The Sprouting Seed     1972 – 1989

For eight years God had been planting and nurturing the seed of Calvary Lutheran Church with his powerful Word.  In those years the seed of Calvary had sprouted other congregations.  By 1972 the congregation itself had grown large enough for it to consider sprouting new ministries right at home.  Gus Stangeland was serving as the chairman of the board of education in 1972 when the congregation decided to open a Lutheran Elementary School.  Mrs. Stephen (Clara) Gregg was called to teach six Kindergarten (four and five-year-old) students, half days.  After calls to Miss Ruth Huebner and Miss Katherine Busch were returned, Miss Cynthia Crossfield, a Dr. Martin Luther College graduate, was assigned and accepted the call to teach eight students in grades 1-4, full day.  After months of anxious planning and waiting, classes began on August 28, 1972 with fourteen students.  In that same year, church membership grew to 260 souls.

Calvary’s physical plant was watered, literally, as the new year 1973 began.  On January 1st, the pipes in the church ruptured and water poured out for several hours before a church neighbor discovered the break.  Two inches of water covered the entire church and educational area.  Twenty Calvary members, with the assistance of the Dallas Fire department, worked to remove the water, but were unable to save the new carpeting.

Even after such an inauspicious beginning, the year was filled with a host of blessings.  Increased attendance began to stretch the capacity of the sanctuary so a second service was added, rearranging the new service times to 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.  A mother/daughter tea sponsored by the Bluebonnets, the summer youth retreat at Bastrop State Park near Austin ($18 for three days!), and an increase of four children in school enrollment all reflected Calvary’s emphasis on youth ministry.

A commemorative worship service was held on February 2, 1974 to recognize a decade of God’s grace to Calvary marking the tenth anniversary of its first church service.   It was followed with a special dinner and program that included songs by the school children and junior choir.

In that same year, Calvary further nurtured its sprouting children’s ministry by calling Dan Schmeling as the first principal of its Lutheran Elementary School.  Previously Mr. Schmeling had taught at St. Croix Lutheran High School in St. Paul, Minnesota and came to Calvary with B.S. and M.S. degrees in primary and secondary education.  He was installed on July 14, 1974 and just two years later earned his Doctorate degree in secondary education from the University of North Texas (he had the special recognition of being the 1000th doctoral candidate to graduate from NTSU).  Mr. Schmeling’s wife, Ellen, also joined the teaching staff and classes were expanded to include six grades with 36 students.  Just as God’s grace was evident in the growing school, so the church membership also grew to 278 souls with average attendance at worship 150.

Calvary’s sprouting ministries did not come without their “growing pains.”  Added staff and facilities stretched Calvary’s budget.  The Youth Group pitched in and held a car wash fund raiser charging $1.00 per car, raising $52 and donating it to the general fund.  Members volunteered to clean the church and school three times a week with families taking a turn once every two weeks.   The school began saving Campbell’s labels to purchase extra-budgetary items.  Through the conscientious work of the congregation, the Voters’ minutes from March of 1975 could joyfully announce, “due to the generous contributions of the Calvary members, all past bills were paid.” 

In that same year the Ladies Bible Study decided to review and donate at least one book per month to the Calvary library.   The first book donated for “edifying reading” was Total Woman, by Maribel Morgan.  However, the March newsletter a year later stated that “due to the sophisticated content it could now be found on a shelf in Dr. Schmeling’s office.”  On a less controversial note, the Ladies Bible Study also ordered tableware and a nine piece set of pans for the kitchen, purchased with Betty Crocker coupons.

In that same year, Calvary Lutheran School also began feeling “growing pains.”  With the addition of seventh grade and plans for eighth grade the next year, the year started with an enrollment of 40.  Kindergarten was staffed by Mrs. Nita Bertram and Mrs. Lois Burgdorf (Mrs. Bertram would serve in some full or part-time capacity through 1985).  Adjunct faculty members Mrs. Helen Jungemann teaching science and Mrs. June Rentmeester, Mrs. Marie Ring and Mrs. Mary Junkers overseeing a physical education program were also added to the staff.  To aid in the funding of the school program, the 1975 Calvary school tuition was as follows:  four-year-old Kindergarten $15 per month, five-year-old Kindergarten $40 per month, and first through seventh grades $50 per month.  Those who were not members of Calvary, but desired to send their children to the school, were required to attend a two hour information class before their application for enrollment would be considered.

