09/22/2024
A history of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Vernon, Texas.
In 1910, Lutherans in Vernon began to meet for Sunday afternoon services with Pastor Holtzen of Zion Lutheran Church. At first these services took place in homes, then later at the Wilbarger County Courthouse.
On April 5, 1912, a group of nine voting members, F. E. Lowke, Andrew Lowke, Henry Hildebrandt, Carl Hildebrandt, August Teinert, Henry Graf, Robert Graf, Harry Michels, and Herman Droemer, met with Rev. Holtzen and officially organized the congregation.
At this same meeting it was resolved to build a church and begin a school. F.E. Lowke presented the congregation the title to an acre of land on the corner of East Yamparika and Atlanta Streets. Within six weeks, on May 27, 1912 the small building, built at a cost of $45.00, was dedicated. The following day, May 28, 1912, teacher, L. Dippold, opened the school. For the next two years, Lutheran seminary students, L. Karcher (1914) and John Brandt (1915), taught at the school.
On April 16, 1916, the congregation petitioned the Texas District Mission Board to call a pastor to Vernon. On September 3, J. A. Birnbaum, newly graduated from Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, was ordained and installed as the pastor of the congregation. From 1916 to 1926, Pastor Birnbaum also served as the full-time instructor in the school.
World War I brought much anti-German sentiment to our nation. One morning in 1918, Rev. Birnbaum went to the church and noticed that the windows were broken. A note attached to the front door of the school read, "If you are wise, you will leave Vernon." Why the threat? Rev. Birnbaum preached and taught in the German language. He took the note to the sheriff, who accompanied Rev. Birnbaum to the editor of the local newspaper. The editor of the newspaper wrote an article in the local newspaper the next day which included the statement, "The act of yesterday, destroying church property, making threats, is in the highest degree un-American." City officials, bankers, doctors, clergymen and much of the citizenry came to Rev. Birnbaum's defense. They told him to "stay right where he was". The threats ceased - and he did stay, for 50 years of fruitful ministry. In the comments below is a copy of a letter, dated June 6, 1940, from R.H. Nichols, editor of “The Vernon Daily Record” to Pastor Birnbaum which shows that similar sentiments arose at the beginning of World War II. Early in his ministry some of the older members told Pastor Neuberger that during WW II, they endured racial slurs from other children at the bus stop. Called names such as "Kraut" and "N**i" and even spit upon, they never forgot the abuse they faced, just because they were of German heritage. Again we see, in the support provided by the newspaper editor, how kindness and neighborliness won out in the midst of hateful behavior during difficult times.
The church grew rapidly during these years, and soon it outgrew its already expanded building on Yamparika Street. Throughout the next several years, at every Voters' meeting, members discussed the burning issue, "building a new church." In 1917, a decision was reached to purchase ground on East Wilbarger for a parsonage and future church home. Two acres of land were purchased on East Wilbarger in 1918. By 1921, with a membership of 175, but with a capacity of only 125, many people were often forced to remain outside for services, especially on festive occasions. So with a balance in the building fund of only $197.62, the people of St. Paul decided to build a brick church at a cost of $20,000.
In 1921 Wilbarger Street was paved. This was both a blessing and a challenge. The paving improved the location. However, the government assessed the congregation $1,500.00 for the paving.
The new building was dedicated in March of 1923. Professor H. Studtmann, President of the Texas District, delivered the morning sermon, which he based on Mark 9:1-9. He also preached an evening sermon on Psalm 87.
Ten years later, in 1927, the congregation established a mission – the present Immanuel Lutheran Church of Harrold. That same year, St. Paul called Miss Clara Obenhaus, a member of the Lutheran Church in Clara, to serve as a teacher. She was followed in 1930 by a succession of teachers.
For many years, St. Paul and Zion held a joint picnic. It was a highlight in the yearly calendar. There were Barbecues, great fellowship, and all sorts of competitions, culminating in a hotly contested baseball game between the two churches, which, according to Herb Namken, St. Paul usually won. Eventually, a conflict over different styles of cooking the meat (the Zion grillers felt that the St. Paul cooks took too many shortcuts with their meat) led to the end of the joint picnics.
Among the many highlights of these early years was the hosting of the Texas District convention of the LC-MS in 1934. That the small town of Vernon was chosen to host the convention testifies to the strength of the congregation at that time. For an entire week, the members hosted Lutherans from throughout the state of Texas. Dr. Theodore Graebner, the early editor of the Lutheran Witness in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and popular professor at Concordia Seminary, served as essayist at the Convention.
