To point out just a few of the many significant historical facts of that time, gives the present-day parishoner an idea of the activity and lifestyle that greeted those early German settlers as they traveled to Dakota Territory for the start of a new life and the establishment of their religion. It must be remembered that North Dakota did not join the Union until 1889, fifteen years after Pastor R. Winkler of Freiburg, near Fergus Falls, Minnesota came to Bradenburg township in the fall of 1874 to hold the first service for a small group of people who would lay the foundation for St. John's Lutheran Church.
Reverend Winkler became the first full-time pastor of the German Evangelical Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. The Great Bend congregation organized in 1875. It should be noted that the early name of Great Bend was Town Berlin. Pastor Winkler served the Great Bend parish and continued to work with the fledgling worship group in Brandenburg Township. A seminary studnet with the name T. Hinck assisted Reverend Winkler in his missionary work in North Dakota. In 1886, Hinck would become pastor at both the great Bend Church and St. John's Lutheran Church.
The Lord's work at both Great Bend and St. John's was continued by Pastor John Krueger. He served St. John's Lutheran from 1876 to 1881. A grasshopper plague was very evident in the area and local farmers were not doing well. Reverend Krueger did not receive monetary remuneration during his first year, only flour, potatoes and meat. The story is told that his first monetary salary was a dollar in cash given to him after a confirmation. Pastor Krueger was a commuter from Minnesota with a devout dedication to serve his people in the Great Bend area. During the bitter winter in February 1881, the Pastor reached Breckenridge by train and could not reach Great Bend by team as two feet of snow lay on the level. The team and sled, of course were the mode of travel, as the automobile had not yet arrived. He managed to borrow a mule and began to ride the 20 miles to Great Bend. The mule was tired and Pastor was cold, so he dismounted and walked for a short distance to bring warmth back to his body. Getting on the mule once again, the Pastor could not proceed, as the mule balked and refused to go any further. He could find no stick on the treeless prairie to encourage the mule, so the Pastor walked with the mule follwing behind. The two reached a farmstead where the farmer agreed to keep the mule but would not offer a team of horses to assist the good Pastor. Pastor Krueger walked on. Exhausted, ready to fall asleep, a parishioner came along, who had turned back from his trip to the church, and rescued the minister. They reached the church, but there was no one there. Services were held in a home.
The tale of Reverend Krueger is one of many that can be told of the early pastors who had determination and supreme guidance in doing the work that the Lord intended for them to do. Pastor Krueger felt he definitely would have perished had the parishioner not arrived on the scene.
In 1881 Candidate Rober Koehler was installed at Trinity Church in Great Bend. He also became the mission pastor for the small group west of Great Bend. Reverend Koehler was born in 1858 in Greiz, Germany. He traveled to Austria with friends where they found literature about the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. Pleas were being extended for young men to immigrate to America to serve as pastors and teachers. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. His first assignment was Great Bend and St. John's, Belford Township. He served both congregations until 1885. He serve a congregation in Mountville County, Minnesota, for 22 years. His next calling was Long Prairie, Minnesota, where he did the Lord's work for 20 years. Pastor Koehler was a phenomenon in the profession of ministry. He served his people for 62 years, and it is said that in all that time he never missed one Sunday service. He and his wife were blessed with 11 children. He passed away on December 13, 1948, and was laid to rest at Long Prairie Minnesota.
It was during Reverend Koehler's service to the handful of German families west of Great Bend, on the Wild Rice River, that St. John's Lutheran Church, Belford Township was organized in 1883. The exact date of organization is not known since the first recorded minutes have no date. The very first services were held at the Hoefs school house. It was in 1883 that a small amount of property was purchased five and one-half miles west of the "Mother Church." Many congregations, not only in Southeastern North Dakota, can trace their beginnings to Trinity Church in Great Bend. A list of charter members of that early congregation has never been found. The first ten names signed to the constitution were: William Bladow, August Hoefs, Carl Witt, William Weiss, William Dumke, Carl Bladow, Carl Liermann, William Vedder, Carl Hein, and Ferdinand Medenwaldt.
The Old Church, in later years more commonly referred to as the Catechism School, was a wood structure, approximate size of 36x20 feet with a small entryway. This small wooden building served as the congregation parish house until 1899 when the present church building was constructed. Early records show that the first baptism recorded was that of Bertha Dumke, daugter of William and Bertha Dumke, baptized January 20, 1884. The first confirmation class, October 19, 1884 consisted of Martha Krause, Bertha Lierman, Sara Bladow, Emilie Weber, Bertha Jahr, Auguste Medenwaldt, Emil Klawitter, August Bladow and Carl Bladow. The first wedding was that of Fredrick Klawitter and Emilie Kirch, February 17, 1885. The first burial was that of Albert Bladow, son of Carl and Augusta Bladow, December 27, 1883.
