Mission Statement:

"To reach out lovingly to all people to provide them the means to develop and sustain a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the leading of the Spirit."

History:
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded on the 6th Sunday after Trinity, 7th Sunday after Pentecost, July 19, 1857, with 14 voting members. Three were elected as elders - Carl Backhaus, Fred Steigly, and Conrad Popp. Conrad Popp also was to serve as treasurer. Candidate Fred R. Tramm was chairman. A week later the membership increased by six. The pastor's salary was $200 per year, by August 1863 it was raised to $300.

In one of the first meetings of the voters, the question was brought up whether ladies could be accepted as members. There seemed to be no opposition to the idea. However, according to the records, only about three availed themselves of the opportunity within the first ten years after the founding of the congregation.

Soon after its founding the Civil War began. Searching the records for any mention of the war, we found a request by the government in 1861 for prayers for the country. There were no records of casualties.