To Know Christ--to make Christ Known

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A Brief History of Christ the King Lutheran Church
The pictures on this page are thumbnails. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version.
Christ the King Lutheran Church was first envisioned in 1958, by the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELC) and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato. At that time, both groups pledged their financial support for a new mission congregation in Mankato, Minnesota.
On July 21, 1959, the Reverend Harry L. Anderson was called as the first pastor of the future congregation. He accepted the call in the fall of that year and began his work at CTK on July 15, 1960. In February, 1960, contracts were let on the first unit of the church facility and on the parsonage. Then, in August, Miss Annette Femrite, of the ELC, assisted the new pastor with a home-to-home canvas of the hilltop area of Mankato to recruit members. The congregation was officially organized, and Pastor Anderson was installed on November 16, 1960. Pastor Anderson served the congregation until 1975.

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Pastor Harry L. Anderson passed away in July 2002, of injuries sustained in a car accident.

"We have not here an abiding city . . ."

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On September 11, 1960, the first worship service was held in the new sanctuary, now the chapel. Here are photos of  the chapel decorated for Easter Sunday and Christmas during the 1960's

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On November 16, 1960, Christ the King Lutheran Church was organized. CTK was the last congregation organized by the ELC. The ELC and other bodies merged to form The American Lutheran Church.
The first building unit was dedicated on February 5, 1961. The thumbnail picture shows cars of that time. This picture is dated 1963.

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In 1964 an education wing was added. In 1967, Pastor Peter J. Dzick (pronounced "Zick") was installed as Assistant Pastor. Pastor Dzick served CTK for two years. He passed away at age 39, while serving in a subsequent call..

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In memory of Pastor Peter J. Dzick

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Boy Scout Troop 76 was organized at Christ the King in 1968. A new sanctuary, office space, and classrooms were added in 1968-69. This addition was dedicated October 26, 1969. Here is a thumbnail photo of the building from that time.

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Pastor Andrew G. Jensen became associate pastor in August of 1970, serving until August of 1974.
At the first Christmas in the new worship center, the chancel (space around the altar and communion rail) was decorated with natural trees. Because a change in state law made the use of lights on natural trees in places of assembly illegal, CTK had to scramble to provide Christmas decorations for subsequent Christmas celebrations. A team of volunteers looked around for a source of artificial evergreen rope; they found some of a color that looked real, and ordered a vast quantity. When the rope came, it was bright blue. A frantic call to the manufacturer resulted in a rush shipment of the correct color, and when it arrived, a team of people created an artificial Christmas tree. The trunk was, well, originally, a tree, but it had seen other use as a wagon tongue. The team restored the trunk to its original vertical position, and one member drilled holes in the trunk while others wired the artificial evergreen to thick steel wires, which served as branches. The result of a massive amount of concentrated labor was a Christmas tree of large proportions--slightly over 20 feet tall, approximately 12 feet in diameter at the bottom, containing 89 branches (all numbered) and a top piece. This has been called the largest handmade artificial Christmas tree in captivity. The tree was used until Christmas 2000, when 7 (unlighted) natural trees were used. The tree still exists, in storage, and may be used in the future. [A more detailed story is available in the church archives.] The thumbprint picture is of the tree in one of its earliest years. The tree was also used for Christmas 2005. A Letter from the Archives is available with more information.

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Pastor John H. Jorde was installed as Associate Pastor in February of 1975, serving until February of 1977.
Pastor Edward W. Swenson was installed August 29, 1976. Pastor Swenson served the congregation until his retirement in 1991. In November of 1978, Pastor A. Milford Thompson was installed as visitation pastor. Upon his retirement, Pastor Milford Thompson became Pastor Emeritus, and he served in that role, preaching occasionally, until his passing, July 30, 1998.

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In memory of Pastor A. Milford Thompson

"I am but a stranger here; heaven is my home . . ."

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Pastor Stephanie K. Frey was installed as Associate Pastor August 8, 1982, serving until August, 1986.
Pastor Randall G. Olson was installed as youth pastor December 15, 1986, becoming co-pastor with Pastor Swenson (1989-90), then Senior Pastor, serving until June 30, 1992.
On April 21, 1991, Pastor Steven J. Berkeland was installed as Associate Pastor, serving until August of 2001.
Pastor Craig Boehlke was installed as Senior Pastor March 21, 1993, serving until January 31, 1995.
During 1994-1995, Christ the King Lutheran Church remodeled and added to the building. This thumbnail shows construction of the new entrance, the carport, and part of the construction of the Community Room.

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Pastor John R. Petersen was installed as Senior Pastor March 17, 1996.
Pastor Kathryn Gauger was installed as Associate Pastor December 22, 1996, serving until June, 1999.
Pastor Daphne D. Hamborg was installed as Associate Pastor April 9, 2000. She served until June 25, 2006, leaving due to health concerns.
Pastor Donohue Sarff began serving as Pastor of Elderversity in May, 2002. The Elderversity program is, among many other things, an outreach to older members of CTK.
Pastor Steve Kidder accepted the call to CTK to serve as Pastor of Youth and Family ministries, and began serving here on March 23, 2003.
Pastor Patrick Patterson accepted the call to CTK to serve as Pastor of Administration, and began serving here on August 8, 2007.

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Pastor Edward W. Swenson, Senior Pastor at CTK 1976-1991, died February 13, 2004, of pneumonia, after a long battle with cancer.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation: which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles: and the glory of thy people Israel.

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For a more detailed chronology, please contact the church office.
Over the course of years, several smaller Lutheran groups merged to form The American Lutheran Church, and in 1988, the ALC, the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) met to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA is the largest Lutheran church body in the United States.

Notes on the history of Christ the King Lutheran Church's building
Christ the King Lutheran's building was built in several stages; the completion of the first unit, consisting of what is now the Chapel, a meeting room (now rooms 28-30) a Pastor's study (now room 31--the Education office), and a Narthex or lobby (now part of various rooms and halls near the Chapel) in 1960. In 1964, the Education wing (now rooms 16-23) was dedicated. In 1969, an addition was completed which includes the present worship space, a connecting hall with classrooms, a Fireside Room (now the Library), a library (now the south part of the library and the library office), a nursery, office and restrooms.

In 1995, the building was enlarged and extensively remodeled. The original office space was demolished to make room for the Community Room, a new Fireside Room was built, the Narthex enlarged, a music room and additional Sunday School classrooms were added. Air conditioning was also installed.

In 2004, many halls and classrooms were remodeled for the rotation model Sunday School. To view some of these rooms, please visit our Education page.

The building consists of slightly more than 43,000 square feet of space, and in addition to worship, Bible study, Christian education and congregational activities, houses the Mankato Lutheran Adult Day Service, which provides care and medical services to allow adults to remain in their homes and live as independently as possible. Space is also provided for Boy Scout Troop 76, which CTK sponsors. In addition, the congregation endeavors to make space available for groups whose philosophy is in agreement with CTK's mission statement.

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