During World War II, Pastor Birnbaum volunteered to be the chaplain for the Lutheran servicemen at airbases in Childress, Frederick, and Victory Field. He also served as chaplain to the German prisoners of war at Childress during the war. He was quite active in Vernon community affairs, and provided pastoral care to people of all faiths at the local hospitals. Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, awarded him the Doctor of Divinity in 1957.
The Lutheran Laymen's League Convention convened at St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1957. The Walther League, an organization for young people in the Lutheran Church, was formed in 1920. In 1932, 1942, and in 1952, St. Paul, Vernon hosted the state convention. Through the years, the Walther League was very active, and members travelled throughout the state for meetings and conventions. Highlights of the Walther League and its successor organization were yearly planning meetings for the officers at Lake Kemp cabins. Wednesday night Bible studies, evangelism, volleyball games, organizational meetings, and service projects engaged the young people of the church. Many have led the youth of St. Paul through the years.
The parochial school received a new school facility in 1949. It was a happy day when the school moved out of the church basement. An estimated 1,000 visitors attended as Pastor Birnbaum preached a dedicatory sermon on the church lawn. A neighboring building was bought in 1955 for Sunday School use. In 1950, a balcony with seating for 100 was built to provide additional seating capacity. Soon after this, a second Sunday morning service was added to accommodate all those wishing to worship the Lord on Sunday mornings at St. Paul. Dr. Standifer had built a sanatorium on property adjacent to the church in 1922. In 1955, St. Paul paid $15,000.00 for the former sanitarium, and 15 Sunday School rooms became available.
For the fiftieth anniversary of the congregation, services were held on August 12, 1962, with Rev. John Huber preaching, and on August 19, with Rev. Albert Jesse, District President, preaching on John 3:16 for the 10:00 a.m. service. Rev. Leon Birnbaum preached at 3:30 p.m. and Rev. Emory Hingst, preached on Psalm 115:1 at the 7:00 p.m. service. In 1966, Pastor Birnbaum retired after serving for 50 years at St. Paul.
In 1967, the congregation had a communicant membership of 374, baptized membership of 476, and averaged 293 in worship on Sunday mornings. Pastor Jacob was quite busy his first year here. He made over 800 pastoral calls, confirmed six youth, attended 95 congregational meetings, and conducted all the other aspects of the pastoral ministry. Twelve members transferred in. Sunday School enrollment was 134, and 90 children attended VBS.
Mr. Terrence Daberkow served as school principal, with two called teachers: Mr. William Nielson, and Mr. Alfred Gallmeier. Kindergarten teachers included Mrs. Diane Daberkow and, Mrs. Virginia Graf. In 1966, so many enrolled that another class was needed. Marilyn Rogers and Pat Schur each thought to ask the other one to watch her children while she taught a class, but so many enrolled that they started two classes. At the suggestion of Herbert Anderson, both applied. Both were hired and two new classes began. All three classes met in the building that had at one time been a hospital. The day school met in the school building next to the parsonage. Highway 287 ran right through town, and when trucks passed by, the teachers had to quit talking because it was so loud. They painted their own rooms the summer before school began in 1966. Since no printed curriculum existed, the three got together and put one together. Each day began with prayer and a Bible Story. Teachers stressed the alphabet and phonics, numbers and science projects. The Principal's report from 1967 showed that 48 students were enrolled in Kindergarten, and 63 in grades 1 to 7. A Parents Teachers League (P.T.L.) was organized to involve parents in the education of their children. The school purchased "modern equipment" (an overhead projector, science lab table) to enhance the education of the children.
Mr. Doyle Graham served as Congregation Chairman, with Mr. Floyd Graf, serving as Vice-Chairman. Boys Scouts (Troop 51) and Cub Scouts (Pack 51) were active during these years.
At that time, each elder had a particular area of responsibility, such as the Sunday School, Youth, Communion, Stewardship, Day School, and others. James Golden served as Chairman for several of these years.
Sunday School Teachers' Meetings were held semi-monthly to strengthen the Bible knowledge and teachings skills of our 17 Sunday School teachers. Don Schur served as the Superintendent.
Fifty-six members were listed as members of the Men's Club which met every third Tuesday. They supported the work of the church, attended two rallies, and supported students going into full-time church work, the Lutheran Hour, and the L.L.L. Leroy Hobratschk served as President, assisted by Wilbert Schulz.
