Throughout the late 1980’s and early 1990’s a team of pastors and congregational leaders met to determine how best to reach the growing population of the city of Sioux Falls. At that time it was determined that a new congregation needed to be developed on the far northeast corner of Sioux Falls. Hence, the “Northeast Sioux Falls Mission Development” was born. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America called Rev. Bill Tesch in April of 1992 to begin gathering this new congregation.
At the same time that the planning for the new congregation was proceeding, Messiah Lutheran Church on North Cliff avenue was contemplating its future in ministry. The neighborhood around Messiah Lutheran had changed from mostly residential to mostly commercial and light industrial. This meant that the long-term growth prospects for this small congregation were likely to diminish over time. That’s when leaders from Messiah Lutheran approached the South Dakota Synod of the ELCA to inquire about the possibility of joining forces with the new mission development on the Northeast Side. The value of such a partnership was clear. Messiah Lutheran could bring a core of committed Christian leaders to help get the new development get off to a healthy start. The sale of the Messiah Lutheran property could be used to underwrite the high cost of land in the fast growing neighborhood where the new church would be located. So it was soon decided that Messiah Lutheran would close its doors on Sunday, September 27th, 1992 and the remaining members would be invited to worship with the new mission development the following week. “Northeast Sioux Falls Mission Development” became “Messiah New Hope Lutheran Church.”
The work began in earnest in late June of 1992. Meetings with community, school and civic leaders were conducted to learn about the unique needs of families in the service area. Rev. Tesch knocked on over 2000 doors throughout the northeast side of Sioux Falls inviting people to “come and see” what this new church was all about. Members of Messiah Lutheran followed up with those who showed interest by carrying homemade bread to their doors with the simple message “We hope you find spiritual nourishment at Messiah New Hope.” Many people were coming from no church background or from having been away from church for a long time. A small team of people who expressed an early interest in the new church were invited to serve as the “Dream Team.” Their job was to provide leadership by envisioning what God was calling this new church to become. The team met throughout the summer and designed this mission statement “Messiah New Hope invites all people to come and experience the joy of new hope through Jesus Christ, and Messiah New Hope prepares and equips totally devoted followers of Jesus who live in the joy of his love and who share his love with everyone.” The dream team decided that the mission statement meant that the church would be open to all people regardless of gender, age, race, disability, class or sexual orientation. The team also gave shape and character to the style and format of the first worship services and helped plan and carryout several events including a story-telling festival, a concert and a carnival.
Finally, after months of door knocking, bread baking, inviting, planning and praying Messiah New Hope celebrated its first worship service on October 4th 1992. The services were conducted in a tent on the grounds of the Children’s Home Society. Subsequent worship services would be conducted in the Society’s cafeteria. There were over 220 people in attendance, most of which were well-wishers from area congregations. The following week around 70 people came to worship and these 70 people became the core group for the congregation that is here today. Many of these early leaders are still active members of this church The rest of the story could encompass an entire volume, so you are invited to join us in writing the next chapter in the story!
At the same time that the planning for the new congregation was proceeding, Messiah Lutheran Church on North Cliff avenue was contemplating its future in ministry. The neighborhood around Messiah Lutheran had changed from mostly residential to mostly commercial and light industrial. This meant that the long-term growth prospects for this small congregation were likely to diminish over time. That’s when leaders from Messiah Lutheran approached the South Dakota Synod of the ELCA to inquire about the possibility of joining forces with the new mission development on the Northeast Side. The value of such a partnership was clear. Messiah Lutheran could bring a core of committed Christian leaders to help get the new development get off to a healthy start. The sale of the Messiah Lutheran property could be used to underwrite the high cost of land in the fast growing neighborhood where the new church would be located. So it was soon decided that Messiah Lutheran would close its doors on Sunday, September 27th, 1992 and the remaining members would be invited to worship with the new mission development the following week. “Northeast Sioux Falls Mission Development” became “Messiah New Hope Lutheran Church.”
The work began in earnest in late June of 1992. Meetings with community, school and civic leaders were conducted to learn about the unique needs of families in the service area. Rev. Tesch knocked on over 2000 doors throughout the northeast side of Sioux Falls inviting people to “come and see” what this new church was all about. Members of Messiah Lutheran followed up with those who showed interest by carrying homemade bread to their doors with the simple message “We hope you find spiritual nourishment at Messiah New Hope.” Many people were coming from no church background or from having been away from church for a long time. A small team of people who expressed an early interest in the new church were invited to serve as the “Dream Team.” Their job was to provide leadership by envisioning what God was calling this new church to become. The team met throughout the summer and designed this mission statement “Messiah New Hope invites all people to come and experience the joy of new hope through Jesus Christ, and Messiah New Hope prepares and equips totally devoted followers of Jesus who live in the joy of his love and who share his love with everyone.” The dream team decided that the mission statement meant that the church would be open to all people regardless of gender, age, race, disability, class or sexual orientation. The team also gave shape and character to the style and format of the first worship services and helped plan and carryout several events including a story-telling festival, a concert and a carnival.
Finally, after months of door knocking, bread baking, inviting, planning and praying Messiah New Hope celebrated its first worship service on October 4th 1992. The services were conducted in a tent on the grounds of the Children’s Home Society. Subsequent worship services would be conducted in the Society’s cafeteria. There were over 220 people in attendance, most of which were well-wishers from area congregations. The following week around 70 people came to worship and these 70 people became the core group for the congregation that is here today. Many of these early leaders are still active members of this church The rest of the story could encompass an entire volume, so you are invited to join us in writing the next chapter in the story!
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