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A Brief History
On September 28, 1920, a small group of 15 people organized The First
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Long Beach in the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Elling Boe. Pastor Thoralf Castberg served as pastor for the
group with services being held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on
Third Street and Walnut Avenue. A year later property was
purchased at Sixth Street and Dawson Avenue where the basement was
hurriedly finished so it could be used for services. The
congregation worshipped in this basement until the autumn of
1924. Five years after the congregation had been organized, on
October 25, 1925, Pastor N.B. Thorpe conducted the dedication services
for the new and completely furnished church. It was the Ladies’
Aid, forerunner of today’s W.E.L.C.A. who raised the money for the
purchase of pews, chairs and carpets. The Luther League provided
the organ. In the early 1940’s, the influx of Lutherans from the
Midwest had swelled the membership so that a larger church was
needed. While Pastor Arnold Nelson was serving the church, the
site for the new church at the corner of Carroll Park and Junipero
Avenue was purchased, and our present church was erected and dedicated
in October 1949. In November of 1953, Reverend Virgil Bjerke was
installed as pastor of Our Saviour’s.
As
the congregation grew, an office complex, Fellowship Hall and
educational unit were added. The last unit was completed in
1972. Other significant dedication services held during these
years were the new church organ and the stained glass windows, both in
1965. Although this completed the master plan on the main church
site, the congregation had for years planned on building a Lutheran
retirement home. Property for this home was purchased along
Fourth Street adjacent to the church property. Perseverance,
prayer and dedication on the part of many finally prevailed, and
Lutheran Towers became a reality. Pastor Richard Andersen and the
congregation dedicated this facility in May of 1984. The
community surrounding Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church has changed
considerably over the years. During the past few decades the
church, under the leadership of pastors Clyde Showalter, Wayne Bacus,
and Nancy Toensing, has served a multiracial, multilingual community
with numerous opportunities to share the good news of Christ. The
church looks forward to the challenges ahead and is excited about
reaching out to the unchurched and extending a warm welcome to all.
Pastors of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
| Rev. Thoralf Castberg |
1920-1921 |
| Rev. C.J. Stadem |
1922-1923 |
| Rev. N.B. Thorpe |
1923-1941 |
| Rev. J. Doerman |
1941-1942 |
| Rev. Arnold M. Nelson |
1942-1953 |
| Dr. Virgil F. Bjerke |
1953-1977 |
| Dr. Hans A. Stub |
1959-1959 |
| Rev. Kenneth Caudill |
1963-1965 |
| Rev. Alfred Storvick |
1965-1973 |
| Rev. Norbert J. Boer |
1968-1972 |
| Rev. Thomas L. Lange |
1973-1977 |
| Dr. Richard Andersen |
1978-1986 |
| Dr. Clyde Showalter |
1979-1990 |
| Rev. Wayne Bacus |
1989-1993 |
| Rev. Nancy Toensing |
1991-1994 |
| Rev. Hartley Lee |
1992-Present |
| Rev. Jim Proper |
2003-Present |
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