When the church moved, the school closed, but the Kindergarten continued on East Wilbarger for a time until rooms became available at the new location. The rooms on the East side of the newly constructed church were to be used only as Sunday school rooms, but special gifts from members and friends of St. Paul enabled the church to extend the building ten feet to make two Kindergartens rooms.
In March 1974, during Pastor Jacob’s ministry, six acres of land were purchased at the present location. On June 17, 1976, ground was broken at a special service. The sanctuary, parish hall, and school rooms were built and dedicated on May 1, 1977. Keith Spears served as chairman of the Building Committee and Charles Graf served as congregational President during this very busy and important time in the history of the church. Dr. George Beto preached at the dedication.
It was during Pastor Loeschman’s ministry that the $500,000 building debt was retired after just eight years. The congregation purchased an additional three acres of land for future expansion.
Pastor Rossetter (Rusty) Leavitt accepted the call to become St. Paul’s fourth pastor and was installed on January 17, 1988. Two years later in November 1990, the congregation dedicated a new Activity Center and Education Building with a gym, office, work room, four school rooms, a youth room, and three Sunday School classrooms. This building project cost $392,000, and the debt was finally put to rest in 2005. For 30 years, during the ministries of Pastors Jacob, Loeschman, and Leavitt, Doris Gibbs served as church secretary...and as school secretary as her sister Patsy led the school.
The Bell Tower was built and dedicated on July 7, 1996. Stained glass windows, refurbished from the church on East Wilbarger, were installed in the new sanctuary and rededicated to the glory of God on April 20, 1997. A hand bell choir, the Joyful Ringers, began to assist in the worship services in 1998. Mrs. Virginia Kieschnick directed the hand bell choir, followed by Mary Neuberger in 2015, serving through 2023.
Mrs. Cristi Schur took over for Pat Schur as School Director. She served until 2005, and succeeded by Mrs. Mary Neuberger (2005-2013), Mrs. Stephanie Stanley (2013-2015), Mrs. Amy Koch (2015-2019), Mrs. Melissa Hoover (2019-2021), and Mrs. Patti Scott (2021- ). A Director of Christian Education was also added to the staff in 1998.
Blessed with an abundance of young people, in the late 1990s, the church hired Mrs. Kelly Sager as part-time youth director. She led a very active youth group. To fundraise for all the activities, Kelly and the youth (and some parents, grandparents, and Eddie Lou Graf) delivered Feist phone books to every residence in Vernon, and all the towns west and north all the way to Clarendon. Wednesday nights were known for B.R.E.A.K. (Bible, Recreation, Eating, And Karate) with Les Denton teaching Karate. Kelly followed in a line of parents who volunteered to lead the youth, some of whom have been James and Gladys Golden, Charlie and Jeanette Graf, Charles and Pat Schur, Trent and Janice Kieschnick, and many others. Through the years there have been many Bible studies, ski trips, State and National Youth Gatherings, mission trips, and service in the church. A highlight for many, many decades was church camp at Ceta Glen in July. Members of our congregation who went on to serve as Counselors include Kelly, Justin Fancher, Bethany Sager, Michael Neuberger, and of course, Dan Parker, our D.C.E. who also served as Camp Director for several years. He arrived from Concordia Seward in 2005, and faithfully served until 2015 as our Youth Director and minister of outreach to Vernon College and the State Hospital. He was very active in the Vernon Community becoming a leader among the Youth Pastors in town, and more importantly a Christian mentor to youth from many churches in our community. An avid golfer, he helped coach the High School golf team. Under his direction, our youth become more active in missions, leading groups to Camp Restore in New Orleans, and was instrumental in making our youth group more missional as they shared the love of Jesus on Wednesday nights with young people living at the State Hospital. After Dan took a call to St. Timothy in Houston, Devin Kieschnick and Pastor led the youth. After several years, Amelia Adams, and Krystal Smith took over leadership and serve to this day.
By 2012, St. Paul Lutheran School enrolled 67 children in two preschool classes, two pre-kindergarten classes, and one kindergarten class. The school also provides a "Stay & Play" program for afternoon day care. In 2022, under our director, Mrs. Patti Scott a summer program was added and attendance in summer more than doubled in registration in 2023. Our teachers include Mrs. Lisa Aderholt, Mrs. Heather Ham, Mrs. Sherri Koch, Mrs. Pam Matus, and Mrs. Pam Walker.
