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HISTORY

 

 

Formation of a Mission

The mission that would later become Kinsmen Lutheran Church was initiated by the Board of American Missions in April of 1971. The ecumenical house church was started in the Misty Valley Road home of the church's only Pastor, Reverend John Wayne Harpel. The ministry was made possible by subsidy support of the American Lutheran Church. Folk services with singing to guitars were held in many members' homes during the first year. In October 1971, the church began Sunday worship in the Greenwood Elementary School cafeteria. In December 1971, a steering committee met in Pastor Harpel's home to discuss a state charter and a permanent site and facilities to carry on the church's ministry. In February 1972, The American Lutheran Church underwrote the cost of a 15 acre tract of land to secure an excellent site and location for the congregation. The congregation was soon formally organized as Kinsmen American Lutheran Church. Later in 1972, Rev. John Wayne Harpel was formally called as the pastor of the congregation.

 

Building a Parish Hall

The contract and ground breaking for the first unit occurred in May of 1973. The ground breaking service was held at Greenwood School and everyone walked from the school to the site of the Parish Hall building. Each person turned one shovel of dirt with a gold painted shovel. On September 30, 1973, the congregation dedicated its first unit. The service began out in the driveway and the altar appointments were carried inside the new building and put in place. That same month the church became self-supporting. Dual services and a preschool program were started in October of 1973.

 

Development of a Master Plan

In April of 1975, the Church Council appointed a building committee to determine if the present facilities should be added onto, or if a new structure should be built. A special congregational meeting was held, and the determination was that a new facility should be built. With the help of an outside company, the Master Plan for Kinsmen was developed. It included plans for a new sanctuary, an administration/educational wing, and a community life center with a gym, classrooms, a library, a kitchen, and a conference room. In February of 1976, the congregation adopted the design for the new sanctuary and authorized the building committee to finalize the design and establish the financial program. The congregation adopted a church bond sales program for the financing of the new sanctuary.

 

Sanctuary Construction

On Pentecost Sunday, June 6, 1976, Kinsmen celebrated the beginning of a permanent sanctuary with a ground breaking ceremony. A gold painted plow was attached to a long rope. The members of the congregation pulled the rope and all broke the ground together. Construction started in August of 1976. The Tower Entry Cross was completed on Good Friday of 1977. On April 10, 1977, the first worship (Easter Sunday) was held in the new sanctuary. By May of 1977, the furniture was completely installed. On June 5, 1977, the new Worship Sanctuary was dedicated. The theme for the day was "From This Wilderness a Church Has Risen."

 

Completion of the Master Plan

September of 1980, Kinsmen dedicated the Education/Administration Building, which underwent some minor modification over the years to accommodate the continuous growth. In October of 1984, the pipe organ that we still use today was dedicated. The fall of 1986 marked the start of the beginning of three worship services every Sunday. In November of 1986, Kinsmen voted to become a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the synod it is still a member of today. At this point, "American" was dropped off the name, and the church was formally called "Kinsmen Lutheran Church." Throughout the years, many people doubted if we would ever complete the Master Plan. With the completion of the Community Life Center and surrounding facilities in 1992, the Master Plan was officially done. Since the completion of the Community Life Center, the After School Kinsmen program has grown from 15 students to over 100, and is now a Before School and After School program.

 

Youth & Family Expansion

The weekly attendance at Kinsmen kept growing. Soon the need of an entire new Youth and Family building became apparent. In 2004 the current youth building (former Parish Hall) was torn down, and in 2005 a new Youth and Family building was dedicated. This building contains preschool classrooms, a community room that comfortably holds 50, a Great room that can be used as a large meeting area or individual classrooms, and a loft containing comfortable seating areas and games for youth activities.

 

Kinsmen Today

In 2007 Pastor Jeffery Alvestad was installed as Senior Pastor at Kinsmen when Pastor Jim Hinkhouse retired. Emphasis was placed on hospitality and making people come closer together. A visual/audio/video system was installed to help connect people closer to worship services, and a full breakfast began to be served every weekend so that people could enjoy fellowship together. Through a partnership with the company Auxano, Kinsmen redefined its mission and values, and adopted the present day fleur logo. Ministries were grouped into three simple categories: Inspiring Worship, Experiencing Family, and Sharing Grace. Pastor Mark England was called to be Youth and Family Pastor in May 2008.