Footprints

Of

Faith

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 Leading to Faith

“In the 1870’s Prussia, now known as Germany, was involved in a war with France. Serfs were compelled to serve in the Prussia Army. Albert Dehn served in the Prussia-Franco war. He quickly lost interest in fighting for a rich land owner and made his way to America along with his family.

In 1881, Albert Dehn brought his family to Franklin County and purchased a 220-acre farm located 5 miles north and 2 miles west of Williamsburg, Kansas. Three of his children were born in Kansas. The family traveled back to Wisconsin for the baptism of these three children when they were old enough to travel. The trip was made because of the staunch belief that they must be baptized Lutheran.

Henry Dehn, one of Albert’s sons, married Alvina Hinz after a short courtship by mail. At Alvina’s insistence they joined Faith and were Charter members. Henry and Alvina had two sons, Alvin and Henry, Jr. Alvin married Charlotte in 1953. They were the first couple married at the 12^th and Cedar facility. (This information was shared with Don Miller by Charlotte and Alvin Dehn. For more details see the historical records and the 45^th anniversary booklet.)

Roots of Faith

Franklin County has been home to five Lutheran churches. The early Lutheran churches are recorded here to show the diverse strains of Lutheranism which served as the root of Faith.

St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church

Little is known about St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. In 1870, a listing of churches shows that St. Matthew’s was in Pomona. It is believed that it was not in existence long because no further record is found.

First Swedish Lutheran Church

First Swedish American Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ottawa was organized on April 5^th, 1879. Pastor C. A. Berggren of Bucklin, Missouri, assisted in the organization. Little is known about the First Swedish Church. It built its church building in the spring of 1879 on the southeast corner of 3^rd & Cedar streets in Ottawa. The building is still standing and is used as a residence. In 1933 the church was sharing its facility with the Church of Christ. First Swedish Lutheran Church continued to be listed in the Ottawa city directories until 1938 when it last appeared.

First Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Second Swedish Lutheran Society was also organized in 1879. They erected the stone church at 5^th and Cedar streets that same year. At some point in time it adopted the name First Evangelical Lutheran Church. First Evangelical Lutheran Church continued in existence until the late 1930’s when one by one its charter members began to pass away. The church appeared in the 1938 Ottawa city directory for the last time. In 1939 the church building was secured for use by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Regular Services began there in 1941.

St. Paul’s German American Evangelical Lutheran Church

Rev. S. Henry began work in the Ottawa mission field in October 1884, with the St. Paul’s English and German Lutheran Church. It was organized on December 7, 1884, under the auspices of the Board of Home Missions of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the U. S. Prior to erecting their own facility in 1885 the group used the 1^st Swedish Lutheran Church as its place of worship. The church had 32 members at the time of organization.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church would continue to be listed in the Ottawa City Directory into the early 1930’s when the congregation was dissolved and their church records turned over to the First Lutheran Church of Lawrence, Kansas. (Additional historical detail is available in earlier accounts of Faith’s history.)

Faith Lutheran

Faith Lutheran grew out of the 1930’s depression and post-war upheaval in America. Pastors and lay leaders played key roles in the growth of the church. During World War II, young men went to war. Women left behind suffered through rationing and short supplies. Upon their return, the soldiers, many of whom were teenagers when they left for war, were anxious to make up for lost time. After years of sacrifice, these post-war years were filled with exuberance. Domestic consumption was on the rise, new homes were built and soon they were filled with young children. (See page 4 in 45^th anniversary booklet.)

After two floods that tested the survival of the congregation, the people were challenged in 1951 to rebuild or relocate to higher ground. It was in this crisis that Faith Lutheran moved from the small church on 5^th and Cedar to the new facility at 12^th and Cedar in 1953. Faith was entering the Baby Boom.

