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History Olivet Beacon of Light Lutheran Church

Open House: January 19-20, 2008

1949-2008

Why

a

Lighthouse? The lighthouse design

is based on Olivet’s mission

statement: “Sharing the

Light and the Love of our

Lord.” We chose the light-

house because we believe

that God has called us as a

church to be a lighthouse

of His love, forgiveness and grace. We are to be a beacon of God’s mercy, peace and love to

all people who are feeling alone and lost in this world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

The lighthouse is an eight-sided structure. In the Bible the number eight is considered the

number above perfection; it is the number of Christ. The number eight symbolizes resurrec-

tion and a new beginning. A cross is the central focus of the lighthouse. It reminds us to pro-

claim to all people that Jesus Christ is the light of the world - that because of God’s mercy and

grace in Jesus Christ we can experience a new life, a new beginning.

On the brink of foreclosure -

Olivet “Beacon of Light” grows Eyes glistened as people

reflected on what could have

been the end of Olivet Luther-

an Church. Just 14 years earli-

er, delinquent in its mortgage

payments, the church faced

foreclosure.

Against that

backdrop, the

January 6,

2008 service

thanking God

and dedicat-

ing the new

house of wor-

ship and

prayer was

all the more glorious.

Congregational members

are in awe of the new, 2007

addition praising it as a gift

from God, especially members

who wondered if it could ever

happen. In 1994, the church

was delinquent in its mortgage

payments and struggled to pay

other bills. A team was formed

to turn things around. At that

time Lutheran Brotherhood

ABOVE: During a special dedication service on January 6, 2008, the congre-gation spent time in remembrance and thanksgiving for the 19 years spent in the 1989 sanctuary. LEFT: The new sanc-tuary is dedicated and the congrega-tion prays for God’s presence as a bea-con of light to guide, lead and bless us. In the new architecture, each window has a cross.

Page Olivet “Beacon of Light” Lutheran Church

was holding off foreclosure

because we were in the pro-

cess of calling a new pastor.

From 1993-95, Olivet had an

interim pastor, Rev. Jean

Kloss, and in June, 1995, Rev.

David J. Baldukas became the

church’s permanent pastor.

Since that time, the

church has experienced revi-

talization and remarkable

growth. At the time of feared

foreclosure, there were 125

families who were part of

Olivet; today that number has

more than tripled to over 400.

In fact, Olivet is one of the fast-

est growing ELCA (Evangelical

Lutheran Church in America)

churches in La Crosse. As

pointed out by a member,

“The ‘rags to riches’ story un-

derscores the importance of

living by faith and trusting in

God’s promises.”

The 2007 addition fea-

tures a one-of-a-kind light-

house as its central theme.

Why a lighthouse? After

prayerful discernment in

1998, Olivet chose “Sharing

the Light and Love of Our Lord”

as its mission statement. That

mission and the fact that the

church is located on an island

made a lighthouse an easy

icon. “We chose the lighthouse

because we believe that God

has called us as a church to be

a lighthouse of His love, for-

giveness and grace,” explains

Pastor Dave. “We are to be a

Page 2

As you enter the main doors of the 2007

addition you will notice three beams over-

head. These three beams represent the triune

God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Please no-

tice the lower ceiling as you first enter the

building and then the overhead cross that

introduces a large overhead expanse. This

opening symbolizes how our relationship with

God through Jesus Christ will open an incredi-

ble future that God has planned for us, a life

with a future, a life with purpose and mean-

ing.

At the top of the expanse are 14 win-

dows – seven on each end of the opening.

The number seven in the Bible denotes spir-

itual perfection. It means divine fullness, completeness and totality. With the two sets of

seven windows, it means double completion. We are reminded as we look upon the

cross that the divine fullness of God has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ. To be spiritu-

ally complete is to be in relationship with Jesus.

As you look up at the cross, look at the tile work on the floor. You are standing in the

center of a large cross. You are also standing within three circles which stand for our tri-

une God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The circle represents the eternal relationship we

have with our God and all believers. The outer ring is made up of small tiles in sets of 10

which represent the Ten Commandments, the Law of God. These laws form the bounda-

ries in which God wants us to live our lives. The next set of tiles moving inward is a circle

of 44. The 44 stands for 22 doubled. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and

Psalm 22 begins with Jesus’ last words on the cross. It reminds us that Jesus is the Messi-

ah, the one who was prophesied to come and save the people of God. The next circle of

tiles is set in a pattern of eight. In the Bible the number eight is considered the number of

perfection, it is

the number of

Christ. Hence,

it is the number

specially associ-

ated with Res-

urrection, and

Regeneration,

and the begin-

ning of our new

life in Christ.

