Faith Lutheran Church
155th Anniversary
Madelia, MN 56062
The Faith of Our Fathers was the inspiration and beginning of Faith Lutheran Church. It all began on November 29, 1870 in a humble sod hut on the Torger Olson farm in rural Madelia Township.
The first small church in Madelia was begun in 1873, and was located on the corner of Center and First Street. The cost of the church was $400. Sunday School was organized in 1875 with 16 pupils, and the Ladies Aid was organized in 1880 with 6 members. On May 15, 1898, the women got the right to vote.
In 1901 the second church was built on that same spot and the first church building was moved to 227 Adams Ave. N.E., Madelia.
In 1908 we adopted the rules of the Lutheran Free Church, and in that same year the church bought land for the cemetery.
The present church was built in 1958 with Pastor Theodore Nystuen as its first pastor. In that same year Lincoln Lutheran Church, the sister church in rural Lincoln Township, merged with Faith. The new church was dedicated on September 20, 1959. The name was then changed to Faith Lutheran Church.
In 1962 the Lutheran Free Church became the American Lutheran Church of Madelia and was united with Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Butternut. The two churches shared the same pastor. (Our Saviour’s closed in 2020.)
In 1988 another merger occurred and the A.L.C., the L.C.A., and the A.E.L.C. became the E.L.C.A. or the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
As time moved forward the congregation at Faith Lutheran began to take on a number of ambitious programs to provide much needed out-reach programs. Some of these programs include Community Vacation Bible School. All the children in the area are welcomed to a week full of fun activities! The theme for the program changes from year to year and it has been extremely successful. Another successful venture has been to partner with First Presbyterian Church to provide a weekly session of J.A.M. Jesus and Me. Class is an after-school class held every Wednesday during the school year. This is open to all children in the community. Another mission-based program we have been participating in for a number of years is Operation Christmas Child. Supplies are donated by congregational members and others to fill boxes with school supplies, hygiene items, and fun items. These boxes are sent to all corners of the world to spiritually hungry children. What a wonderful way to show the love of Jesus to the world.
Our present minister is Ralph Flitter, who is part of a new Synod program, S.A.M. Synod Authorized Ministers. He has been a beacon of light to this congregation, and we are so grateful to have him. As we gather in the name of Christ to remember our past and look ahead to the future, we have much to remember - 155 years worth! As people of hope, we have much to look forward to because we follow the living Savior! The history of Faith Lutheran Church is a gift from God. The importance of this anniversary is evident in the Biblical witness. It is to REMEMBER that we are God’s people, claimed through Baptism. And that nothing in the past, present, or future can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus!
“God’s People Leading Others to the Love of Jesus”