Footprints in Faith through Bible Study

Lewis Buck appears to have been a major force in leading the church by example and power of personality. His gifts ranged from being an outstanding lay evangelist, a gifted teacher and leader. As the church grew and moved to 12^th and Cedar, other leaders and teachers who joined the church, used their gifts to further strengthen and enhance the success of the men who served as pastors and leaders of the church. People like Paul Bowersox and Frank Brown were often mentioned among these teachers and lay leaders.

Faith has always emphasized Adult Bible Study and God has blessed the congregation with many adult class teachers. Lay-led adult classes received a boost in 1968 when Pastor Zimmerman began preaching at the Garnett Mission, while still conducting services at Faith. At that time Frank Brown began teaching the adult Sunday morning class. In 1989 Pastor Zimmerman and wife Marilyn were chosen by the Kansas District to begin a new adult bible study called “life/Light.” Now, Faith has several Bible classes during the week as well as Sunday morning. In 2006 a Men’s Bible study breakfast began and continues to today.

In an interview with Pastor Duran for the writing of this paper, John shared this story. “One year I got an inspiration for what I thought would make a terrific Bible class. I shared the idea with Bill Eales who was in charge of adult classes at the time. Bill remarked, “Sorry Pastor, we’re full up for classes and teachers for this term. We might be able to work you in during the spring or summer term.”

Footprints of Faith through Evangelism

Pastor Earl Zimmerman and Pastor John Duran continued this strong support for evangelism. When Pastor Zimmerman began his ministry in 1965, he had a heart for all Lutherans, as well as a desire to reach the unchurched. What developed was a congregation made up of members from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS), as well as the old American Lutheran Church (ALC), United Lutheran Church (ULC), and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA), synods now in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), as well as Christians from other backgrounds seeking a church home in which they were comfortable. Amazingly, they all learned to coexist and function in unity.

Pastor Zimmerman embraced the diversity when he arrived on the scene here in Ottawa. He was blessed with a Christ centered layman named Lewis Buck. As mentioned earlier, Lewis provided a list of 26 families he thought would be open to the Gospel. Pastor Zimmerman began working though all 26 names, many of which had large families. Another major contributor to the early evangelism efforts of the church was the Vacation Bible School, held each summer led by Patty Buck, Clara Conner and Pastor. Pastor Zimmerman said attendance reached as high as 90, an amazing number for such a small congregation. During the 1970’s, Faith Lutheran Church was growing at a rate of 10% a year.

In 1972, Pastor Zimmerman began a radio ministry at KOFO Radio now known as “Life with God.” The radio manager at the time suggested something different than the full church service radio programs already being broadcast by two other churches. The manager listened regularly to the Lutheran Hour. He suggested to Pastor Zimmerman to model his program after the Lutheran Hour. Tapes or records provided the music for the program which was played by an employee of the station. Pastor Zimmerman would preach the message and do the prayers. The radio program originally was broadcast live. This program was continued by Pastor Duran and Pastor Wiese and is currently presented by Pastor Adams.

In an attempt to better equip the congregation for evangelism, Pastor Zimmerman wanted to have some members trained in the Kennedy Evangelism approach. Learning that Faith was considering this, two ladies from First Baptist contacted Pastor Zimmerman about going with the Faith group for training. After receiving permission from the Pastor at First Baptist, it was decided that the two ladies from First Baptist plus Frank Brown, Lewis Buck, Elizabeth Cole, and Pastor would be trained. When a member of 1^st Baptist Church, George Wingert, heard about the project, he said the training needed to be done by the best, Kennedy himself. Arrangements were made for the group to be trained in California at Kennedy’s church. George Wingert paid for the entire project, including the two ladies from First Baptist.

The Pastors and leaders of Faith Lutheran did not put up road blocks to outreach. The more open policy towards communion is an example. While still Biblically based, the less restrictive policy on communion, in contrast to the sometimes very restrictive “closed” communion policy maintained by some LCMS churches, opened the opportunity for Faith Lutheran to have greater outreach.

