Our Story | We Rejoice with Thanksgiving

125 years of God's grace to Emanuel Lutheran Church

Settlers (1817-1893)

Lutherans on the Banks of the Wolf River

The origins of Emanuel Lutheran Church predate its incorporation in 1893. Our roots as a Christian church extend back nearly 2,000 years to the resurrection of Christ and the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. As a Lutheran church, we can trace our beginnings to the Reformation in October 1517, which celebrated its 500th anniversary. However, it was in 1817, as the Reformation approached its 300th anniversary, that religious tensions in Europe compelled many Lutherans to seek a new home outside of Germany. These pioneers found promising land in America, particularly in the Midwest, and specifically in the northern reaches of the state of Wisconsin, which was founded in 1848. Just six years after statehood, the city of New London was established on the banks of the Wolf River in 1854. Among its early residents were Lutheran Christians who brought their bibles, hymnals, and catechism, but required pastors and churches to be established.

Walking Together with Missouri and Wisconsin

In 1857, the Lutherans established a home on a property purchased by Henry Ziehlsdorf at the corner of South Pearl and Warren streets. However, to begin worship, a pastor was needed, and the help of a synod or church body was necessary. While many Lutheran churches on the east coast and in Europe were pursuing unionist ideas that had forced their migration from Germany to younger church bodies, two synods were founded in Missouri in 1847 and Milwaukee in 1849 that had faithful pastors ready to serve. Both synods were eager to help in New London. Pastor Martin Stephan from Oshkosh was dispatched by Missouri, while Pastor Gottlieb Fachtmann from Fond du Lac was sent by Wisconsin. On September 1, 1857, Fachtmann observed that he found a great hunger for the word of God, especially in New London and near Hortonville, and that there was a vast field of work for one or two preachers of their synod.

Two Congregations become One

The establishment of a Lutheran congregation in New London was not without conflict. Pastor Fachtmann and his counterparts from Missouri had difficulty determining which synod would take the lead in New London. When Stephan's successor arrived in 1859, he and Fachtmann fought over the New London site, resulting in the establishment of a second Lutheran congregation named St. John's exclusively under the Missouri leadership in June of that year. The original church was named St. Paul's Church in 1862, as a Wisconsin synod congregation. By 1867, there were two Lutheran congregations in New London, marking 50 years since the migration had begun. However, both congregations realized over the next 25 years that the people of New London might be best served by a single Lutheran congregation.

St. Paul's congregation occupied a new property by 1873, having purchased land on the corner of Lawrence and Quincy streets where a new church building, complete with a 120-ft steeple, was dedicated. As the idea of a merger began to grow, another 20 years would pass before it was complete. In a joint congregational meeting held at St. Paul's on September 10, 1893, voters of both congregations agreed to merge the two congregations into one. St. Paul's Church became the worship building, while St. John's building served as the school and parsonage.

The current pastors preached on alternating Sundays until a new pastor was installed, new congregational leaders were elected, and a new name was chosen. Instead of retaining the name of either St. Paul's or St. John's, the name Emanuel was chosen. This name reflected the grace and care God had given to the congregations over the last 34 years. Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was incorporated on September 24, 1893, giving the congregations the confidence to look to the years to come with the assurance of Emanuel, which means "God with us."

Founders (1893-1918)

Founding Pastor

In 1893, after God had graciously enabled the unification of both groups of Lutherans in New London, a single congregation had been founded and established. It was now time to move forward, and the Synodical Conference, consisting of leaders from both Missouri and Wisconsin, was tasked with supplying candidates. The plan was straightforward: whichever synod's candidate accepted the call would take the lead in New London. The first call was extended to a Missouri Synod candidate, who declined the offer. The second call was extended to Adolf Spiering, a Wisconsin Synod pastor who was then serving in Manchester, Wisconsin. With Spiering accepting the call, the way forward became clear: Emanuel would walk together with the Wisconsin Synod.

