1953: The Beginning
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, a denomination founded by German immigrants with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
|
The roof of the "new building" is visable in the background.
|
The first mission chapel on Stanley Ave. was a prefabricated building purchased by the Northwest District of the LCMS for $10,000 from Carlton Lumber Company. The 2,200 square foot building was erected in one day with approximately 35 volunteer workers from local churches. The first congregation was composed of 27 people who sat on folding chairs, worshipped before a portable altar, and sang hymns accompanied by a borrowed reed organ. The congregation's first pastor was Rev. Herbert Schiefelbein who served from 1953-1959. From 1959 to 1967 Pastor Eugene M. Ludwig served the congregation. Ten years following the first service, 146 children and adults had been baptized, 150 children and adults were attending Sunday School and Bible classes, and there were 143 communicant members. |
1967-1976: Growth and Expansion
Beautiful Savior Milwaukie/Portland was served by Rev. Charles Roluffs from 1967 to 2001. This was a period of tremendous growth and change. The congregation outgrew the original prefabricated structure and built a new facility on the same site, which was dedicated in 1976. Construction was led by Ed Lucas under the Nehemiah 2:20 theme, Arise and Build. The old church pews were sold to a pizza parlor for $600. |
 |
Late 70s to Early 80s: A Drive for Missions
The Mission Committee was formed in 1978, following the groundwork of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League who first met in 1954 to support charity at home and abroad, and adopted a missionary family serving in India. In 1982, BSLC started support of Rev. Dan Kunkel, a missionary to Ghana. In 1983, Nelda Rupp and Fran Dutton were the first BSLC members to teach Vacation Bible School in Alaska for LAMP, Lutheran Association for Missionaries and Pilots. In the same year, BSLC began support to Steve Watkins in his work with the Navajo Indians in Arizona, and the first youth mission outreach to Neah Bay, Washington took place. The congregation committed a minimum of 10% of its annual budget to foreign and domestic missionaries and mission projects, and continues to do so today.
1979: A New Pastor, Youth Directors, and Worship Style
Rev. Mark Bertermann was installed as associate pastor. Pastor Mark is best remembered for implementing and leading a choir ministry known as the Hallelujah Chorus, where he was affectionately referred to as the "benevolent despot." The congregation also gained a full time youth worker during this period. Additionally, the congregation moved away from traditional Lutheran worship forms in the 1980's introducing a blended contemporary and traditional worship for both morning services.
Early 80s: Deepening Relationships
The first puppet show ministry was started as well as the first Create-a-Gift (a 2 day event to provide the community with opportunities to create homemade and affordable Christmas gifts). Two new social groups were started. One was the Young Marrieds for 30 and under and the other was the XYZ's which stood for "X-tra Years of Zest”. In 1979 the XYZ's beat the young marrieds in volleyball for the first time. In 1983, the first "No Talent” show was held featuring among others the "Staff Infection,” a singing group consisting of Pastors Mark and Chuck and church secretary Judy Bird. Also formed in 1983 was the "Jolly Jumpers,” a group of ladies who exercised to a long-playing record of gospel music, and heard a "Devotion in a Minute” from Trish Rondema. 1984 marked the first crooked river campout. The campout continues today with about 200 people camping out for a weekend every August.
1981: Preschool
BSLC begins a Pre-School program with Ingrid Merritt hired as teacher. The program continues today as an accredited program still led by Ingrid. |
 |
Late 80s: Continued Growth of Missions
The Mexico mission began in 1986, when 35 youth and adults went to Cerea Azul, Mexico to build shelters and teach Vacation Bible School, and continues today as an outreach to residents of Baja, Mexico. In 1985, members joined a summer teaching outreach to China, which Norm and Marie Wachlin participate in currently. In 1988, Members John and Trish Rondema went as missionaries to China, and later Nigeria. They concluded their oversees mission work in the summer of 2007. In 1989, BSLC member Don Ellecy goes to Venezuela to work in church administration.
Early 90s: Overwhelming Growth and a New Facility
 |
Clark Leighton who now holds the position of Director of Family Ministries, began as our youth director in 1995, and two new ministries began: Stephen Ministries, which continues today as a compassionate caring ministry to people who are encountering grief and other life challenges, and a Young Mom's Bible study which began with three ladies attending at the home of Dora Morrison. The group has expanded to three groups with a total of about 40 members.
The congregation continued to increase in size and struggled to deal with the continued growth. After considering an expansion of the Stanley Avenue facility, the members determined that the site was simply not large enough to accommodate the expected future growth of the congregation. The building committee began a property search and was able to locate a ten-acre site, which was completed in 1994, and serves as our current facility on 92nd Ave. in Portland. Construction was led under Keith Lucas, the son of Ed who headed the building of the previous facility twenty years earlier. Soon after the relocation worship attendance was averaging between 500 and 600 a week with a record 1000+ worshipers on Easter in three services. It was always a prayer of Pastor Roluffs' that the debt would be paid off quickly. Within seven years of moving into the new facility the debt was paid in full, and he was able to burn the mortgage during his last sermon in 2001. |
2002-2004: New Pastor
After nearly 34 years of service to the congregation, Pastor Roluffs retired from full time ministry in 2001. In 2002 the congregation called Pastor Pete Luedemann as its lead pastor. Pastor Bertermann received and accepted a call to Kennewick Washington, concluding his 25-year ministry to the congregation in December 2004.
2005-2007: Vision and Change
World Missions: A continued emphasis on missions gives way to trips to New Orleans in 2006 and 2007 as well as several young adults involved in missions to Africa.
Community Outreach: Pastor Bill Fischer was called in 2006 as our Pastor of Community Ministry, and leads an increased emphasis on outreach and social concerns, including serving the homeless weekly and inviting people to question and learn about Christ through a new program called Alpha.
Church Family: In 2005, the 40 days of purpose program involved 150 people in small groups. This led the way to a new emphasis on community and small group discipleship and to the hiring of a new position called Director of Discipleship, which was filled by Annaliesa Tomac in 2006. Plans for several new groups are under way to begin in September, 2007.
Children: The fall of 2006 marked the beginning of a new program called Adventures in the Vine, which provides children with new opportunities to serve, learn, worship, and care for each other. It was birthed out of a Community Action Team, Then handed to our Intern of Children's Ministry Kendra Hoover (2005-07) Trish Rondema was hired in September of 2007 as our Director of Children's Ministry.
Worship: An evening service has been added which focuses on a more personal and participatory worship experience in a contemporary, relaxed, and informal setting.