The church also grew because of its commitment to COF clients with developmental disabilities who were made a part of the church’s life. The education of these clients became a symbol of how the congregation was reaching out to the community and putting into practice the teaching that Jesus came to save all people.

God blesses congregations in many ways, but these two blessings of evangelical outreach-minded pastors and gifted adult Bible class teachers have certainly been major blessings for Faith Lutheran Church, Ottawa.

Congregation life at 12^th and Cedar Ottawa

The addition of the fellowship hall to the church at 12^th and Cedar in the 1970s was a concern to some who were more conservative with their money. Some members felt it was important to pay all the bills and have money in the bank in the event of hard times. Some felt there was a great need to put money in missions and look for ways to expand. Others felt the original plans for the church should be followed. These plans would have added offices to the south of the building rather than the fellowship space that could double as additional worship seating space.

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 25^th anniversary in October, 2009. Pastor Ervin Daugherty was called and began serving in January 2010 and until this time he remains their pastor.

Footprints for Future Generations

Preschool

In 1979, Rev. Zimmerman and Marty Piotrowsky attended some of the conferences that the Kansas District LCMS was holding to promote Christian early childhood education and the spark began to flicker brighter for Christian education. After visiting with leaders at Faith Emporia, and particularly with Lois Vogel of Our Savior Lutheran in Kansas City, it was decided to poll the families with young children at Faith to see if they would be interested in sending their little ones to a preschool at church. An ad was also placed in the Ottawa Herald. The vast majority of the parents (and many grandparents too) were in favor of the opportunity of more in depth Christian education for their youngsters. There was not much response from the community at that point. Preschool was a novel idea at the time. Community response came later.

In the October council meeting, it was decided to approach the voters to see if they would approve starting a preschool at Faith. After much discussion, they gave their permission but made it clear that, beyond supplying the classroom space, the preschool should not expect financial support. Their approval and a place to meet was all it took and the search for a teacher began. With plans to open the doors in early January, 1980, the committee turned to Marty Piotrowsky and asked her to consider the job of teacher/director. The Piotrowsky’s youngest child was not a year old at the time and Marty really hadn’t planned to go back to work just then, but seeing the need accepted the position.

A few new materials were ordered and gently used toys and books were graciously donated by members. The first day of class was Monday, January 14, 1980. We had a small but hopeful beginning with just six studens. They included: Sherri Daniels Burton, Ginger Knight Davis, Lori Johnson Folson, Eric Piotrowsky, Robert Reed, and Melissa Yeager Rictor. The flame was beginning to grow.

The school grew and now has eighty students in four classes. Stephanie Circle is currently the Director of the Preschool. She began her tenure in 1998.

The Lord has been good to us over the years and has blessed the efforts of Faith Lutheran. Many little ones have heard the message of Jesus and His great love for us. Until we reach heaven, we may never know just how much we meant to these children as they grew up. To God be the Glory for the things He has done!

In 1992 the congregation saw the need for a Director of Education. Pete Lang was called to serve in this capacity and worked with our Sunday School Superintendents and mid-week Bible classes to develop a strong ethic of Bible study in our children. After Pete left for the Seminary the lay leaders continued the development of this program in to the LOGOS program we have today. Pete also worked to develop a program to meet the needs of our high school students.

Footprints to 15^th and Eisenhower

The impetus to move from the 12^th and Cedar location to 15^th and Eisenhower came with the gift from Gertrude Blum whose family owned and operated a grocery store in Ottawa. Although she was not living in Ottawa at the time of her death, Gertrude Blum named Faith Lutheran Ottawa as one of her beneficiaries. Her gift to the church was $370,000. The money came with God’s timing. While some felt the money could be used for missions or an addition to our savings account, others saw the money as the hand of God beckoning them to the next step in God’s plan for Faith to play in the community. The congregation was considering what they could do to grow. The same issues of how to spend money were present. There was no shared vision on a long range plan for the growth of the congregation.

