Prepared by the Interim Ministry Task Force
August 2009 – Updated July 2011
INTERIM MINISTRY TASK FORCE –
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH, OTTAWA, KANSAS
Footprints in Outreach
Faith Lutheran Church is the only Lutheran church in Franklin County. It serves members from six surrounding communities. In an effort to reach out to those in other counties, Faith Ottawa established two mission congregations—one in Garnett, which is in Anderson County, and one in Baldwin City, which is in Douglas County. These efforts were not without some risk.
Baldwin City
With encouragement from Faith, a meeting was held in March, 1981, in the basement of the Baker University library for those interested in establishing a Lutheran church in Baldwin City. Lutherans from Ottawa, Lawrence, Olathe, Wellsville, Baldwin City, and Shawnee Mission were present. Several Kansas District officials, Pastor Earl Zimmerman, and elders of Faith also attended. Services were held on the Baker University campus from 1981 until 1984. On May 6, 1984, members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church dedicated their building which was provided by the Kansas District. Vicars and retired pastors served the church until August 1987, when Rev. Gary Harroun became the first called and ordained minister. In November 1987, Holy Cross held its charger membership day with twenty-four communicant members.
With such a small congregation, all members were very active, but, as members moved it became increasingly difficult for the congregation. Unfortunately, it finally became necessary to dissolve Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The final service was held on January 1, 1989. Members returned to their previous congregations or joined other congregations.
Garnett
An early record of Missouri Synod Lutheran activity in Garnett is the confirmation of Clara (Krueger) Conner and three of her sisters in 1928 by the pastor from Block, KS. He preached and served Lutherans in Garnett but it is not known for how long.
In the 1940s, when Garnett Lutherans became aware that a Lutheran congregation was beginning in Ottawa, they were prepared to participate in this church (which became Faith Lutheran). By 1954, members of Faith living in Garnett asked for help in starting a new congregation. From 1954-1956, pastors from Ottawa and Iola held services in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Burns. However, from 1959-1966, activity in Garnett slowed down and Garnett members became active at Faith Lutheran. In 1966, Pastor Zimmerman from Faith began weekly Bible study in several Garnett homes and in 1976, began leading regular Sunday morning worship services. These services were held in the Garnett United Presbyterian Church.
The Garnett church increased in membership, and in 1982, Garnett held its first service in its new church building. In 1983, the Garnett church became Trinity Lutheran Church and could no longer be called a mission church. Forty-eight communicant members from Faith Lutheran transferred their membership to Trinity Lutheran. From 1984-1997, Pastor Claude Constable served Trinity. David Shrum served as a lay-minister (part-time) from 1998-July 2008. Pastor Earl Zimmerman began serving as the vacancy pastor in August 2008. The congregation celebrated its 25th anniversary in October, 2009. Pastor Ervin Daugherty was called and began serving in January 2010 and until this time he remains their pastor.