Life in Christ Lutheran Church (Battle Lake, Minnesota) Records

The LCMS Minnesota North District had wanted to plant a church in Battle Lake for many years. Initially, Rev. Bruce Noenning, then pastor at Saint Paul, Henning, led Tuesday night Bible Studies in the conference room of Guggisberg Realty, with lay leaders under the guidance of Rev. Floyd Krueger. Later, Rev. Ronald Jobe of Saint Paul, Henning came to lead Tuesday night Bible Studies at a private home. Starting a Sunday service was discussed at these Bible Studies. Brief Sunday services began at the nursing home in Battle Lake in August 1995, designed by Pastor Jobe. These services that were well attended by nursing home residents and their relatives as well as LCMS members in the area, were often led by Ed Borchardt from Lutheran Island Camp. Two Lutheran school principals also led services. In March 1996, services began in the Senior Citizens' Center following the nursing home services, with a core group attending both services. When the Nursing Home Administrator commented that they would like to have an altar like one in another nursing home, Life in Christ members had an altar built and presented it to the nursing home. The altar was dedicated on December 22, 1996. In meetings/communications with the district, the core group was told that a series of courses from Concordia College, Saint Paul were required to be completed before a mission could be started. Professors came to Battle Lake for the first lesson of each course, and then followed with speaker phone lessons. Three 9 week courses covering The Book of Concord, Witness and Evangelism and Leadership were completed. Rev. Timothy Vaughn from Ottertail and Rev. Burt Benson from New York Mills sat in on the courses. The fourth course was the "Phes for You" campaign. Borchardt was appointed by District as Mission Developer for Battle Lake. The name Life in Christ was decided upon in early 1997. On April 6, 1997, services ceased at the nursing home. March 30, 1997 was the last service held there (Easter). The official first service as a mission was held on April 13, 1997. As months passed, the district mission department wasn't pleased with the slow growth. There was dissension within the group, as several people thought that Ed Borchardt lacked the knowledge / experience to take on the role of pastor to plant a church. (He had not started the DELTO program until shortly before he left.) Ed Borchardt resigned on June 13, 1999. The district mission department wanted the mission to close. A meeting was request with District President Rev. David Bode, and he agreed the district request was unreasonable. Rev. Ronald Jobe at Saint Paul, Henning was a strong advocate for a mission in Battle Lake and presented a petition on behalf of the group in Battle Lake to the Wadena Circuit, requesting that Life in Christ become a mission "outreach"" of Saint Paul, Henning. Circuit Pastors approved, as did the Saint Paul voters. The first several weeks, services were conducted by a variety of pastors, parochial school principals, etc. Pastor Jobe's friend, Rev. Roger Lange was retiring to the area and would be willing to serve at the outreach. Pastors Lange, Behling, and Bartels rotated. Eventually, Pastor Behling more or less became the pastor. In late summer 2003, District proposed to give Rev. Timothy Vaughn a position at Lutheran Island Camp. It was proposed that Saint Paul (Henning, Minnesota) call Pastor Vaughn as an associate pastor to serve the outreach at Battle Lake. Pastor Vaughn began to serve in late November and served through December 2005. A variety of emeritus pastors served Life in Christ on a Sunday by Sunday basis until May 2006, when Pastor Dale Young became the steady pastor. Pastor Young suffered a stroke in December 2009, and due to short notice, Life in Christ had some lay Sunday services in January/February 2010, using sermons from the LCMS Internet. In October 2010, Rev. Arthur Weidner began to serve Life in Christ fairly regularly. After Pastor Jobe left Saint Paul, Henning, the relationship between Saint Paul and the mission outreach became more strained. In late August 2010, Life in Christ was notified that as of January 1, 2011, Life in Christ would no longer be an outreach of Saint Paul. On October 3, 2010, the majority at Life in Christ voted to incorporate and apply to the district board for church membership. This led to Charter Sunday, June 5, 2011. Life in Christ's final service was held on October 11, 2015.