Reverend Tietje Hinck became pastor of St. John's Church in 1886, and continued his service until 1898. He also served the Great Bend parish. His work with that parish continued for 44 years.
Much is told of Pastor Hinck. He was born in Hannover, Germany on January 17, 1858. At 17 years he immigrated to America where it was his ambition to become a merchant businessman. While visiting relatives in Concordia, Missouri, the call for divine work in the ministry came to him and he entered the seminary in Springfield, Illinois, the fall of 1876. It was always his dream to become a missionary on the prairies. His dream came true and he became a Circuit Rider in Dakota Territory. He rode thousands of mils on a route nearly 500 miles long. At one time there were 29 preaching stations, including homes, barns, railroad stations and bars. Near Ellendale he met his bride, Louisa Rosalia Heine, whom he married in 1886. It is told that upon their first meeting she was so taken aback by the handsome looks of this missionary that she choked a good from a flock she was tending. This marriage was blessed with six daughters and seven sons. Pastor Hinck was highly revered not only for his passion in doing the Lord's work, but for simple, everyday compassion for people. Picking prairie roses for coffins, feeding gypsies and conducting services for boys leaving for war were examples of concerns this prairie pastor had for his people. Pastor Hinck passed away in 1930; his wife followed him in eternal rest 13 years later. Both Pastor and Mrs. Hinck are buried in the Great Bend cemetery.
In 1898, St. John's made the bold move to call for a full-time pastor and make plans for the construction of a permanent church and parsonage. Reverend Rudolph Hilgendorf accepted the call to become that first full-time pastor. He completed his studies at the St. Louis Seminary in 1898 and was installed September 11, 1898. Wilhemina (Billy) Witt, of Hankinson, indicated that her sister, Lily Louis (Witt) Keenan, Otelia Hoefs, and Otto Witt were the first three baptisms performed by Reverend Hilgendorf. He served faithfully for almost twenty-five years. Many members of St. John's who have gone to their eternal resting place, spoke of Reverend Hilgendorf. He was stern, fair, and hard working. He married Sophia Lauppe. Pastor and Mrs. Hilgendorf never had a family. They adopted a beautiful little girl by the name of Verna, who was an orphan. She married and moved to California. Pastor Hilgendorf had a brother Paul, who was also in the ministry, as was his brother's son, Paul Jr. A cousin, Theodore, was driving toward Belford with his team, when Hilgendorf asked, "What are all these lights?" Pastor Hinck indicated that they were the lights from Great Bend. Hilgendorf believed this for only a short time, because as they continued to drive, they noticed burning straw piles, not the lights of Great Bend.
Hilgendorf was returning from a trip to Nebraska. One of his members, Carl Bellin, met him at the depot with team and buggy. On the edge of Hankinson Mr. Bellin noticed that all was not well with his pastor so he turned around and went to the Reverend J.P. Klausler parsonage. A doctor was summoned only to find Reverend Hilgendorf dead. This happened on April 13, 1923. Hilgendorf was buried in Seward, Nebraska.
A number of area Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches had their official beginning at the turn of the century. Immanuel Lutheran of rural LIdgerwood was organized in 1884with the help of Reverend Koehler. Reverend Hinck and Rev. Hilgendorf were instrumental in the organization of parishes at Immanuel Lutheran in Wahpeton and Peace Lutheran in Barney in 1900. Immanuel Lutheran of Hankinson organized in 1902 and Holy Cross of Lidgerwood in 1906.
St. John's present church building was constructed right before the turn of the century. It was dedicated on November 19, 1899. The church originally had a tall steeple which was demolished by a windstorm in 1924. The present square tower became its substitute. Reverend Koehler and Reverend Hinck delivered the dedication sermons. Collections from two services totaled $79.88. Money was not plentiful but volunteers were in abundance. The church was built and furnished for less than three thousand dollars. The 10-foot oak pews were purchased for $9 each. Light was furnished by three brass chandeliers bearing eight oil lamps each. The church records reveal that Clara Bellin was the first child baptized in the church. Gustav Medenwaldt and Mrs. Herman Weber were members of the first confirmation class in the new building. The first burial was Mrs. William Weiss. The imposing, well constructed and practical parsonage was completed in 1919.
