Pastor Molstre met with this group on December 10, 1975. He explained the doctrines and policies of the AFLC and answered questions raised by the group. They were so favorably impressed when they learned that the AFLC believed the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God that they decided to align themselves with the AFLC. Pastor Strand conducted the first service on March 7, 1976, in what was known as the Evangelical Congregational Church with nineteen people in attendance. He also conducted the next service on Palm Sunday. On May 14, 1976, the group again met and held serious discussion as to the possibility of continuing with efforts to organize. During the next year, the fledgling congregation had services every Sunday with pastors and laymen from the surrounding areas. The Tioga church provided generous help when it was badly needed. During this time, Pastor Elden Nelson of the Home Mission Board visited several times and gave the help and inspiration, so necessary, during this formative period.
In answer to the many prayers for a full time pastor, the Lord was fit to send Elden Nelson in June 1977. Pastor Nelson was installed as pastor on August 28 of that year.
The articles of Incorporation of Our Savior's was completed in August 1977. The following 26 charter members signed the original charter of the church: Henrietta Beneke, Mary Burmeister, Rex and Ann Cook, Leonard and Viola Gabbert, Roger and Alice Gabbert, Norman and Vonda Haakenson, Eckhart and Della Heid, Roger and Diane Johnson, August and Florence Kuntz, Pastor Elden and Faith Nelson, Robert and UnaMae Penne, Harold and Caroline Peterson, Jack and Judy Rustan, and Sam and Rose Walth.
July 9, 1978 marked the dedication of the first permanent place of worship at 229 Third Street West. The prayers, gifts, labor and financial assistance from the membership made it possible to buy the church building without outside assistance. The Reverend John Strand gave the dedicatory message. A radio broadcast ministry also originated in July 1978.
David C. Moistre was installed as pastor of Our Saviour's by the Reverend Richard Snipstead, new AFLC President, on August 12, 1979. In September of that year, remodeling of the original sanctuary and an addition to the church began. Dedication of this facility took place on April 27, 1980, with Pastor Richard Snipstead and Elden Nelson officiating.
Our Saviour's Church praises the Lord for many evidences of His blessings over the years. In November 1980 the congregation voted to be self-supporting. From this time Our Saviour's was no longer a mission church and received no additional subsidy from the Home Missions of the AFLC.
The 20th Annual Conference of the AFLC convened on the campus of Dickinson State College in June 1982. Delegates from sister congregations across the nation joined us for this milestone.
Kerwin Sletto, the first of our members to enter the ministry, was ordained here by Pastor Snipstead on August 14, 1983. Del Palmar, also a graduate seminarian of 1983, served as student in our parish for six months beginning in June of that year. Terry Wold worked one summer as a pastoral aide. Others serving in our pastoral office include: Reverends Al Monson, James Asp, Terry Olson, Mel Meyer, Clyde Grier, Harold Reitz, and Noel Vold.
Due to ever increasing attendance, our congregation recognized the need for building a larger church as early as 1981, and appointed a building committee. A steering committee began looking from appropriate sites. In December 1982, the church purchased land on 11th Street East. In May 1984, the congregation voted to begin building the new church. Immanuel Baptist bought the original property in June and we began to share that facility with them.
A large contingent of members and friends attended the groundbreaking on July 3, 1984, as we invoked God's blessing on the work ahead. Construction began and continued throughout the winter months.
February 3, 1985 marked our first worship service in this new sanctuary. We dedicated this building to God's glory, the salvation of souls, and the edification of the believers. Subsequently, the mortgage burning ceremony was conducted on June 29, 1997. Our desire is that we will not only reach out to our community with the message of the gospel but also to the ends of the earth.
We give thee but Thine own,
What'er the gift may be:
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.
-William W. How
Of Thine own have we given Thee. 1 Chronicles 29:14
