100 Years of Holding onto God's Truth

A Snapshot of 100 Years Ago (1926)

The United States turns 150 years old. Calvin Coolidge occupies the White House and is a big proponent of ‘free enterprise,’ which sounds a lot like this: ‘Get out there and build your fortune. We, the government, won’t get in the way.’ As you have it, the town of Martin, SD has already become quite the “enterprising community in a surprisingly short amount of time.” Many families have moved in “seeking their fortune” due to “fertile soil and abundant rainfall.”

One more snapshot as we look back 100 years:

Pastor Belno Lange of White River is commissioned to explore the Martin area in spring of 1926, later bringing on Pastor V.H. Winter, who is called by a mission board to pastor the Martin community. Rev. Winter enters upon quite the enterprise, learning to become self-sufficient. For example: How to build a new church with no “congregation” to rely on; how to faithfully gather and shepherd a community of believers to go with that building; how to make Martin home and find fulfillment when the future is so uncertain.

By God’s grace, Our Redeemer’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, an initiative to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is established. The cornerstone of this enterprise is Jesus, our Redeemer, who teaches us to be faithful unto him, and he will give us the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

100 Years Later – The Initiative Continues

As Pastors, we learn that our duty – in ministry – is to be faithful unto the cause of the Gospel. Our duty is not to prove ourselves with results; rather, to be caretakers of one’s soul, shepherding that soul to Jesus, who will seal his gracious promises and give that person the crown of life. Congregations are called upon to support this initiative by their faithful efforts as well – they are the universal priesthood, offering to God their meaningful service in the freedom of the Gospel.

It’s simple on paper, yet it seems a difficult enterprise at times in the realm of human experience. Pastors are sinful human beings who don’t always see the initiative of the Gospel clearly. Churches sometimes run more like businesses, for good reasons but also in ways that don’t help the mission. Congregations are comprised of complicated sinners who don’t always recognize the bonds of unity that call us to worship, live and work together. It’s a sort of functional amnesia – we don’t necessarily forget who we are – but we forget what we do because of who we believe we are.

So we return, in repentance, to God. To His Word. It’s what has held us together for these last 100 years. From the pioneer Christians who first filled the pews to believers today- the internal testimony of this Bible we hold onto has authenticated itself and convinced us that it is no plain or profane writing of literature… that it is both God’s Word and truly makes us WISE for salvation.

Thus we appropriate this Word of God for our daily lives – grounded in the Gospel, we are freed to live the Word, speak the Word, share the Word; to correct, rebuke, teach and train using this Word.

We owe so much to this Word of God: Thus we seek to honor the Word that has kept us a Church these last 100 years. As we take pause to celebrate our Centennial Anniversary, our theme shall be:

100 years of HOLDING ON TO THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD.

In conclusion: I am privileged to lead this congregation for such a time as this, in 2026, as we faithfully rededicate ourselves to this enterprise of the Gospel; through the stead of our Redeemer, who freed us not only from sin but for a life of meaningful service.

In his name,  

Pastor Young