The old, small church, constructed in 1883, was continuously used as a Catechsim school until 1958. It was purchased by Reuben Pankow and is still located on the Pankow farmstead. The memories of that old school house will linger forever. A building designed and used for Christian education, with a lot of good times interspersed involving Pastors and students. Present day Christian instruction could never be the same because the old school house is gone. And then, too, the horse barns. My, what a cherished spot to play hide and seek, or crawl around the rafters. What a memorable sight, especially at Christmas Eve services, to see the rows of horse drawn sleds, with teams one more dapper than the other. The church was heated with a pot bellied stove. Candles light the Christmas tree. Hymns were played on the old pump organ and there wasn't such a rush to get home as gifts were few. The greatest Gift was celebrated within the walls of the warm country church. And as families, bundled for warmth, went their separate ways, a Merry Christmas greeting seemed more meaningful and beautiful. As automobiles continued to replace the horse-drawn buggy and sleighs, the old horse barns were no longer needed. They dissappeared from the church grounds between 1935 and 1940.
After Reverend Hilgendorf's untimely death, the church was without a full-time pastor for nearly two years. Reverend J.P. Klausler of Hankinson served as vacancy pastor. There were 17 successive calls for a pastor, all of which were returned. The 18th was answered by Reverend Walter H. Cordts, of Naper, Nebraska. He was installe don February 15, 1925. He served St. John's for 35 continuous years until his resignation in April 1960.
Reverend Cordts was born at Boone, Iowa, on May 29th, 1890. His parents came from the old country, Schileswig-Holstein, Germany, in 1885. His father was a shoemaker with a specialty of making shoes for people who had crippled feet. He graduated from Springfield Seminary in 1913 and was ordained at Trinity Church, Boone, Iowa on August 10, 1913. His first parish was in the Edgemont-Ardmore area of South Dakota. He accepted a call to Naper, Nebraska in 1916, where he served throughout World War I. It is said he encountered a great deal of anti-German sentiment from area residents. In 1917 he married Rose Volberding of Jamison, Nebraska. The 1918 "Flu Epidemic" was a busy time for Reverend Cordts traveling with horses, day and night, administering to the sick and dying and many times conducting burial services in teh middle of the night. Upon his arrival at Belford he taught at a parish school in addition to his ministry. The North Dakota District was his life. He served in several official capacities until he was named president of the North Dakota District in 1950, serving until 1954.
Reverend Cordts became ill in 1958 with a light stroke experiencing a very serious fall on a cement sidewalk. The accident developed a slight loss of hearing in one of his ears. This physical setback did not deter his activity as pastor of the church. He continued to serve St. John's for another two yeas. His wife, Rose, passed away in 1959. Information provided by the Missouri Synod historians reveals that North Dakota produced a number of great champions for the truth. In Pastor Cordts, we believe "we have one who has surpassed all competition." Those who had the privilege of knowing and working with Reverend Cordts will wholeheartedly agree. After his retirement in 1960, he continued to live with his daughter, Irma, (wife of Reverend Bernard Pankow), residing in California. It was 1963 when Reverend Cordts was called to his eternal rest. It was indeed a sad day for the Belford congregation. This magnificent man had done so much for so many for so little. The Missouri Synod had lost a "Champion". Both Rev. and Mrs. Cordts are laid to rest in the Belford Cemetery.
Annual and quarterly meeting minutes were written in the German language until the annual meetings conducted January 4, 1947. The pastors generally served as secretary for the meetings. Time did not permit the translation of the German minutes. Our modern generation of German families was not nearly as bi-lingual as the old timers. A small amount of space is devoted here pointing out highlights derived from the English minutes written 61 years ago.
- April 21, 1947 - decision made to paint interior of church.
- August 5, 1947 - the Pastor's salary was set at $75 annually.
- January 8, 1948 - the organist's salary was set at $75 annually.
- October 6, 1949 - moved for the 50th anniversary celebration of the church dedication. The celebration service was held November 20, 1949. Henry Krause was chairman of the congregation.
- October 8, 1950 - new well dug for the parsonage.
- April 8, 1951 - moved to tear down the old garage and barn near the parsonage and use the lumber to construct a new garage.
- December 9, 1951 - Ladies Aid contributed $200 for the purchase of an electric organ.
