Elk Horn Lutheran church is a congregation of the Lutheran Churches in Mission for Christ (LCMC).
Our fundamental Christian mission is to bring the Gospel to ALL people, within and outside of the church.
"For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to His purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." -Ephesians 1:9-10
This is accomplished through preaching, teaching, the administration of the sacraments, and by encouraging our members to be living examples of Christ's grace.
Our congregation accepts all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired and revealed Word of God, and all the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, contained in the Book of Concord of the year 1580, as the correct presentation and true exposition of Christian Doctrine drawn from the Holy Scriptures.
1875
Founded on April 25 as Denish Evangelical Lutheran Congregation
1876
First Pstor called - O.L. Kirkeberg. Cemetery started. First communion, baptism, marriage, burial
1878
Danish Folk High School begun
1882
Church building constructed and dedicated
1890
Elim Children's Home founded. First Sunday School classes held
1891
First organ purchased
1914
Parsonage built
1918
English church services required by the state
1920
Elk Horn College closed
1926
Voting rights given to women and confirmants
1932
Salem Old People's Home founded by Rev. Anders Hansen
1948
First non-immigrant pastor Clarence Jensen. Last regularly scheduled Danish service. Salem Nursing Hom begun
1950
New church dedicated
1955
Parkijuli Church of Bbutan dedicated
1961
Elim Children's Home closed
1962
Salem Retirement Home built (Old Fold School building torn down)
1963
Educational wing added to the church
1974
New parsonage built. Pipe Organ Purchased
1975
Church centennial
1975
Lutheran Book of Worship adopted
1988
Elk Horn Joins the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
1991
Contemporary service added
1994
Elevator installed
1996
Baldwin Grand piano purchased. Sunday School classes began sponsorship of Andik Putro Sektiona, 6 yr. old boy from Indonesia
1998
Called Associate in Ministry, Celeste Waymire
2000
125th Anniversary celebrated
2001
Became a founding member of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
2005
Called Rev. Keith Menter as Pastor
2007
Program to help families in need over Thanksgiving and Christmas implemented
2009
Joined Food for the Poor. "Person in Need" fund started to help the local needy
2010
Elk Horn-Exira Food Pantry was established. Scaled up contributions to Open Door Mission