Our History
The Beginning
In 1881, several Swedish settlers came from Carver and Kandiyohi counties, lured by the cheap land available in southern Bullard and northern Thomastown Township. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. August Larson. As children of God, they saw many unsaved people around them and felt burdened for their salvation. They opened their home for prayer meetings and invited itinerant preachers to come in and preach the gospel to their friends and relatives. The people were eager to hear the Word of God preached, to study scripture, and to pray. Mrs. Larson taught a Sunday School class in their home.
Some of the early visiting preachers were Mr. Olson, P. Challgren, F.W. Sandell, John Monson, and Erick Nelson (Ella Windorpski's grandfather). The people responded to the Word of God so that regular church meetings and Sunday School were soon held in a log school house located on the Henry Klodt farm in Bullard township.
On May 24, 1898, the Scandinavian Christian Mission Church of Leaf River was organized, its constitution containing five sentences:
(1) The purpose of this church shall be to work for Christian unity, edification of the faithful and sinners' salvation;
(2) To be a member of this church requires one to be a believer in Jesus and to execute work and deeds required of one that is faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ;
(3) This church confess all the teachings of the Gospel contained in the Old and New Testaments and the same being the only rule and regulation for a Christian through life;
(4) This church is self-controlling and may as such when 2/3 of the members wishes it, be united with any other Christian denomination or church;
(5) This congregation shall have a right to adopt and alter rules and regulations at wish as necessity requires, at the regular legally called meeting as ordered by the congregation.
(signed) Lars Christopherson, Anna Christopherson, Alfred Edin, Oley Johnson, Carolina Johnson, August Larson, Mathilda Larson, Carl E. Stallberg, Charles Anderson, Charles Larson.
Witnessed by Oley Johnson, Justice of the Peace.
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