Founding Efforts

After Spiering began serving the new congregation, the Lord granted rapid growth through his early evangelism efforts and the assimilation of new German immigrants. Although there is no exact record of membership at that time, it's estimated that the newly merged congregation had 300 to 350 communicant members. The day after Spiering's installation, he started a school in the St John's Church building, with an initial enrollment of 48 students. Spiering served as the sole teacher, but within four years, the number of students had increased to 126, with 72 students in one classroom and 54 in another. As a result, additional teachers, including Eduard Gleichmann in 1894 and Miss Augusta Noetzel in 1896, accepted divine calls. The congregation saw this growth as a sign of God's abundant grace being poured out upon them. By 1899, a new school was built and dedicated, just before the end of the decade and century.

First Milestones

In 1903, the congregation held a special service to mark its 10th anniversary, during which a new organ was dedicated "to make glorious music to the Lord." However, amid the celebrations, the challenges of serving a growing congregation were apparent, and its leaders had to carefully assess the congregation's finances and resources. Legal issues concerning the congregation's property also needed to be resolved, and Spiering likened a 1914 property dispute to a "border war." Despite these difficulties, Emanuel was emerging as a prominent congregation within the young church body. By 1918, as the congregation celebrated its 25th anniversary of ministry, a newly organized Northern District of the Wisconsin Synod was established, and Spiering himself preached about how the fervent desires of the Lutheran community had become a reality. Now, the Lutheran community could worship together in ONE church, listen to the word of God preached from ONE pulpit, partake in communion from ONE altar, have their children baptized at ONE baptismal font, and send their children to ONE parochial school, all by the grace of the Lord.

A New Building

After 25 years of God's grace, a new era of ministry began at Emanuel Lutheran Church, with a younger generation of members taking the reins. God’s grace would remain the same, but the congregation recognized the need for a new church building in 1918 and voted to move forward with the project in January 1920. The massive construction effort required a significant fundraising campaign, which included the use of offering plates and envelopes, as well as congregational leaders making visits and pledges.

By April 1920, pledges had totaled $43,000, and a building committee consisting of Henry Fuerst, William Krueger, and Carl Voss was elected. The first step in the building process was to demolish the old church building, except for the 1903 organ, which was salvaged. The 120 ft steeple of St. Paul's, which had been standing since 1873, also came down.

The new church building was designed by V. Thomas, and bids were opened on the Tuesday after Easter in 1921. The contract for the $72,000 project was awarded to a congregation member, Frank Shoenrock and Sons. On April 18, 1921, the 400th anniversary of Luther's confession at the Diet of Worms, ground was broken for the new church. On July 23, Pastor Spiering, accompanied by pastors Max Hensel and G. Boettcher, set the cornerstone. The new sanctuary, complete with a new organ and furnishings, was dedicated on February 12, 1922. During the dedication service, Seminary President August Pieper and Synod President Gustav Bergman preached sermons in both German and English.

A New Pastor

The task of teaching, leading, and caring for a large and expanding congregation demanded immense effort. To accomplish this work, the congregation continued to call new servants. By 1929, over 20 teachers were serving in the school. During the same year, two long-serving workers arrived to lead the church and school into the future. The first was Bernhard Boese, who graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1929 and went on to serve for 44 years as a principal, teacher, choir director, and organist. The second arrival in 1929 was Pastor Walter Pankow, who was installed on December 12, 1929.

Pankow took over the ministry following Pastor Spiering's resignation due to poor health. The congregation had been blessed with 36 years of God’s grace during Spiering's ministry. Pastor Spiering passed away on August 23, 1932, in Des Moines, Iowa. Several thousand people attended his funeral at Emanuel, and he was laid to rest at Floral Hill Cemetery in the city where he had served.

New Challenges

Under the grace of God and with the leadership of Pastor Pankow, the congregation entered a new era in December 1929 and continued to grow. In 1927, the congregation adopted a new constitution, which stipulated that the pastor would no longer serve as the congregation's president. Otto Pribnow became the first lay president, serving from 1927 to 1944. While Pastor Pankow was no longer the congregation's president, he still had challenging work to do. One of the challenges was the language barrier, with German still being spoken at home while English was increasingly expected in schools. The congregation grappled with which language should be used in the worship service, and in 1930, it was decided to have both English and German services every Sunday.