Much symbolism in new architecture

Sharing the Light and Love of Our Lord

beacon of God’s mer-

cy, peace and love to

all people who are

feeling alone and lost

in this world. Jesus

said, ‘I am the light of

the world. Whoever

follows me will not

walk in darkness, but

will have the light of

life,’ John 8:12.”

Throughout the

architectural design

by Brickl Brothers, of

West Salem, the

Christian theme of

crosses appear in the light-

house, the windows, the walls

and the lights. In fact, at night,

the central lighthouse cross is

illuminated as are five crosses

in the windows below it. Even

the tile design in the new nar-

thex is filled with Christian

symbolism.

The $1.4 million addition,

which more than doubles the

size of Olivet, features a new,

266-person sanctuary, an ex-

panded narthex, nursery,

kitchen, youth room, offices

and rest rooms. The former

150-person capacity sanctu-

ary, used by the church for the

past 19 years, has become a

fellowship hall and classroom

space. The kitchen and youth

rooms off the fellowship hall

were erected almost exclu-

sively with volunteer labor.

“I feel incredibly blessed

to serve God with our commu-

nity of faith at Olivet,” says

Pastor Dave. “These are won-

derful, caring people who

know that the most important

thing is to keep our focus on

the cross of Jesus Christ and

proclaim Jesus as Lord of our

lives in word and deed.”

Olivet’s average weekly wor-

ship attendance has grown

from 114 in 1995 to 281 in

2007, an increase of 146 per-

cent.

The first wall goes up for the new kitchen. From left Mike Marshall, Bob Hembd, Harold Yeske, Garry Hensley, Frank Gerken, and Doug Kendhammer.

A crane lifts the eight-foot lighthouse cap by the cross and moves it into posi-tion September 14, 2007. Since Olivet is on the flight path for the La Crosse Municipal Airport, a runway was temporarily closed.

Olivet “Beacon of Light” Lutheran Church

Groundbreaking for

the new construction occurred

on Easter Sunday, April 8,

2007 with the new sanctuary

completed for Christmas Eve

services that year. A record

599 people worshiped Christ-

mas Eve and Christmas Day, a

165 percent increase over

1995.

Humble beginnings

Olivet was organized on

May 18, 1949 with 18 families.

Groundbreaking ceremonies

for the first church, located at

1745 Caroline

Street, were con-

ducted on July 23,

1949. Made possi-

ble almost entirely

through volunteer

labor, the first

church, made of

cinder block , was

built for about

$12,000 through a

grant-in-aid from

the Evangel-

ical Luther-

an Church.

Alva Bors-

heim, local

building

contractor

and a char-

ter member

of the

church,

served as

contractor.

According

to charter members Fred Cea-

son and Dorothy Wheeler,

members and non-members

pitched in to build the church.

“In those days, everybody

helped everybody else,” said

Ceason.

In the beginning, Olivet

had part-time pastors. Dr. C.O.

Pederson of Trinity Lutheran

Church, La Crosse, served as

the first pastor and was suc-

ceeded by Reverend Maynard

Midthun of First Lutheran

Church, Onalaska. Church ser-

vices were held on Sunday

evenings. The baptized mem-

bership was 116. The 1950

budget was $1,704.

In the original church, a

small kitchen was equipped

with two apartment-size

stoves. A major fundraiser at

the time was serving food at

the county fair, then located

on what is today the grounds

of the University of Wisconsin-

La Crosse. Under a big tent,

members spent days at the fair

serving such things as pan-

cakes and sausage, soups and

barbeques. “Everybody volun-

teered,” said Ceason.

In the early years, Olivet

had a Board of Deacons whose

job it was “to assist the Pastor

with the spiritual matters of

the congregation.” There also

was a Lutheran Brotherhood

consisting of men of the

church. “While they must be

concerned about the basic task

of saving souls, they have done

much to complete the church,”

President Donald Dagendesh

wrote in 1951. The women’s

The altar of the Caroline St. church in 1954.

A major church fundraiser was serving food at the County Fair.


group was known as the La-

dies’ Aide.