At about this time the owner of what is now ORV had determined the land west of Twyman was surplus for his purposes. He put the land on the market. This action came to the attention of Marty Burik. He shared the information with others in the congregation, and they contacted John Peiman, an accountant with expertise in charitable donations. John worked with the ORV land owner and worked out a way to make the property affordable to us and a charitable donation for the land owner. Faith bought half the block and he donated the other half.

Once the land was purchased, the congregation needed to fund a building. Two funding campaigns were done to gather the needed money for building a new facility. At about this time a local dairy farmer, Roy Sandstrom, was looking for a facility to worship in. Pilgrim Bible Church was able to purchase the building at 12^th and Cedar as a result of his contribution to them.

Faith Lutheran continued to worship at the old church until the spring of 2002. The auditorium at Garfield Elementary School was rented as a place of worship until the new church was ready for occupation. The first service at 15^th and Eisenhower was June of 2002. A procession from the church at 12^th and Cedar to the new facility was led by Pastor Duran carrying the cross, followed by the Sunday School classes and those adults who were able to walk some or all of the distance. The church dedication was on October 6, 2002.

Leaving Footprints at 15^th and Eisenhower

Faith made great strides after its move to its current location. The spirit of evangelism was rekindled during the Forty Days of Purpose program. This strong focus on Bible study, coupled with outreach, opened the church to the community. The members of the church worked diligently to make this congregation a place for all to worship. Through the strong leadership of Pastor Duran and the leadership of its members, Faith began experimenting with its worship services in an effort to strike a balance between different worship styles. Vivian Massaglia began developing a contemporary music program which was further developed by Scott Dawson in 2005. The contemporary worship service coupled with the traditional service was key to the success of becoming a leading church in the community.

Space in our new church building was very carefully planned in order to accommodate our growth. As a result, we have a larger sanctuary with areas for overflow, more Sunday School classrooms, a sacristy that enables those serving on altar care to more easily carry out their duties, a kitchen with the necessary appliances to provide church dinners, a fellowship hall that will accommodate our church dinners and other functions, and an enlarged preschool classroom and playground.

Although we were moving into a beautiful new building, there were still items that we needed but had not been funded. We sold the organ with the building at 12^th and Cedar. With budget constraints regarding our new building, there was much discussion about purchasing a new organ. The members felt that an organ was an integral part of our worship service but how was it going to be funded. From 2000-2002, money received from donations and memorial money enabled our congregation to purchase the $24,000 organ which played at our first service.

From 2002-2004, over $4000 from memorials and donations were collected and used for landscaping since this was not included in our original building cost. A handbell choir was added in 2007. A sister church in Omaha, Nebraska was disbanding and we were able to purchase their handbells for $5600. Our sanctuary has several large windows at the front but there was no stained glass. Many members felt a church needed to have stained glass windows so a fund was established. It took several years to raise the $35,000, but by 2008 the money was there due to memorials and donations and fundraising efforts such LWML dinners, with the proceeds contributed to the fund.

Although our fellowship hall was being used for many activities, it was limited in its use because of the “echo” of all the sound in the area. A $25,000 sound proofing system in 2008, and an approximately $10,000 sound system in 2009 now allows full use of the fellowship hall. Once again, these were not budgeted items, but rather were made possible through memorial money and donations.

Because of our larger facility, we have been blessed with new opportunities and programs. Our mid-week program was expanded in 2003 when we began our LOGOS program. During the 2008-2009 school year approximately 75 children attended LOGOS and over 35 dedicated adults volunteered each week.

Our fellowship hall has a stage and, with the addition of the sound system, can now be used for a variety of activities. The first musical presented was entitled 100% Chance of Rain and was performed by children in grades 1-8 who attended LOGOS. What a great production!

Our preschool has seen growth in enrollment since we moved into our new church building. Last year 80 families enrolled their children in our preschool classes. Only 9 families were members of our church. Of the remaining families, approximately 37 did not have a church home.