The financial realities of the Great Depression also affected the congregation, but members continued to trust God's grace. In 1931, the congregation celebrated the 10th anniversary of the sanctuary dedication, and during the service, members came forward to place their change boxes into a scaled-down model of the church, resulting in an offering of $7,000.

As the congregation continued to grow, it became necessary to call Reverend Harold Backer in 1933 as an assistant pastor who also taught grades five and six in the school, making Emanuel the first congregation in the synod to have a double pastorate. The country then faced a new challenge with the outbreak of World War II. Amid the conflict, members of Emanuel celebrated the congregation's 50th anniversary on September 12, 1943, and reflected on God's grace.

Boomers (1943-1968)

Expansion of the School

After 50 years of God's grace, Emanuel Lutheran Church had grown to become the largest congregation in the Wisconsin Synod. From just 350 members in 1893, the congregation had grown to 1,600 and continued to expand. As the nation experienced a baby boom after World War II, the congregation in New London followed suit. The school plans that had been put on hold during the war were quickly resumed, and a new project was approved in 1948. Ground was broken for the new addition on October 1, 1949, and on May 7 of the following year, the four new classrooms, restrooms, gymnasium, three renovated classrooms, an office, and a library were dedicated. The cost of the full project was $225,000, and an additional $7,500 was designated for new playground spaces. The congregation purchased lots east and south of the main buildings to provide more room for the growing number of students. In 1948, 222 students had been enrolled, and by 1960 that number had grown to 388.

During this time, the sanctuary was also undergoing renovation. In 1954, the sanctuary was repainted, the pews were refinished, and the organ was refurbished. While work was underway, services were held in the new gymnasium. The parsonages were also in need of repairs, with the home on Lawrence and Quincy demolished between 1956 to 1957 and replaced with another house built on its foundation. In the same year, the congregation purchased a second parsonage on the corner of Lawrence and Pine.

A Maturing Congregation

In 1946, Pastor Frederick Heidemann was called to serve as an assistant pastor and to teach grades five and six at Emanuel Lutheran Church. He became the congregation's third pastor in 50 years and would continue to serve for almost 50 more years. With the growing number of young families enrolling in the school, there was also a rising need for pastoral care for elderly members of the congregation. Pastors began serving not only in New London but also at Outagamie County Home.

As Pastor Pankow's health deteriorated, the congregation recognized the need for an associate pastor. In 1964, Pankow was granted a six-month leave of absence to recover. However, he was called to his eternal rest on July 4, and several thousand people paid their respects during his viewing. Floral Hill Cemetery became his final resting place, not far from Pastor Spiering.

The Next Generation

Following the passing of Pastor Pankow, Pastor Heidemann assumed the role of senior pastor and was now leading a staff that included not only pastors but also vicars. Many of the latter assignees would eventually return to full-time ministry at Emanuel. For instance, James Behling served as vicar from 1964 to 1965 and John Schewe served as vicar from 1966 to 1967. Both became pastors at Emanuel in the years that followed.

Because of God’s grace under Pastor Heidemann's leadership, the congregation continued to experience significant growth, just as it had when he was first ordained. By 1966, the staff at Emanuel included 13 teachers, two pastors, and a vicar. With so much work to be done, it was clear that another expansion would be necessary to accommodate the congregation's needs. In 1967, plans were approved for the addition of four more classrooms, once again requiring the members of Emanuel to trust in God's grace.

Reaching (1968-1993)

Preaching God’s Grace

As Emanuel Lutheran Church approached its first century of ministry, the opportunities to spread God's grace were abundant. The congregation realized that new efforts and energy would be necessary to achieve this goal. In 1968, during the celebrations for the 75th anniversary, former pastors and sons of the congregation preached about the new opportunities that were about to come before them. To share the gospel with as many people as possible, the congregation employed new plans and technologies, ranging from simple additions like closed circuit television in 1973, to complex endeavors like creating a strategic plan in 1992. The service of God was also enhanced with new instruments such as handbells donated by the Bauer family in 1987 and a new electronic organ purchased in 1992. As the congregation continued to grow, with nearly 4,000 members and over 400 students, God's grace remained at the center of everything.

