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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
Page 3 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.
Page 4 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.
Page 5 Sharing the Light and Love of Our Lord
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.
Page 6 Olivet “Beacon of Light” Lutheran Church
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-
Page 7 Sharing the Light and Love of Our Lord
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.
Page 8 Olivet “Beacon of Light” Lutheran Church
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.
Page 9 Sharing the Light and Love of Our Lord
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.
Page 10 Olivet “Beacon of Light” Lutheran Church
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.
Page 11 Sharing the Light and Love of Our Lord
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%