Warren County Iowa Genealogical Society

 

 

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    Indianola Mount Calvary Lutheran Church

    Indianola Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 2214 E. 2nd Avenue, Indianola, Iowa ( previously 805 North 1st Street ), phone (515) 961-4321, http://www.mtcalvary.info/

     

    History of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, by Linda FEHL, is copied from The History of Warren County, Iowa, compiled by the Warren County Genealogical Society, Curtis Media Corp., Dallas, Texas, 1987, p.414

    During the summer of 1953, the Mission Secretary of the District, the Rev. E. F. DOHRMANN, passed through Indianola and felt there was a need for a mission. Dr. and Mrs. Harvey ARAND moved to Indianola in 1953 and made inquiries, which were referred to Rev. DOHRMANN, about starting a mission in Indianola. Rev. Walter PINNT of Osceola was contacted. A meeting of those interested was held in the ARAND home, with 27 present. The first service was held in the American Legion Hall on January 3, 1954. Sixty-two attended, and twelve children enrolled in Sunday School, which began two weeks later.

    On July 21, 1954, we called Pastor PINNT to become our pastor. He accepted the call on July 23.  He retained the pastorate at Osceola as vacancy pastor and moved to Indianola, where he and his family lived in a rented house. In August 1954, Iowa District West granted Mt. Calvary a loan of $60,000.00 to build a church and parsonage. On January 26, 1955 Pastor PINNT and family moved in. Work on the church began about April 1955. The cornerstone was laid on May 1, 1955. The church was completed by fall and dedication was on October 2, 1955.

    Pastor PINNT served until 1956. During 1957, Pastor PECK served as vacancy pastor. At the end of that year Pastor Edwin BREIHOLZ came. He stayed until 1962. The following year the congregation was served by Rev. Raymond WEIGERT of Osceola. In the summer of 1963 Pastor Stanley PETERSON became pastor. During his tenure the present education wing was added to our church, giving us individual classrooms for Sunday School and mid-week instruction. This was 1966. In 1967 Pastor PETERSON accepted a call to Blair, Nebraska, and a call was extended to Pastor Erwin RUHLIG, who was installed April 16, 1967.

    Pastor RUHLIG served until August 1974. The following year our congregation was served by Rev. Robert BACKHUS of Holy Cross, Carlisle. On January 12, 1975 Rev. Richard REINAP was installed, serving us until December 1976 until August 1977, when Rev. Robert LIESE was installed. Pastor LIESE later accepted a call as hospital chaplain in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Rev. Darrel HOERLE served as pastor from Jun 7, 1981 to December 1983. Rev Carl GAUSMAN of Carlisle acted as vacancy pastor until Rev Timothy SCHARR was installed on July 22, 1984. Pastor SCHARR is with us at the present time.

    Mount Calvary continues to serve the people of Indianola and Warren County with the good news of Jesus Christ. Our present membership stands at 395 baptized souls, including 300 communicant members. All are welcome to worship with us.

    Note: The previous location of this church was 805 N. 1st Street, Indianola, which has now become the Victory Christan Academy School, ages 3 to middle school.