Leading an Expanding Synod

In 1961, differences in religious beliefs between the Wisconsin and Missouri synods finally came to a head. That same year, the Wisconsin Synod declared the end of fellowship. In the decades that followed, congregations were encouraged to take the lead in ministry. Emanuel exemplified this initiative as it achieved several “firsts” within the Wisconsin Synod. On January 26th, 1975, Emanuel made history by becoming the Synod's first congregation with three pastors when Pastor John Schewe was installed as second associate pastor. Additionally, Emanuel contributed to the Synod’s pastoral training program, by assigning two of its sons, David Labs and Michael Hins, as summer vicars. In July 1977, Emanuel hosted the Synod's first International youth rally. Young people from across the United States and Canada gathered to worship, study, and fellowship. By 1979, Emanuel reached another milestone by installing a fourth pastor, Pastor Dwight Villhauer, yet another first for the Synod.

Mission Work Far and Near

As the Synod's work expanded, so did its mission field, and Emanuel Lutheran Church was mindful of this aspect of ministry. In 1978, the congregation held an outdoor mission rally at Hattan Park and established a library that supported the work of the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society. The church's connection with the world mission field was reinforced by mission-minded pastors such as Pastor Bruce Marggraf, who had served at Emanuel since 1982 before accepting a call to Brazil in 1987, and Pastor Steven Witte, who joined the staff in 1985 and then served the Synod in Hong Kong. At the same time, Emanuel recognized the mission opportunities present within its own congregation. In 1979, a Parent's Education League was established, student tutoring in 1984, and sign language was offered in worship services the same year.

Remaining (1993-2017)

Staffing New Ministry

Emanuel Lutheran Church faced a new century and millennium, and the challenge ahead was to remain steadfast in God's grace. Another challenge was how to effectively staff a large congregation for the ongoing work of ministry. As early as January 1993, plans were underway to celebrate the retirement of Pastor Heidemann on February 13, 1994, as his health had started to deteriorate. In addition, the congregation worked to clarify its work and published a direction document in 1993, which was the first time it had used an organized long-range plan. The church also began staffing specific ministry programs by calling staff ministers. Mr. Ed Krause was the first to be called in 1993, and others followed, such as Rachel Huebner who served as worship coordinator from 1999 to 2001, and Jack VandeGuchte who was called as Youth and Family minister in 2006.

Breaking New Ground

As new staff members were brought in to meet the changing ministry needs, the congregation also began examining its properties in detail. In March 2000, the Facilities Study Committee acknowledged that selling parsonages and other properties could provide resources for constructing new school and office buildings. Instead of expanding the existing structures, a decision was made to construct completely new ones, and the ground-breaking ceremony took place on March 18, 2002. The old school buildings were still in use until the end of May, after which classes began in the new buildings, although the offices and gymnasium were still being completed. The project was finished on schedule for $5.5 million, and it was dedicated and paid for. The sale of the remaining parsonages coincided with the congregation's new emphasis on its main property. Additionally, several ongoing renovation projects, such as the church basement in 2006 and sanctuary communication equipment in 2007, have resulted in the campus we see today, which is a testament to God's grace that endures.

Enjoying God’s grace

Throughout its history, Emanuel Lutheran Church has faced various challenges and difficulties. While the congregation saw the arrival of many new staff members, some left. Despite building and renovation projects, classroom enrollments and worship attendance declined. There were also conflicts and frustrations in the congregation's work as the voting structure and constitution were investigated and redrawn. In 2017, as Lutheran churches worldwide celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, evidence showed that many Christian congregations in the United States were declining. Some may have wondered if the best days of God's grace were in the past, but there was also evidence to the contrary. For example, Emanuel supported mission work in Grenada, hosted an annual Harvest Fest for the New London Community, and rescheduled Sunday service times to offer worship and Bible study for all ages. In 2014, the congregation adopted a new constitution to address ministry issues honestly and graciously, and in 2016, they began work on a vision document to guide them into the future.

Despite the challenges, Emanuel continues to trust in God's grace and acknowledges that His name and their name, Emanuel, bear proof of His presence. The congregation rejoices with thanksgiving for what God allows them to do each passing year.