Brief History of BSL

Pastor Frederick N. Boettcher

On November 23, 1952, fifteen people gathered for worship at Randall School and began plans for establishing a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Thus began the history of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church from a human perspective. The greater truth is that our gracious Triune God had this congregation as a part of His Master Plan well before any human conceived of it.

Frederick N. Boettcher, a 1952 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was called as Beautiful Savior's first Pastor. Rev. Dr. Boettcher served at Beautiful Savior until his retirement in 1992. He is recognized as Pastor Emeritus of Beautiful Savior. Rev. Timothy Bruss, a 1971 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was called as Pastor in 1992. The pastoral staff was enlarged in the fall of 1995 with the addition of Rev. Peter Schmidt, a 1989 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Church with parsonage on the right side

The present church building was dedicated on November 28, 1954. The dedicatory booklet spoke of Beautiful Savior's objectives: "The large crosses at the entrance and above the altar remind us. . . that the true Church is not first and foremost in terms of blocks and mortar. With the Apostle Paul, we determined to know nothing among you, 'save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' The good news of peace between God and man accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is, and will ever remain the changeless foundation of the Church in a changing world. This Gospel we would share with all." See more photos of this phase of church history. A five-room classroom/office addition was completed in 1963. In 1982, the church was expanded with the construction of a new entrance and narthex, the addition of a youth room, new organ, central air conditioning, and a new wood ceiling in the nave. The chancel area was renovated in the summer of 1996.

Victor P. Jungkuntz

Throughout the years, much time and effort has been spent by countless volunteers and staff in maintaining a strong Christian education program through Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Confirmation instruction, and various Bible classes. The addition of Victor P. Jungkuntz to the staff in 1984 as Director of Christian Education was an indication of the congregation's continued desire to expand its educational program. In 1986, a morning preschool program for three and four-year-olds was added to serve the community. A Child Care Center was later established, with Paula Bartz serving as its first director. The Center incorporated preschool and offered morning and afternoon care to preschool students, as well as before and after school care to children of the community. Mary Soat was called to serve as director in 1995. The Center ceased operations in June of 1999, with Ms. Soat assuming duties as first grade teacher.

School ground breaking ceremony

In October of 1997, the voters of Beautiful Savior approved an expansion plan that included the start of a Christian day school. Afternoon kindergarten began in the fall of 1998, with Amy Stubbe serving as teacher in conjunction with her duties as preschool teacher. Victor Jungkuntz, retired DCE, served as the school's first administrator until January 1999, when Pastor Schmidt took over the role of School Administrator. Groundbreaking for the new school took place on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 1999, and an eight classroom school addition was dedicated on Sunday, August 27, 2000. On Trinity Sunday 2005 (May 22), the Christian Family Life Center was dedicated along with a science lab and art center. The CFLC includes a fill size high school basketball court with wood floor, locker rooms and storage area. It serves not only as a marvelous addition to our school ministry, but also as a place for large worship gatherings and a location for community programs such as the Safe and Sound basketball program.

On Sunday, September 7, 2003, Mr. Jon Mielke was installed as the school's first called Principal. He served in that role until July, 2006, when he accepted a Call from the Indiana District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to serve as Executive Counselor for Christian Education. In August of 2006, Mrs. Yvonne Gerth accepted the Call issued by the Beautiful Savior Voters Assembly to serve as principal. Her first year is also the year our school will graduate it's first eighth grade class.

We are most grateful to our merciful and loving God for showering His people at Beautiful Savior with countless blessings throughout the years. It is our prayer that we, the family of believers in this place, may prove to be wise stewards of those blessings as we work together for the growth of His Kingdom through our caring and sharing of Christ.

Go back