By 1953 the number of

baptized members grew to

213 and the annual budget

was $3,115. There was also a

“Church Beautiful” committee

which did many of the things

the Worship Team does today.

First full-time pastor

After Reverend H.S. Babington

arrived as Olivet’s first full-

time pastor, the congregation

built a parsonage in 1954. Pas-

tor Babington made house

calls to encourage attendance

and growth in the church. Cea-

son recalls the story of one

parishioner who said “he

couldn’t come to church be-

cause he didn’t have a suit.

‘You can have mine,’ Babing-

ton told him and he gave the

man his only suit.”

Once a parsonage was

built, the basement was used

for Sunday School classes.

Children from throughout the

Island were welcome. In the

midst of the Baby Boom years,

the Sunday School swelled to

150. Children with perfect at-

tendance were given a Bible.

“There weren’t very many Bi-

bles on the Island in those

days,” said Ceason.

In 1955, Babington wrote,

“In rare instances, a few are

privileged to see the profound

change which begins to take

place as people ‘let go and let

God’…You see, progress is only

progress, when the individual

moves closer to Christ. And as

we move closer to Christ we

are assured that

we will never

fail.” By 1957,

Olivet moved to

two Sunday ser-

vices; baptized

members grew

to 375 and the

church had annual budget of

$7,551.

New location by I-90

The original church could

accommodate 100 and the

church was rapidly outgrow-

ing its space. In 1956, the Fed-

eral-aid Highway Act was

passed paving the way for the

Dwight D. Eisenhower System

of Interstate Highways. I-90

would come through French

Island. With foresight, the con-

gregation purchased 3.5 acres

of land at 2100 Bainbridge and

began plans for a new church.

In July, 1959 Rev. Jorgen Vaa-

ge was called to serve Olivet.

In 1960 membership swelled

to 439 and on January 24,

Place holder

The first Olivet Lutheran Church built of cinder blocks in 1949 at 1745 Caroline St.

A 1960s confirmation class with Pastor Vaage. Some of these people are still members of Olivet today.


1960 the congrega-

tion voted to con-

struct a new

church. In the 1961

annual report, Pas-

tor Vaage wrote “It

is your pastor’s

prayer that Olivet

will always look to

the guidance of the

Holy Spirit as Olivet

moves ahead in this

community…As we

look ahead to the

construction of In-

terstate 90 it is not

hard to imagine

that Olivet will

grow as French Is-

land grows.”

The new $70,000

structure began in the fall

of 1961 with the new

church dedicated on Palm

Sunday, April 15, 1962. It

included a new sanctuary,

kitchen, classrooms, meet-

ing and office space. Olivet

was able to secure loans

through three sister con-

gregations in Wisconsin:

Cooksville Lutheran

Church, Evansville; Im-

manuel-Trinity Lutheran

Church, Fond du Lac; and

Utica Lutheran Church, Mt.

Sterling. In 1961, Olivet

was known as “The Church

of French Island.” The new

church was built under the

direction of the Depart-

ment of American Missions

of the American Lutheran

Church.

By 1962, baptized mem-

bership grew to 504. Ann

(Dagendesh) and Gene

Wuensch were the first couple

married in the new church. In

1964, the Greeters program

initiated a new tradition that

continues today where greet-

ers welcome those coming to

worship.

While sewer and water

are taken for granted in 2007,

according to the 1965 annual

report it wasn’t until then that

sewer was installed in the par-

sonage “and the next job is to

have it installed in the church.”

When a historical flood rav-

aged the La Crosse area in

Ann (Dagendesh) and Gene Wuensch were the first couple married in the original sanctuary at 2100 Bainbridge.

The original church at 2100 Bainbridge was built in 1961-62 . It was Olivet’s second sanctuary until 1989 when it was converted to a fellowship hall. Plagued with struc-tural roof problems and termite damage the building was razed for the 2007 addi-


1965, Olivet was a center of

community outreach.

After 1965, membership

dipped at Olivet and in 1967

President Joe Bonk wrote,

“Though we are not as yet self-

sustaining, we are gaining

strength, and only through the

efforts and desires of all,

working together in unity, will

we continue to grow and be

able, in time, to stand on our

own.”

New bell tower

By June 1968, Olivet wel-

comed its sixth pastor, Rev.

James Steinbrecher who

served until November, 1971.