Faith has given seminary assistance to Ron Rather, a former member of our congregation and to Peter Lange, a former DCE of Faith. Both are now ordained ministers. Our church has the largest number of trained deacons and lay assistants of any church in the state. We have had 5 men and 4 women complete the intensive 2 year training since 2000. Their commitment to Bible study and being servants is evident in their activities in our church and other area churches when needed.

Footprints in Mission

Faith Lutheran Ottawa has been actively involved with missions. The footprints of Faith reach around the world. Many people have given support for missionaries like Roger and Alice Buck, missionaries to Togo, Africa. Roger was a member of Faith congregation. He graduated from college as a Director of Christian Education. He became interested in mission work and went to Togo as a missionary and now is a DCE in Wisconsin.

Faith has also supported the Garden City, Kansas mission, Lutheran Social Services, the Ottawa Ministerial Association, and the Lutheran Hour Ministries. Currently, Faith supports the Kansas District missionaries: Tom and Heidi Norton and their family. The Norton’s are missionaries to Guinea, West Africa.

Faith has also financially supported the following: Lutheran World Missions, Church of the Redeemer, Essex, England; Mission, India; LCMS World Relief, and Guinea—Kansas District partnership. Our footprints are also visible in Mexico where members helped build homes for those in need. Faith is an Ablaze! Congregation. This Synodical program will help us continue to reach out to our own community and around the world.

Faith provides support within the state of Kansas

Haskell LIGHT, a Lutheran student ministry at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS, provides a safe environment for students to explore, who they are and what they hope to become. Haskell LIGHT provides Bible study, a place to fellowship with friends, a quiet place to study, or a place where someone will simply listen.

Lutheran of the Good Shepherd in Kansas City, Missouri, is a ministry supporting both the African-American and Hispanic communities in the downtown Kansas City and the grater Kansas City urban area. Each year members of Faith Lutheran go to the Mission to work in their Christmas Store. Needed items are collected and taken to the Mission. In addition to physical help, funds are also donated to the Mission.

The Love Fund provides financial support to members and families in our area.

Hope House Christian Care Center: Hope House has a variety of services, including a Food Pantry, as well as other items, such as used clothing and home supplies. Hope House is a not-for-profit organization supported to a large degree by a few churches in the community, including Faith Lutheran. Over the last several years, we’ve had a campaign to provide food products for Hope House. Several of our members volunteer at Hope House to help distribute the food and other items to those in our community that need this help.

LifeCare Center in Ottawa: Our congregation supports Lutherans for Life and works with the local LifeCare Center for Women in Ottawa. For the past four years our church has taken part in the Baby Bottle Boomerang from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. The funds gathered help support and assist girls during pregnancy and after their children are born. Many of our members help clean the center and work at the center on a volunteer basis. Lutherans for Life is an organization that works to educate about abortion and post-abortion healing, end-of-life issues, bioethics, and family life with a biblical perspective. Our local chapter makes the LifeDate magazines available in the narthex and has educational information about all these issues at different times of the year.

Other areas of outreach where Faith has left footprints over the years, and continues to do so, include the following:

Prayer Chain: A significant Footprints for Faith Lutheran began in 1984. There were some long and severe illnesses which were of special concern and care in the congregation. Marji Harris and Kathy Graves began by calling members of the congregation to keep them informed of each situation. This began with about a dozen members. Over the years more and more members desired to be included, so a “Telephone Prayer Chain” was arranged in circle format. This meant that anyone could start a prayer by calling the next person in the chain, then they to the next, etc. until it came back to the person who had placed it. Since some worked outside the home, two “chains” were formed – the “Daytime Chain” and the “Evening Chain” so it could reach everyone more rapidly. Once e-mail came into existence members realized that they could be contacted much faster by this form of communication, so a list was set up for e-mail. Marvin and Wilma Brockschmidt and Marilyn Zimmerman volunteered to co-chair this listing on their home computers, receive the Prayer Request, and send it on via the e-mail listing. Most of the members receive the Prayer Request now in this manner, however, several who do not have e-mail access are still called by telephone and follow the chain in that way. Many of the Prayer Requests come through Faith Lutheran Church office, others come directly to the “Prayer Chain”, but each is approved for placement on the “Prayer Chain” by a personal or family contact. Today over seventy persons are involved in this ministry. Our gracious, loving God has blessed this Footprint in many ways, for which “Prayers of Thanks” are often included as well. If you are not receiving the “Prayer Requests” now and would like to be involved, please call either the Marvin Brockschmidts or Marilyn Zimmerman for placement on the listings.

