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Messiah Lutheran Church’s History
It all began in 1948 when a group of Missouri Synod Lutherans banded together in North Hollywood, California to establish a place where they could meet and hear God’s Word in Christian fellowship. Reverend Alvin Wagner conducted their first church service in a house diagonally across the street from Messiah’s present location. There they continued to meet until the attendance grew so large that they chose a new location—the Lankershim Theater. At that time, the church group was called Roscoe Lutheran.
Under the leadership of the first full-time pastor, Reverend C. Kringel, this group was incorporated on July 7, 1949, into the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod as Messiah Lutheran.
In 1950, the acreage on the corner lot of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Cantara was bought by the Missouri Synod Mission Board for approximately $15,000, and around $20,000 was set aside for the church building. Plans were drawn; one contractor and one supervisor were hired. With volunteer labor supplied by church members, this group worked seven days a week until the building was finished, except for the roof. (The roof was considered too risky for untrained workers to build and so professionals were called in to complete this task.)
And in 1952, the chapel was ready to be used. At the dedication the cornerstone was implanted. In it, are articles of then current importance and interest, such as church bulletins, photos of members, and a copy of the Los Angeles Times of that day.
As Messiah Lutheran saw new faces come and go, Reverend Schmook, Reverend Busch, Reverend McMurdie, Reverend Hugo Warnke and Reverend R.H. Goettchen, the Missouri Synod also showed a news face, one of doctrinal controversy and spiritual upheaval. In 1964, Pastor Goettchen charged the synod with false doctrine, tolerating unionism and other infractions to the synod constitution. The Missouri Synod denied it all and refused to mend its ways, so Messiah was left with the only option to resign from the synod.
Breaking from the Missouri Synod was both a traumatic and extreme move. This meant that Messiah would have to pay off the entire mortgage indebtedness before they could claim the church property as their own. A massive fund raising effort was organized and Messiah members successfully raised the necessary funds before the set deadline by the Missouri Synod. The money raised was about $10,000, a huge sum at that time, equal to more than $50,000 in today’s money.
For awhile, Messiah stood as an independent Lutheran Church. It was in the service of the Reverend Robert Neumann in 1973, that Messiah Lutheran Church decided to join the fellowship of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), having found the doctrine and practice to be scripturally sound. In 1977, Pastor Neumann also helped a group of members living in the Santa Clarita Valley to the north hold services. This group then became the nucleus of the now Calvary Lutheran Church of Canyon Country. Charter member Walter Schulze recalled having over 100 children in Sunday School attendance during the early 1970s.
In 1978, Reverend Luther Weindorf was installed as pastor at Messiah Lutheran and also at sister congregation, Calvary Lutheran in Canyon Country.
On May 1, 1983 members woke up that morning to find out that their church had suffered considerable damage from a devastating arson fire. Apparently, two vandals broke into the church, robbed it and then set it afire as they left. The building was half destroyed, costing over $85,000 dollars in damages. Despite the catastrophe, God’s Word was still proclaimed each Sunday as services were held in various locations—member’s homes and the back multi-purpose room. Walter Schulze and Sid Halvorsen, representatives of the church council, were directly involved in the repair process of the chapel. Fortunately, the insurance policy, as well as, many generous gifts paid for most of the repairs. It took approximately 9 months to rebuild. The following year, the church was rebuilt and rededicated that spring.
As the church progressed to include many families, strong sentiments were expressed by members of Messiah Church to open a parochial school. It was decided in the summer of 1979 to open a day school in 1981. Plans for remodeling were started as funding efforts began with the establishment of the Kenneth Greger Memorial Fund, named in memory of Erwin and Lorna Greger’s son. Erwin Greger served as Messiah’s organist and his wife Lorna served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. Gordon Hillberg also played a leading role in the school planning as School Board Chairman.
In 1981, Messiah Lutheran School opened its doors to the children of the church and the community of the San Fernando Valley. Thomas Weindorf, Pastor Luther Weindorf’s son, served as the school’s very first teacher. The school opened in September, grades 1-8th, with fifteen students. On June 10, 1982, Messiah Lutheran School’s first graduate was Hans Weindorf, Pastor Weindorf’s youngest son.
In 1984, Dan and Kristi Bredendick were installed as Messiah’s two new teachers with the departure of Thomas Weindorf. School enrollment continued to rise over the years. In 1986, Kindergarten was added to the school.
With a full classroom of 21 students, it became quite clear that another classroom was needed. Again, solely by the grace of God, another step was fulfilled, namely the building of a two-classroom and office area in the corner lot of Messiah’s property on Cantara. This building was dedicated to the service of God on January 18, 1987, with an outdoor barbeque dinner—approximately 150 people attended. The new school building was built at the cost of around $82,000 and seats 40 students comfortably.
In 1996, Pastor John Moll was installed as Messiah’s pastor with the retirement of Pastor Luther Weindorf. He was also installed as pastor to Messiah’s sister congregation, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Tarzana, California.
In 2002, former Messiah School graduate Joanna Gusman was installed as a teacher. And, in 2003, Tim Biesterfeld was installed as Messiah’s principal—replacing Dan and Kristi Bredendick.
A blessed surge of numbers in enrollment required Messiah School to open up a third classroom. In that same year, Messiah School began a Development Kindergarten (K4) program. This program accepts enrollment for students who are four-years-old and helps them prepare for kindergarten. Kelly Wardell was then installed as Messiah’s third classroom teacher.
In 2008, Messiah welcomed three new staff members. Pastor Sean De Frain was installed on July 6, 2008—replacing Pastor Moll, who served Messiah for 12 years. Principal Chris Treder and teacher Stephanie Jones were installed on July 20, 2008—with the departure of Tim Biesterfeld and Kelly Wardell.
Messiah Church and School has been blessed and continues to be blessed by God! |