The blessings of maintaining a Lutheran Elementary School became evident when in May of 1975 Miss Deborah Hahn, daughter of Ruth and OG Hahn became the first daughter of the congregation to graduate from Dr. Martin Luther College.  She was assigned to St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church at Van Dyne,  Wisconsin,  a one room school with 8 grades and 29 pupils.  In December of that same year Congressman Jim Collins presented the school with a US Flag that had flown over the Capitol in Washington.

Blessings of growth were also apparent in the church.  The elders began regular monthly meetings in order to carry out their charge of spiritual oversight for the congregation (in the following year the elders would divide the congregation into quarters in order to make every member visits).  In the worship space the first Advent banners, made by Georgia Lange, were displayed and the carpet was replaced.  As a “talk piece” among friends and neighbors, the first Calvary T-shirts were designed and could be purchased for $3 to $3.25 each.

1976 proved a year of serious reflection for Calvary.  To observe the bicentennial of our country, Pastor Diehl lead a series of prayers imploring God’s blessing to guard and protect our nation so that we may be free to do His work more fully.

The congregation also conducted two surveys.  One survey asked for member interest in returning to one service on Sunday mornings.  The following information was offered as part of the survey, “The sanctuary holds 176 people (based on 8 in a pew), but people seldom sit more than 6 in a pew.  Average Sunday attendance during 1975 was 155.”  Another survey, conducted by the elders on behalf of the Synod, concerned the development of a new catechism translation.  The results indicated that 8% favored a new translation while 92% opposed it. 

In the same year, Calvary families living in the Richardson area reached a decision to actively explore the possibility of establishing a mission church with our sister synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS).  They felt it was a viable area for evangelism and offered possibilities for winning new souls for Christ.  While some families anticipated moving on from Calvary, the treasurer reported the current ministries needed $1500 per week to meet budget.

The Ladies Bible Study had an eclectic year of active service.  Projects ranged from making medical kits for the missionaries in Africa to painting and wallpapering the kitchen.  In addition, they purchased new dishes at a cost of $104.40 per three dozen cups and saucers and $31.20  for one dozen plates.   They also participated in a market research to raise money for a dishwasher in the kitchen.

In the school, enrollment reached 46 students.  To help outfit the school, Calvary purchased desks from the Garland Independent School District and also began saving Post® box tops for athletic equipment.    

In October of 1976, Pastor Diehl provided the congregation an opportunity to reflect in its mission and ministry when he accepted a call to serve a congregation in Weslaco, Texas. 

After five months of vacancy, Pastor Gene Durfey, who had been serving as the pastor of Glory Lutheran Church in DeSoto, Texas, as well as vacancy pastor to Calvary, accepted the call to serve on February 20th.  He was installed on February 27, 1977 in a 4:30 p.m. service.  Pastor William Gabb, circuit pastor of the Texas Mission District, preached and Pastor Thomas Haar of St. Mark in Duncanville officiated.  A week later Pastor Durfey and his family were welcomed to Calvary with a potluck after the service.  The same fellowship event also marked the ten year anniversary of the dedication of the original sanctuary.  In the spring of the same year, Calvary offered one of its own to full-time ministry with the graduation of Lois Hahn from DMLC and her assignment to Livonia, Michigan.

Major plans for sprouting the seed of God’s Word in North Dallas and beyond occupied Calvary’s attention in 1977.  In the broader vision, a meeting was held in Austin for WELS members interested in forming an Area Lutheran High School in Texas.  In the North Dallas area, Pastor Roger Dale accepted the call to the Richardson mission of the ELS in May.  Within Calvary’s borders, a radio ministry began in June with both sixty second and fifteen minute spots.  They aired at 8:00 a.m. on KPLX 99.5 AM and focused their message on “the full life.”  Also, a new building committee was formed on September 13, 1977.  Under consideration was a classroom addition for the school.   Jack Clark chaired the committee and was joined by members Art Lassila, Ron Zahrt, and Dan Schmeling.  After extensive study, on June 11, 1978, the Voters’ assembly approved the plan to hire Forrest Upshaw as architect for the project.

