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North Community Lutheran Church was founded by a nucleus of about 113 people who had been
commissioned by Clinton Heights Lutheran Church to establish a new mission congregation
in a rapidly growing community north of their parish. The first service was held
February 2, 1947, in the Beechwold Theater (now Revco), led by the Reverend William Hulme,
pastor of Clinton Heights, and Chaplain Edward Kroencke. They served the new congregation
until the Reverend Ralph E. Piper was installed November 2, 1947.
Soon, a three and one-half acre plot of ground on Morse Rd. was acquired, and the
first unit of a three-unit plan was dedicated on October 30, 1949. After Pastor Piper
accepted another call in 1950, Lee Roy Brandes, a seminary student, served until the Reverend
H.F. Heidmann was installed in 1951.
Debts on the church and parsonage were paid by 1955, and a building fund drive was conducted
in May of 1956 for a second unit of the church building to include our present sanctuary,
classrooms, and offices. The new facility was dedicated February 15,1959. A new pipe organ
was dedicated on November 26, 1967.
In 1966, Pastor Heidmann accepted another call and the Reverend Robert Trump, who had been
associate pastor, was called as a senior pastor on May 1, 1966. Associates during his tenure
included the Reverends Eldon Person, George Fry, and Mel Kirk. The Reverend Carl Roepcke was
installed in 1978, and the Reverend Gary Olson as associate in 1979. After Pastor Olson left
in 1984, the Reverend mark Wolkenauer was called and served until August of 1989.
In September of 1990, the Reverend Richard P. Hartmann, Jr. was called to the pastoral staff.
Pastor Roepcke retired in January of 1994. Since October of that year, the Reverend Paul M.
Meuser was asked to serve as Assistant to the Pastor.
In 1996, Pastor Hartmann accepted another call and the Rev. Robert E. Karsten was called to serve
as interim pastor. Pastor Meuser retired in December of 1996.
In January 1997, the Rev. John F. Kindsvatter, Jr. was called and began his ministry with us. In
October of 1997 the Reverend Harold Brown, PhD. served as Assistant to the Pastor. Pastor Brown
passed away in April, 2000.
At a congregational meeting in 2001, Denise Edwards was called to serve as one of the pastors.
She was ordained at North Community and began her call in August, 2002.
Significant additions to the physical plant include remodeling in the 1987, a playground in 1991,
a free standing altar in 1994, and a remodeling of the parking lot entrance and offices in 1995.
A remodeling project of Fellowship Hall was completed in the spring of 1998.
During the years, our ministry has sponsored over 3 dozen refugees; supported Faith Mission &
Habitat for Humanity; initiated projects for homeless persons; sponsored a missionary family;
become a mission partner with Hosanna Lutheran, Pataskala; and opened our doors to a variety of
community programs. In an attempt to strengthen the congregation's ministry, a TEAMS (Talents of
Everyone Applied to Mission and Service) program was successfully developed.
Copyright © 2003 NCLC
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