History
A History of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
1946 — Pastor Howard M. Blegen and his family arrived in Sioux Falls on August 13, 1946. He sent a letter to prospective members and visited over 400 families in the next four months.
1946 — Fifty-six people attended the first Sunday service in the Chapel of Old Main at Augustana College on September 8, 1946. On October 29, the congregation was officially organized with 70 confirmed members and 54 children, representing 38 families.
1947 — The church became self-supporting in 1947. A former Army Chapel was purchased for $6,097 and moved to 28th Street and Summit Avenue at a cost of $2,980. Members provided 3,636 hours of volunteer work to ready the building for worship; the first service was held on October 26 to celebrate the first anniversary of the congregation.
1948 — Radio broadcast of the 9:30 worship service began, and the basement of the church was finished. A unified budget was adopted, and stewardship visits were made to every home for several years.
1951 — There were 1,456 baptized members with 520 children in Sunday School in 1951. The three-service schedule was begun.
1952 — Discussions began with ideas for a new church building in 1952. The following year Harold Spitznagel and Associates was chosen as architects.
1955–1957 — The congregation voted to purchase the current site for $70,000. Groundbreaking for the new church was held on June 9, 1957. Cost estimate for the new building was $765,219. Membership was 700 families, with the average family’s annual giving at $182.48; the adopted church budget was $133,000.
1958 — The congregation first worshiped in the current building on December 7, 1958.
1965–1970 — During these years church membership reached 4,153 members with Sunday School enrollment of 1,449 children. The Youth Room, the Parish Education Office, and the Nursery were remodeled.
1982–1992 — Land was purchased to expand parking and accommodate additions to the church. Contemporary Worship services began on the south lawn. Stephen Ministry program began. The adjacent Church of the Bible was purchased for $500,000.
1993–1995 — Our Savior’s Lutheran and other congregations partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build 96 homes in Sioux Falls. The first phase of the south parking lot was completed in 1998, and the Parish Nurse program began in partnership with Sioux Valley Hospital.
2001–2004 — The Parish Cruiser began operation. A Facility and Space Needs Task Force was appointed by the Congregation Council. The video projection system was installed in the Sanctuary.
2006 — The Facility and Space Needs Task Force was authorized by the congregation at the annual meeting to work with Koch Hazard Architects to develop a conceptual design for the building addition and expansion. This plan included a large gathering space, second worship space, full-sized gymnasium, more and larger restrooms, meeting rooms, and classrooms, and a centralized administrative space. In November, the plan and a capital campaign were approved with an 85% vote at a congregational meeting. Also, the Amazing Grace growing project turned a $15,000 investment by OSL into $67,000 for Lutheran World Relief.
2007 — Capital appeal (Stepping Forward in Faith) gathered $9.4 million in pledges and gifts in 2007; an $11.7 million addition was approved. Property on 34th Street was purchased and the city vacated the street.
2008 — Ground-breaking for the new addition was held on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Excavation began in June and construction followed; additional properties were purchased on Summit Avenue for future parking.
2009 — The budget was increased for new television and projection equipment; additional money was given and borrowing authorized to complete most of the “priority” list. At this time confirmed membership numbered 2780 members with 394 children enrolled in Sunday School.
2010 — The first worship service was held in the Celebrate Center on February 14, 2010, and the Gathering Space was used for the first time.