Category: History

The seating capacity of the nave (main auditorium) when our pews arrive is designed to accommodate 175 adult worshippers. The size of the nave is forty feet square, including the chancel (altar area) and two rooms for heating, cooling and storage.Along the west side are the kitchen and the Sunday School rooms. The Sunday School rooms are designed for Sunday School classes and social activities. The folding doors can be opened up to provide seating space for another 40 worshippers.

Directly east are two offices, rest rooms, a meeting room and a utility room.

Continue reading “Church History Written in 1980” →

Written by Mary M. Ankrom, Charter Member, in 1997

In the year of 1974, I was taking our daughter, Janet, to Confirmation Instruction at Trinity Lutheran in Springfield.

My Brother-in-law, Jerome Newton was Associate Pastor there and C.W. Heilman was Pastor.

I discussed with Jerry and my sister Annette my desire to try to start a church in Bolivar. Jerry followed up on this by talking to Pastor Heilman and he said he had heard there were 2 other Lutheran Families in Bolivar, the Pruitts and the Selveys.

He than began to set things in order, and with my help a meeting was held at Trinity, with some of their members interested in helping us, and the Ankroms, Selveys and Pruitts.

Continue reading “Establishing Zion Lutheran Church in Bolivar” →

Feb. 10, 1974 – The Evangelism Committee of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield hosted a pot luck dinner and invited Bolivar Lutherans. Ankroms, Selveys and Jeannie Griffin attended. Pastor Heilman had stated that he would come to Bolivar and preach if we could find a location to have services.

Feb. 1974 – Several meetings were held at the Selvey home to discuss plans for holding church services. Pruitts, Ankroms, Selveys, Griffin, Whites, Gabels and Pastor Heilman were the planners. Since no vacant buildings were available, services were held at the Selvey home.

Continue reading “History from Beginning to 1981” →