On Nov. 17, 1968 he lead the

dedication service for the bell

tower that stood at the site

until the summer of 2007. “For

hundreds of years, bells have

been used to call people to

worship God,” states the dedi-

cation program of 1968. “They

remain to remind us that

God’s voice shall never be qui-

et.” The bell tower symbolized

a union of old and new.

The bell, cast in 1893, was

first used at the Lower French

Island School, Dist. No. 6.

When the school was torn

down, Olivet bought it and lat-

er built the bell tower so the

bell tolled every Sunday to

remind people to come to

worship. With the 2007 kitch-

en expansion, the bell tower

was razed. The bell is being

refurbished and plans are un-

derway for a new bell tower in

the future.

From March 1, 1972

through August, 1973, Rev.

Norwood Knutson served at

Olivet and during that time the

congregation became self-

supporting and no longer re-

quired mission support. The

church’s annual budget was

$26,937.

Rev. David Guetzke came to

Olivet Nov. 1, 1973. When the

church celebrated its 25th an-

niversary on September 15,

1974, there were approxi-

mately 145 families in the

membership. The parsonage

was sold in 1976 and the

1970s Confirmation class with Pastor David Guetzke.

A children’s sermon with Pastor Sue in the 1962 sanctuary.


church began providing the

pastor a housing allowance.

Throughout the 70s the annu-

al baptized membership aver-

aged 479.

From 1982 to 1987, Rev.

Susan B. Sheffer served the

congregation. The congrega-

tion and Sunday School grew,

overcrowding ensued and the

need to expand church facili-

ties became uncomfortably

apparent. A mobile home was

moved in to provide tempo-

rary classroom space. Presi-

dent William Howard wrote in

his 1987 report, “As of this

coming June, 1988, we have

run out of time to have the

mobile home on our property

to use for classroom space…It

is my sincere desire to see a

new sanctuary built… I believe

if we all work together hard

enough and willingly enough,

it will happen.”

On November 8, 1987, the

congregation voted to engage

Gary Kastner

of Architec-

tural Design

to initiate

Phase I of a

building feasi-

bility. Rev.

Elizabeth

Stempinski

came to

Olivet in 1988

and a new

$175,000 ad-

dition was

dedicated

April 16,

1989. It

brought a

new sanctuary, narthex, coat

room, rest rooms and office

space.

Faces foreclosure

The early 1990s brought

struggles and uncertainty at

Olivet. There weren’t enough

funds to pay the bills and the

church stopped reaching be-

yond its borders in benevo-

lence. By 1994, Olivet faced

foreclosure.

In 1993, Rev. Jean Cowdery

Kloss was appointed by Bish-

op April Larson to serve as an

interim pastor. In her 1994

annual report to the congrega-

tion, Pastor Kloss wrote,

“From struggle, when it is

Cookies—always a treat for Sunday School children and many others. Bev Harper and the late Doris Aiken make cookies in the kitchen that served Olivet from 1962 to March, 2007 when this part of the building was razed. The cupboards were saved and installed in the 2007 kitchen.

Sunday School classes were held for 45 years in classrooms in the original church at 2100 Bainbridge.


open and honest, the leader-

ship of Olivet this year has

found hope, in itself, in the

congregation, and in God…we

have been able to return to

two worship services (in Sep-

tember), our education pro-

grams have become an inte-

gral part of the life of the con-

gregation and the call commit-

tee has been able to begin its

work in seeking a permanent

pastor…During this year there

has been much prayer during

our struggles, and I believe we

are seeing good results – not

perfection – but good results

in the life and future of the

Olivet congregation.” The

church had begun to reach be-

yond its borders and incre-

mentally grew in benevolence.

In June, 1995 , Rev. David J.

Baldukas was called to serve

at Olivet. In his first annual

report he wrote, “It’s hard to

believe that Lisa, the girls and

I have been at Olivet for over

half a year. We are so thankful

that God has called us to Olivet

to serve with you in the mis-

sion work of the kingdom. We

have been greeted with

warmth and love by all of

you.” He expressed thanks to

the many volunteers for their

hard work. “We have many

people who move quickly in

the shadows rather than the

limelight in order to accom-

plish God’s work…We have

pulled together as a group of

Christian families to meet our

annual church budget. We end

the fiscal year of 1995 in the

black.” The annual budget was

$95,565.

Membership grows

The financial condition of

the church continued to im-

prove in 1996 as membership

grew by 10 percent and wor-

ship attendance increased by

23%. Outreach also grew.