For many years, the evening Lutheran Women's Missionary League has met on the second Thursday evening of the month, and the afternoon L.W.M.L. met at 2:00 p.m., originally on the first Friday and then on the first Wednesday. The Young at Heart Group met at 2:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. For over twenty years, Keith and Marcia Kubitz led senior citizens on yearly trips to Branson and once to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. Seniors from our church and community, as well as many others from Oklahoma and North Texas joined in fun and fellowship, and stopped for worship somewhere in Oklahoma on the Sunday of the trip. From early morning to late at night, entertainment filled all the hours on these journeys. Every summer, many volunteers served in Vacation Bible School to share the Word of God with many children from our community.
Through the years, the Board of Elders has served well with the pastors to ensure that the spiritual life of the congregation is nurtured and strengthened. The Voters are the governing body of the congregation. Some of the Chairmen of the Elders and Congregational Presidents in the 21st century have been Gary Don Harkey, Clifford Graf, Tad Daberkow, Charles Elmer Graf, Kenneth Lehman, Rick Jouett, Keith Kubitz, Frank Schatte, Dean Gfeller, Bob Cochran, Mike Carter, Joe Anderson, Mark Woolley, Jarrod Wendler.
Many members of our congregation travelled with other North Texas Lutherans to Taveta, Kenya to provide eye exams, construct glasses, and share the good news of Jesus Christ with over 2,500 Kenyans. Following a five-year commitment to work with our fellow Lutherans in Texas and Kenya to share the love of Jesus in this very practical way continued for several years, the group from our Circuit began trips to do mission work in Central America. This mission combined the great commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself" with the great commission, "go and make disciples of all nations." Among those travelling to serve in Africa were Marcia Kubitz, Brad Kieschnick, Cindy Schiwart, Trent Kieschnick, and Dan Parker.
The choir, the bell choir, the confirmation class, and the youth all met on Wednesday evenings. Mrs. Eugenia Graf, daughter of Pastor Birnbaum, served as one of our three organists, along with Mrs. Virginia Kieschnick and Mrs. Bobbi Graf, who continues to serve as Congregational organist in 2024. In earlier years, Mr. Kenneth Graf served as organist, and interestingly, being a good college friend of Rev. Gerald Kieschnick, played the organ at the wedding of the future Texas and Synodical President. Choir directors have include W.O. Graf, Kenneth Graf, Virginia Graf, Nancy Graf, Patrice Fay, Don Bruns (who also has played the organ at times), Patsy Donges, and many others. Our members have been very active in living out their faith in community service, giving of their time and talents in the Vernon Lions Club, Optimist Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, and Key Club. Members of our congregation, including Mark Woolley joined Barbara Haseloff for ministry on Thursday nights to the young people at the TYC Youth Camp. They led devotions, provided listening ears, and on holidays others joined in to help serve bountiful meals prepared by Barbara. With great dedication, she encouraged many young people with her Bible teaching and Christian love. Her witness helped many to a saving faith in Jesus, and also led to baptisms Pastor Neuberger performed in a water filled trough by the TYC pool.
Five pastors have served the congregation - the first, Dr. J. A. Birnbaum was called in April of 1916, and served the congregation and the people of Vernon from 1916 until 1966. God called him to his heavenly home in 1988. Other pastors who have served at St. Paul include Rev. Roy Jacob (1967-1977), Rev. Albert Loeschman (1978-1987), Rev. Rossetter Leavitt (1988-2001), and Rev. Paul Neuberger, who served from August of 2003 until June 2023. Rev. Keith Kubitz, a son of the St. Paul congregation, served vacancies at St. Paul, as well as many of the congregations in Northern Texas and Western Oklahoma. In August 2023, Rev. Dr. Robert Holaday began serving as Intentional Interim Pastor as St. Paul seeks to call a Pastor. All these pastors have clearly proclaimed the same message, summarized in the words of St. Paul: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Romans 6:23).
In 2012 the congregation celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the church and school. The celebration kicked off in 2011 with “A Taste of St. Paul.” We invited the community to a luncheon to sample tastes from hundreds of recipes included in our new Anniversary Cookbook. It was an amazing meal. In the Gospels, we see Jesus continually at meals, teaching and sharing fellowship with all sorts of people. So we dedicated our cookbook to all the women who for 100 years have served and provided meals to generations, to the grieving in funeral meals, to the rejoicing at Easter breakfasts, picnics, youth meals, fundraisers for missions, camp, and so many more. Our celebration peaked with a special festival service in April with Texas District President, Rev. Kenneth Hennings. At the banquet, Mr. Clifford Graf served as the Master of Ceremonies. We welcomed members, former members, and friends of St. Paul to the sit-down banquet which featured speakers such as grandson of Pastor Birnbaum, Terry Graf, and a special historical video produced by Mr. Danny Jones which included portions of interviews with many members taken the previous five years. This video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/7uLg0YsTyuI.