- December 16, 1951 - after trial use, the new organ was purchased for the sum of $1,229.
- May 4, 1952 - Pastor Cordts asked for a month's leave to travel to Mexico. (Where his daughter and son-in-law were missionaries)
- January 9, 1953 - decision made to conduct German services on the third Sunday only.
- October 4, 1953 - moved to pain the school house.
- January 6, 1954 - board moved to give Pastor Cordts a $500 bonus.
- March and April 1954 - special meetings held. Reverend Cordts received calls to New German and Hinckley, Minnesota. Both calls were returned.
- January 7, 1955 - the annual salary for the janitor was set at $100, and $25 was to be paid to the person starting the fires to heat the church.
- February 13, 1955 - Special meeting conducted. The order of business was moving of the church. Decision was made to move the church from the cemetery south, across the road to its present location. Nick Schmidt agreed to do this for $3500, which included moving the building, construction of basement walls and pouring the cement floor.
- April 8, 1956 - board decided to pipe water from the parsonage to the church.
- April 13, 1958 - plans formulated for the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the congregation. This happy occasion occured on October 12, 1958. The anniversary speakers were Reverend Ewald Hinck and Reverend Martin Ludwig. The anniversary committee included Clifford Krause, Elmer Loll and Elroy Schubert. Also, at this meeting, the decision was made to sell the schoolhouse on a bid basis.
- January 17, 1960 - Reverend Cordts announced that he would be submitting his resignation soon.
- April 3, 1960 - the pastor rendered his resignation. It was sadly accepted by the Board. A call meeting was arranged with Pastor Dierks of Barney. Alfred Witt was asked to serve as secretary. Reverend Truog of Hankinson became the vacancy Pastor to St. John's.
- April 1960 to November 1960 - a total of eight special call meetings were conducted, all calls were returned.
- February 5, 1961 - a call was extended to Reverend William Deutschhausen of Winkler, Manitoba, Canada. Reverend Deutschausen accepted and was installed as the last full-time pastor of St. John's in October 1961.
Pastor Deutschhausen was born in the city of Vienna, Austria, in 1893. He attended the Lutheran parochial school and college. He served in the army in World War I from 1914-1918, then attending the University studying German Literature and History. After receiving his doctorate, he studied Theology, graduating from the University where he received the following degrees, compared with American - B.A., M.A., B.D. and B.E. (Education).
Pastors in Austria instruct religion at the different public schools and colleges. After two years of vicaring, he was ordained and took charge of a church in Austria in 1929. After graduating he married Elizabeth who was also born and raised in Vienna. She graduated from the Vienna Art School.
When Hitler began his rise to power, the church struggle began all over Germany and Austria. Pastor Deutschhausen took sides with the confessional church which made him a marked man. Die Gestapo wanted to use him as a spy in Luxembourg. Because he refused, he was given a choice, leaving Austria within two weeks or be put in a concentration camp. He did neither, but spent seven months in the underground. Then through the kindness of the Bishop of Chicester, he was invited to England, where he began to organize Austria and German refugees into congregations. He was also a guest speaker at Oxford, London, and Cambridge Universities, speaking about Martin Luther's work and life, also about the unavoidable church struggle in Germany and Austria.
While in England, he was in contact with a pastor of the Missouri Synod. Pastor Deutschhausen was impressed and eventually joined the Synod. In March 1945, nearly at the end of the war, he received a call to Canada which badly needed Germany-English speaking pastors. After serving several years in Canada, he came to the USA in 1961 to Hankinson, North Dakota, where he served St. John's.
Reverend Deutschhausen faithfully served the St. John's congregation until July 1966. At that time, Reverend Mommens of Hankinson was hired to serve as vacancy Pastor. Reverend Deutschhausen officialy tendered his resignation January 15, 1967. Less than two weeks after his resignation, January 27, 1967, Pastor Deutschhausen was called to his eternal home and laid to rest in the Belford cemetery. The European background of this man was a learning experience for the congregation. His pleasant ways and soft-spoken understanding were characteristics that all will remember. Mrs. Deutschhausen continued to reside in Hankinson and was a faithful member of St. John's. Reverend Nast of Great Bend served as vacancy pastor for a couple of years. At the quarterly voter's meeting conducted February 4, 1968, the board moved not to pursue further calling of pastors, but rather to approach Peace Lutheran in Barney and Immanuel Lutheran in Hankinson for an alignment with either of them, sharing costs and services of their pastor. On July 14, 1968, the board decided to develop an alignment with the Hankinson church. An agreement was reached between the two congregations.