Among the needs supported

by Olivet were Causeway, New

Horizons, the La Crosse

Thanksgiving Dinner, world

hunger, Sugar Creek, St. Clare

Soup and sandwich suppers are always popular at Olivet especially during Lent. This is in the original 1962 structure that didn’t have central air and de-pended on individual room cooling units.

On the left is the original 1962 structure and on the right the 1989 addition.


Health Mission, the Onalaska

Food Basket and WAFER.

Olivet also responded with a

caring tree at Christmas and

provided $700 worth of hats,

mittens and jackets to children

at Summit Elementary School.

It also provided monies to the

ELCA for missionaries, Luther-

an World Relief, social minis-

tries and ELCA colleges and

seminaries.

1997 was the inaugural

year for the Men’ Bible Break-

fast with Pastor Dave as the

cook. Men still gather on Fri-

day mornings at 6:30am for

breakfast, fellowship and to

study the lesson for that week-

end’s worship. There are also

Bible studies at 9 am on

Wednesday and Sunday morn-

ings with more planned for

2008.

Since the late 1990s, many

enhancements have been

made in the music program,

an integral part of worship at

Olivet. In 1998, Saturday even-

ing services began during the

summer months and by the

following year were a regular

occurrence. By 2002, in addi-

tion to paper bulletins, ser-

vices were projected over-

head. In the fall of 2005, an 8

am Heritage Worship was

added. Each week Olivet offers

three different worship oppor-

tunities. On Saturdays at 5:30

pm (“blended” worship),

Sundays at 8 am (“classic”

worship), and Sundays at

10am (“celebration” worship).

In 1998 Olivet adapted its

mission statement as well as

statements of its vision and

values. The Vision Statement

has three very important

parts: WELCOME, EMPOWER

and SENT OUT.

After we have been wel-

comed and empowered by

God, He directs us to go out

into the world to help hurting

people and to transform lives

spiritually.

As early as 1998, people

were asking Pastor Dave when

the church would begin a

building program. With future

expansion to the east in mind,

additional land was purchased

in 1999.

In 2001, the congregation

joined the nation in mourning

the tragic events of September

11, re-examining priorities

and planning for the future. Preschoolers receive their first Bibles.

The first Holy Humor Sunday in 1999 with Jacob Sorenson and Pastor Dave.


Again we were re-

minded that the

mission and minis-

try of God not only

changes lives, but

has eternal signifi-

cance.

On May 14 and

15, 2004, Olivet cel-

ebrated its 50th an-

niversary with a

buffet luncheon and

program at the Days

Inn. There were 740

baptized members

with an average

weekend worship

attendance of 232.

God directs and guides

Throughout Olivet’s histo-

ry there have been some very

lean years and some very chal-

lenging years. As Pastor Dave

wrote in the 2005 Annual Re-

port, “Through it all, God has

been faithful. He has en-

couraged us and chal-

lenged us. He has di-

rected and guided us.”

Today, Olivet is

blessed in many ways.

Among them: inspiration-

al worship services, a

growing Kids’ Church,

confirmation and youth

programs, Bible studies, mis-

sion trips, a beautiful new ad-

dition, a growing library, fel-

lowship gatherings, special

groups such as Bible Books,

the Prayer Shawl Ministry and

XYZ (eXtra Years of Zest) and

an active social ministry pro-

gram including such things as

Monday’s Meals and the Car-

ing Tree. More adult educa-

tion and small group opportu-

nities are goals for the future.

Olivet had been an ELCA

congregation since 1987 when

the ELCA was formed from a

merger of the LCA, Lutheran

Church in America; ALC,

American Lutheran Church

and AELC, Association of

Evangelical Lutheran Church-

es. In 2005, Olivet began to

question the direction the

ELCA was heading and en-

tered into an association with

LCMC (Lutheran Congrega-

tions in Mission for Christ)

and Word Alone (a reform

movement within the ELCA).

At a time when many

ELCA churches are stag-

nant or declining in wor-

ship, Olivet continues to

grow.

Outdoor services with special events became very popular.

God is working miracles at Olivet: From 1995 to 2007:

Total income increased from $84,917 to $439,511. +518%

General and loose offerings increased from $61,178 to $217,139. +355%

Total worshippers for the year increased from 5,955 to 14,616. +145%

Average weekly worship attendance increased from 114 to 281. +146%

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