In August we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the school, with Rev. Terry Daberkow preaching, and Mrs. Patricia Schur Donges speaking. Other special services during the Anniversary year:
January 8: Guest Preacher: Rev. Keith Kubitz
February 12: Heritage Sunday: Pastor Neuberger read a Pastor Birnbaum sermon and all women wore hats.
May 13: Guest Preacher: Rev. Roy Jacob
June 10: Guest Preacher: Rev. Al Loeschman
August 26: Guest Preacher: Rev. Terry Daberkow.
September 23: Guest Preacher: Rev. David Schatte
October 28: Guest Preacher: Rev. Rusty Leavitt
A few years before this our Board of Christian Education began a new Wednesday Night Ministry that became “Warriors for Christ.” Volunteers provided a meal, followed by a Bible lesson and devotion, as well as recreation and games. This ministry grew through the years with faithful volunteers such as Angie Miller, Nancy Lucas, Tammy Wendler, Janice McMahon, Melissa Hoover, Krystal Smith, Amelia Adams, Jamie Wilkinson, Lana Carter, and many others. Bible Study Leaders included Danny McMahan, Dan Parker, and Jerrod Wendler. This ministry served many young people from throughout Vernon, including many young people of the Karen community whose families moved from Myanmar, one of whom was baptized and confirmed. After more than ten years of Wednesday night ministry the Covid pandemic brought an end to this vital ministry.
A year before Covid, the LWML began a new ministry called “Bread and Fishes.” One Sunday a month, they bring full, home-cooked meals to our shut-ins and other older members of the congregation. The food and the fellowship is valued greatly by those who receive the food and visits as well as those who cook and visit. The L.W.M.L. ladies continue to share the love of Jesus and the Gospel here and throughout the world in many other ways as well.
The outbreak of Covid 19 led to many difficulties and divisions in our land. The Elders and Pastor studied, prayed, and discussed how we might respond once it came to our community. Included in our studies were Scriptures, statements of other local churches, documents from our District, also the Texas Governor, as well as writings of Martin Luther during times of plague in the 16th century. On Wednesday night, March 10, we returned home from Lent services to the realization that the world had changed. That night the N.C.A.A. cancelled their basketball tournament and all other tournaments. Businesses told their workers to work remotely if possible. Schools shut down. Difficult decisions were made about suspending public worship for a time. While there were differences of opinion, the people of St. Paul handled it with grace and understanding. During this time, the LWML, under the direction of Nancy Adams and Tracy Bridges, and kept meeting, bringing food to the elderly with the Loaves and Fishes ministry. God helped us through a very difficult time. There were times during Covid when Pastor was not allowed in the hospital to visit, and for many months, after consecrating the bread and wine, speaking the words of institution outside the nursing home doors, had to pass the host and wine to an attendant at the nursing homes who then gave communion to the shut-ins as Pastor made the sign of the cross outside the window. We also did drive thru communion for many months for those who felt more comfortable away from crowds. Angie Miller, early in the Pandemic, arranged a "Covid Cruise" where a convoy of vehicles drove by the homes of older members. Thankfully, no one in the congregation died of Covid yet many became ill. During this time we began a new tradition of having a "Summer's Last Splash" worship service, outside in Roy Orbison Park, followed by food, fellowship and swimming every August at the City Swimming Pool as we began a new year of ministry.
In late 2022 and early 2023 Pastor Neuberger recognized that his muscle disease, S.M.A., was more and more limiting his effectiveness as a Pastor, so he applied for disability and stepped down as Pastor in June of 2023. At the present time, St. Paul is ably served by Rev. Dr. Robert Holaday as we await the Lord’s will in sending us another full time Pastor.
For over one hundred years, God has blessed the people of St Paul Lutheran Church. He has enabled them to serve the community of Vernon, the surrounding areas, and the church throughout the world. The school has provided quality Christian education since the founding of the church in 1912. Many sons and daughters of the congregation have gone on to serve as pastors, Lutheran school teachers, missionaries, and faithful lay people who are pillars in Christian churches throughout Texas and the United States. To this day, St. Paul Lutheran Church and School exist to serve God and the world by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
We praise God for all the blessings He has bestowed on us at St. Paul. We ask for His continued blessing and presence as we seek to share Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century. We also thank the community of Vernon for their support and partnership in many good causes during these past 113 years.