Faith Ambassador: Each Sunday visitors to our church are greeted by members of the Ambassadors. These members do their best to make sure visitors (whether new or repeat) are identified and approached with friendly conversation. We want all visitors to have a God-praising, uplifting Worship Service at Faith Lutheran and we want them to walk out our doors with positive thoughts about their worship experience with us.

Youth: Christal Chapman served as the youth director, 2006-2010, and worked with the youth of our congregation with an emphasis on the middle school and high school. She held lock-ins for the youth, as well as other activities, for the past four years. She worked to get our youth involved with youth from other local youth groups. In addition to working with our youth, she helped maintain our website, www.faith-lutheran.net which serves to give information to others about our church and its activities.

Vacation Bible School: We hold a Vacation Bible School each year. For the last several years it has been one week in late July. Flyers and postcards are sent to all preschool families and flyers are passed out in the area around the church. This is an excellent outreach in our community.

Mexico Trip: In 1995, Sally and Mike Crane made a trip to Mexico to help build a home for those who were in need. In 1998, they went to Mexico and worked through the Ysleta Mission in El Paso, Texas, which is a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod mission church. They continued to help build a church in Juarez through the present time. In 1999, Pete Lange, the DCE for Faith, became interested in this project and worked with youth of Faith and the Cranes to build a house in Mexico working with the Amor Ministries which is based in San Diego and is a nondenominational organization that works with churches to find families for the house. Since 1999, the church has sent at lest one person each year representing our church to build housing. While there they work to minister to people in the area. They need someone who can speak Spanish to help talk to the people in Mexico. The last three years they have provided Bibles for the missions which were donated by Faith’s Saturday Morning Men’s Breakfast and Bible study. The Bibles are in Spanish. The family, for whom the house is built, is given a Bible as well as a quilt from the LWML. It is not very costly to make the trip and it gives all who go the opportunity to experience the international mission field.

Biker’s Sunday: In connection with the Christian Motorcycle Association, and anyone with a motorcycle, a dinner was held in 2008 after a church service in which lunch was provided in part by the Association and by pot luck contributions from members of Faith congregation.

In 2008 the congregation worked with Habitat for Humanity: Local Thrivent members, and others, made monetary donations, worked on the building of the home by providing physical labor, babysitting for workers, or food for lunch.

KOFO Radio: Each Sunday morning, our pastor provides a 15 minute devotional message along with Christian music. This message reaches out to people all across Ottawa and the Franklin County area.

LWML and LLL (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Lutheran Layman’s League): During the 1960’s – 1970’s Faith had a strong LLL group. The LWML has been a part of the congregation from its very beginning and still meets for mission outreach and providing for needs of the congregation

Quilting Ministry: Members make and distribute quilts to Hope House, Good Shepherd Mission, and Lutheran World Relief. The quilting group is addressing a need locally and around the world by supplying bedding for warmth to those who might otherwise have none.

Additional areas: Participation in the local annual CROP WALK is led by Dick Williams and members either walk or contribute to those who do walk. Participation in Bike Across Kansas is an event that several members attend. Funds are donated to the Children’s Christian Concern Society. Our facility is also available to service club meetings and other community activities.

Members of Faith have left many footprints over the last sixty-eight years and will continue to do so.