St. John Lutheran Church: History
St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville began to serve residents of the Kendallville area in October of 1859, operating largely from the home of George Aichele under the pastoral direction of Frederick Schuman. Six months later, on March 4. 1860, 13 members signed the first church constitution.
The congregation made up exclusively of German immigrants joined the Missouri Synod on November 22, 1861. The church operated in the German language for many years. The first adult class of catechumens was confirmed in an English service in 1897. The constitution was translated into English in 1918. German language services did not completely phase out until the late 1950s.
The congregation has been served by 12 senior pastors, including Martin Kretzmann, who was installed in 1909, and shepherded the flock for more than 45 years and God used him to guide it through several significant events and eras. There have also been 10 assistant or associate pastors.
On May 5, 1924, the church caught fire. Hundreds gathered to help and were able to save a number of items, including church records, the pulpit and the baptismal font. Two days later, a service of humiliation was held and it was decided unanimously that the church should be immediately rebuilt on the existing foundation. Church members took out mortgages on personal property to fund the effort.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s the Noble County Bank and Trust Co., which held the church funds, failed.
The day school – which began with the church in 1860 – grew to over 100 students in 1936.
Herman Heine was called to replace Kretzmann in 1955. In early 1960, Messiah, Wolcottville was established as a “church plant.” Thirty St. John families were involved in the establishment of that congregation.
In 1964, it was decided at a voter’s meeting to pursue building expansion to meet the needs of the school, Sunday School and offices. A Fellowship Hall was planned, as were heating and cooling upgrades and new parking space.
In 1967, school enrollment had dwindled to under 20 and, at Heine’s recommendation, the school was closed. In 1969, the building expansion was dedicated.
In 1969, a sound system was installed to transmit services to the chapel of the Lutheran Home.
In the fall of 1981, the school was restarted as a preschool for three- and four-year-olds and kindergarten. It eventually expanded to fifth grade, and later through eighth grade (in 1999-2000).
In 1982, Pastor Paul Griebel accepted the call to become senior pastor. The church subsequently underwent a number of church growth and outreach efforts. In 1984, the current church logo and motto was adopted: Growing Tall in Christ to Reach All with Christ.
In 1988, a contemporary worship service began to augment traditional services. It eventually grew from a few people meeting during the Bible study hour to hundreds in the gym/Fellowship Hall.
In 1998 the congregation voted overwhelmingly to expand the school on a new site and build a Worship Center on the present site. The Worship Center, serving contemporary worship needs, as well as other assemblies, was dedicated in April of 2001.
The year 1999 was a busy one for the congregation – staff members Deaconess Joann Grepke and youth director Eric Schwarz were added, and 16.5 acres of land were purchased for the purpose of building the school on Allen Chapel Road.
In 2000, the church opened Early Adventures Childcare – an intergenerational ministry at Shepherd of the Hill Nursing Home. The ministry, now called New Adventures Early Learning Center, continues as a ministry of Lutheran Homes.
In 2006, Vernie Scheiber stepped down as school principal after 19 years of service to return to the classroom. Under his guidance the school had grown to serve over 200 students at one point and between 170 and 215 consistently.