Reverend Norman C. Sincebaugh was the first pastor to serve the St. John/Immanuel dual parish. Reverend Sincebaugh was installed at St. John's on June 8, 1969. He began his ministry in 1962. His first church was in Hannover, North Dakota. From there he went to Waterloo, Iowa, and then came to St. John's and Immanuel, Hankinson. He resided in the parish parsonage in Hankinson with his wife, Dorothea and children, Rhoda, Rachel, Joel, and David. Reverend Sincebaugh served our parish for four years. In December of 1973, Reverend Sincebaugh was issued a peaceful release when he became the Executive Secretary of the North Dakota District LC-MS. After several years as Executive Secretary, Reverend Sincebaugh became our North Dakota District President, serving for several yeas. Reverend Lambert Dierks, Barney, became our vacancy pastor.
On January 25, 1973, at a special meeting of the congregation, it was decided to sell the parsonage to Mrs. Brecker of Rutland, North Dakota. The house was sold for $3,100.
At the board meeting conducted May 6, 1973, it was decided to have a 90th anniversary celebration of the church founding. This service was conducted on September 9, 1973. The theme was "Rejoicing in God's Mercy" Psalm 31:7-8. The sermon was preached by Reverend Gerhard C. Michael, Howard Lake, Minnesota. Also in attendance was our District President, Reverend Alwin Reimnitz.
On September 8, 1974, Reverend Henry V. Buchholz, Warren Minnesota was installed as our new pastor. He became the second dual pastor to serve both congregations. The parish became vacant again in July 1978, when Pastor Buchholz accepted a call to Appleton, Minnesota.
During this vacancy, our congregation was served by Reverend E. Bartels of Immanuel, Wahpeton, together with the vicars of that congregation. The vacancy continued for almost two years until March 1980, when Reverend Howard J. Jording accepted our call to become pastor of St. John's along with Immanuel, Hankinson. He came from St. Thomas, North Dakota. He had previously served congregations in Northern Wisconsin and Central Illinois.
Reverend Jording was a native of North Dakota, having been born in Killdeer in 1933. He was a 1958 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1974, a Doctor of Ministry degree in August of 1983, and a Doctor of Theology degree in 1985.
Pastor and his wife Lucia were blessed with four children: a daughter who died in infancy, Dacia, Timothy and Justin. Justin died the result of a motorcycle accident in Durham, North Carolina in 1991 on his way to work. To Justin's honor and memory, in 1992 the Jordings created a scholarship fund in his name at St. John's. Several members of St. John's and Immanuel have been and continue to receive money from this scholarship fund while they attend any of the LCMS colleges, universities or seminaries.
Other North Dakota District responsibilities that Reverend Jording had, include Director of Public Relations for the North Dakota District, editor of the North Dakota Edition of the Lutheran Witness and Counselor fo the North Dakota LWML. He was North Dakota District Vice President from 1991 to 2000. On the cicuit level he was the advisor for the LYF, LLL, and LWML. An interesting event occurred in the 1930's when the Reverend Jording's father, Reverend E.M.F. Jording, was assigned by the Seminary as a Missionary at Large in western North Dakota. He made a stop at St. John's Belford Township, because the District Convention was being held there. Former Pastor Cordts was the District President at that time. Among the events of the day was a croquet tournament going on. District President Cordts was so involved in that game, he didn't have time to prepare for the evening communion service. He delegated the youngest preacher in attendance, which happened to be Reverend E.M.F. Jording, who had just arrived in North Dakota, to be the speaker for the evening. Thus the elder Jording preached his first sermon at St. John's Belford.
When Reverend Howard. J. Jording arrived at St. John's in March 1980, it was right in the middle of the Lenten Season. In order to have his first sermon at St. John's be on a Sunday, his father Reverend E.M.F. Jording, who was present for his son's installation, conducted the Lenten service that week. Thus the elder Reverend Jording preached his first sermon at St. John's and also his last sermon, for soon after his 1980 visit to the area, he was called into eternity.