Minor ministry changes included the first member mailboxes built near the sanctuary entrance and copies of the New Testament from the New International Version were made available for $.45 a copy.

Spreading the roots of Calvary to grow new sprouts continued to be a ministry emphasis for Calvary.  Calvary supported world-wide mission work with the Lending to the Lord program.  As a part of this Synodical program, members could open a passbook savings account that would be used by the Synod for church extension funds.  The savings account received 4% interest.  In the calendar year 1978, members of Calvary started Lone Star Lutheran Church in Tyler, Texas.  The radio ministry continued with slight modifications, now airing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:55 a.m. to noon at a cost of $32 per second and reaching an audience of 35,000 people.  In March of 1978, the congregation formally recognized the value of the Lutheran Elementary School as an evangelism arm of the church.

However, the congregation also understood the need for nurturing its own through instruction in God’s Word.  In-home Bible studies, called “Circles of Life in Christ,” were started.  Sunday morning Bible study was called Christian Doctrine and Life Bible Study and were also offered on a weekday morning and evening.  Biblical stewardship was taught at cottage meetings in an effort to help members look at the management of their gifts from the Lord.  Financial stewardship would help the congregation fund the $81,000 ministry Calvary had planned for the year (at the time Calvary operated under a $1,000 deficit each month).  The Dr. Martin Luther College choir proclaimed God’s Word in song to Calvary members as part of their “Texas Tour.”

On a lighter note, Council minutes reported from the maintenance committee chairman “that grass does grow through October and help would be needed to cut it!”

The new year began positively on January 14, 1979, with the approval of building plans by the voters for the classroom addition.  $43,000 had been contributed to the building fund with $7,000 more expected by completion of the project.  A Synod loan of $25,000 and member loans of $30,000  gave the congregation the confidence to proceed.  Opening was scheduled for August of 1979, but difficulties with the contractor delayed the opening until August 1980.

1979 also brought changes to Calvary’s staff.  Dale Just joined the faculty to teach middle grades while Pastor Durfey accepted a call to California.  The Lord led Pastor John Gaertner to accept Calvary’s call and he was installed on November 25, 1979 by Pastor Myrl Wagenknecht.

The years 1980 and 1981 saw tremendous growth for the sprouting seed of Calvary.  The new educational wing was dedicated for the 1980 school year, which began with sixty students and the addition of a ninth grade.  In the church, membership increased by forty-six baptized souls.  Also, in the spring of 1980, the third Hahn child entered in the full-time work of the church.  James Hahn was graduated and assigned to start a new Lutheran Elementary School in Albuquerque, NM. 

1981 was an eventful year at Calvary.  The Evangelism Committee organized a distribution of fliers to area homes, inviting residents to our Holy Week and Easter Services.  In May, Miss Janice Fritz was assigned from DMLC to teach first through third grades.  In June, Dale Just accepted a call to Centennial in Milwaukee, and was sent off with God’s blessings at a congregational potluck.  In July the Constitution Revision Committee met numerous times to revise our Bylaws.  In November, over three dozen of our members became part of the new exploratory mission in Lewisville.  November also marked the beginning of a monthly newsletter at Calvary.  Even with such a flurry of activity and bidding farewell to the Lewisville core group, Calvary closed the year with 379 baptized members (an increase of 135 members in two years) and an average Sunday attendance of 222 (an increase of 90 souls in worship over two years).

Cold weather in January of 1982 caused a church water pipe to freeze and burst. As in 1973, members again gathered to remove water, as well as furniture from the sanctuary.  Repairs resulted in new carpeting for the sanctuary, hallways and Sunday school classrooms.  During the repairs, church services were held in the fellowship hall for several Sundays.  All of the church pews were used for seating, and, yes, they actually did all fit.

In August 1982, Calvary helped its first pastor, Pastor Robert Neumann of Tyler, celebrate 25 years in the ministry.  On August 22, seminary student Paul Kupke, father of Calvary member Sherry DeLaGarza, presided at worship at  Calvary.  Dr. Schmeling returned a call to California Lutheran High School.

