary. In 2005 Plans were redrawn after the donation of 17 acres of the Menscher Family Farm on Highway N. On December 14, 2007 the congregation closed on the loan that would enable construction to begin on a new 55,000 square foot ministry complex – a complex that would include a new sanctuary equipped to accommodate a rapidly growing Wentzville Community. We continue to thank the Lord for His benefits and ask His future blessings on our ministry efforts.
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.
1880 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.
1915 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.
1918 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.
1921 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.
1957 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. As pastor he guided the congregation until 1979.
1983 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 school 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 and 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.
2001 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.
2002 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.
2003 Immanuel Lutheran Church joined the Lutheran High School of St. Charles County Association. First all-day Kindergarten began. Renovations to school playground were completed.
2003 “Garden of Grace” dedicated (school/church inner courtyard).
2004 LIFEnite was initiated.
2004 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.
2005 Seventeen acres donated for new sanctuary on Highway N.
2005 Rev. Auringer installed as associate pastor.
2005 Saturday evening service resumed July 16th in Immanuel Lutheran Heritage Church.
2006 Bryan Blackford called to replace retiring administrator, Becky Hoskins
2007 Groundbreaking for new worship facility on HWY N