The year 1983 was a special one for St. John's. We celebrated our 100th anniversary on June 19th. We celebrated with the Jordings as they were blessed on the 25th anniversary of Reverend Jording's ordination and the Jording's 25th wedding anniversary. The 100th anniversary began with a welcome service Saturday evening, June 18th and two services on Sunday June 19th. Our motto was "This is the day which the Lord hat made" Psalm 118:24. Our guest speakers were Reverend Bernard Pankow, a native of Hankinson and son-in-law of former pastor Reverend Walter Cordts, and Reverend N.C. Sincebaugh, former pastor and current North Dakota District Executive Secretary. During the summer of 1983, Reverend Jording served as the Southeast Circuit delegate to the LCMS convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
During the course of history four known members of St. John's have entered full-time church work. Marsha (Pankow) Horkey and Rachel (Pankow) Harbig, daugthers of Herman and Delores Pankow, both attended Concordia College St. Paul, Minnesota and earned a degree in elementary education. Marsha later earned a Masters Degree in reading education from Concordia College, Seward, Nebraska. Kari (Loll) Nelson graduated from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota, with an elementary education degree and later earned a Masters Degree in Administration from Concordia College, Irvine, California. Warren Prochnow graduated from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota and Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Missouri. Warren was ordained into the ministry in a service held at St. John's in 2000. He is currently working as a pastor in Kansas. Both Kari and Warren served their church through short mission trips during their years at Concordia. Warren was in Haiti and Kari went to Juarez, Mexico. Shala Krump also has serve a short-term ministry in Jamaica.
The year 2000 brought the retirement of Reverend Dr. H.J. Jording from the role of active ministry. He was honored with a special service held at Immanuel, Hankinson on July 30, 2000.
To be continued...
Other North Dakota District responsibilities that Reverend Jording had, include Director of Public Relations for the North Dakota District, editor of the North Dakota Edition of the Lutheran Witness and Counselor fo the North Dakota LWML. He was North Dakota District Vice President from 1991 to 2000. On the cicuit level he was the advisor for the LYF, LLL, and LWML. An interesting event occurred in the 1930's when the Reverend Jording's father, Reverend E.M.F. Jording, was assigned by the Seminary as a Missionary at Large in western North Dakota. He made a stop at St. John's Belford Township, because the District Convention was being held there. Former Pastor Cordts was the District President at that time. Among the events of the day was a croquet tournament going on. District President Cordts was so involved in that game, he didn't have time to prepare for the evening communion service. He delegated the youngest preacher in attendance, which happened to be Reverend E.M.F. Jording, who had just arrived in North Dakota, to be the speaker for the evening. Thus the elder Jording preached his first sermon at St. John's Belford.
When Reverend Howard. J. Jording arrived at St. John's in March 1980, it was right in the middle of the Lenten Season. In order to have his first sermon at St. John's be on a Sunday, his father Reverend E.M.F. Jording, who was present for his son's installation, conducted the Lenten service that week. Thus the elder Reverend Jording preached his first sermon at St. John's and also his last sermon, for soon after his 1980 visit to the area, he was called into eternity.
The year 1983 was a special one for St. John's. We celebrated our 100th anniversary on June 19th. We celebrated with the Jordings as they were blessed on the 25th anniversary of Reverend Jording's ordination and the Jording's 25th wedding anniversary. The 100th anniversary began with a welcome service Saturday evening, June 18th and two services on Sunday June 19th. Our motto was "This is the day which the Lord hat made" Psalm 118:24. Our guest speakers were Reverend Bernard Pankow, a native of Hankinson and son-in-law of former pastor Reverend Walter Cordts, and Reverend N.C. Sincebaugh, former pastor and current North Dakota District Executive Secretary. During the summer of 1983, Reverend Jording served as the Southeast Circuit delegate to the LCMS convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
During the course of history four known members of St. John's have entered full-time church work. Marsha (Pankow) Horkey and Rachel (Pankow) Harbig, daugthers of Herman and Delores Pankow, both attended Concordia College St. Paul, Minnesota and earned a degree in elementary education. Marsha later earned a Masters Degree in reading education from Concordia College, Seward, Nebraska. Kari (Loll) Nelson graduated from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota, with an elementary education degree and later earned a Masters Degree in Administration from Concordia College, Irvine, California. Warren Prochnow graduated from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota and Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Missouri. Warren was ordained into the ministry in a service held at St. John's in 2000. He is currently working as a pastor in Kansas. Both Kari and Warren served their church through short mission trips during their years at Concordia. Warren was in Haiti and Kari went to Juarez, Mexico. Shala Krump also has serve a short-term ministry in Jamaica.
The year 2000 brought the retirement of Reverend Dr. H.J. Jording from the role of active ministry. He was honored with a special service held at Immanuel, Hankinson on July 30, 2000.