In keeping with its “sprouting spirit” Calvary again served as the anchor for new missions in 1982, as members of our congregation helped open WELS churches in Plano/Allen and Arlington.  A meeting was held at St. Mark’s in Duncanville to explore the possibility of starting a Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society circuit in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  That meeting would eventually lead to the formation of Dallas/Fort Worth LWMS circuit in April of 1983.

As part of its 1984 outreach efforts, Calvary prepared pamphlets entitled Our Lutheran Church Invites You to assist all families of the congregation in their evangelism.  Members were given an opportunity to invite their friends to church in the spring of that year when the touring chorus of Northwestern College presented a concert of sacred music at Calvary. 

However, the most exciting event of 1983 for the congregation was hosting the constituting convention of the new South Central District, October 19, 1984.  WELS President Carl Mischke attended, along with district presidents Gerald Free (Nebraska District) and Marcus Nitz (Arizona/California District).  In November, Calvary celebrated the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther with a special service and potluck.  

On February 5, 1984, Calvary celebrated its 20th anniversary with special services in the morning and a fellowship/potluck in the evening.    However, not content just to nurture the seeds at home, Calvary began exploratory services in Wichita Falls in April, served by Pastor Gaertner.  Calvary’s Synod support took on exciting forms in 1984, with the arrival in May of Mr. Daniel Krause as Vicar to our congregation, and in August, with the departure of twelve young adults of our congregation who returned to Synodical Schools to prepare for the preaching/teaching ministries. 

On the home front, Calvary enjoyed a summer Church picnic at nearby Flagpole Hill and in August the Singles Group began meeting again with renewed interest and organization.

 With its emphasis on sprouting seeds, Calvary tried to maintain a balance between nurture and outreach.  In February 1985, Adult Bible Class ventured into a nurture project with a study of the entire Old Testament projected to last 3 years.  On the evangelism side, Calvary, hosted an Evangelism Seminar conducted by Pastor Paul Kelm on November 22-23 attended by about 170 members of WELS congregations from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.  World missions captured the congregation’s attention when in November two nurses, serving our synod’s medical mission in Zambia and Malawi, Africa gave a presentation.  In December, the congregation launched a neighborhood evangelism canvass/survey effort that we hoped would become a monthly endeavor. 

Various called staff came and went in 1985 and 1986.  Dr. Dan Schmeling accepted a call to Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee and in May, Mr. Robert Favorite, a DMLC graduate from Eagle River, Wisconsin, was assigned as principal.  Mrs. David Peterson, (formally Miss Cynthia Crossfield) accepted a call to join the school faculty again and to teach grades 3-5.  At an August potluck we bade farewell to Vicar Krause and welcomed Robert Favorite and his new wife Denise.  In 1986 Dawn Aswege accepted a call to teach the middle grades in Calvary’s Lutheran Elementary School and Mrs. Denise Favorite accepted the call to teach Kindergarten.  

In the late 1980’s, the Commission on Worship of the WELS began to turn out early samples of the new/revised hymnal, which the Synod in convention had tasked them to produce.  Calvary was chosen, in 1987, as one of the congregations asked to field-test these so-called “Samplers.”  70% of Calvary members responded favorably to the new, slightly altered “Service of the Word.”

Calvary also played “host” a number of times in 1987.  In June, Calvary hosted the area WELS Principals’ Workshop. The Board of Education hosted our first Annual Sunday School Rally Day in September.  In October, our school faculty hosted the two-day WELS South Central District Teachers’ Conference.  In the same month, we also hosted the Joint Dallas-Fort Worth Reformation Service. 

On the home-front, Calvary’s Men’s Organization treated the ladies to a Valentine’s Day chili supper in February.  That same month, the young people viewed “Rock and the Christian Role”, a video that examined the Christian’s attitude toward this type of music.  This was also the year that “Home Bible Study” was initiated, a “book club” type of Bible study that intended on reading through the entire Northwestern Publishing House People’s Bible Commentary set.  In the school, Mrs. Helen Jungemann accepted the call to teach Kindergarten.  

Worship and means of grace ministry dominated the noteworthy events of 1988.  On February 7, Calvary dedicated a new Allen Organ (model ADC-430) donated by Mr. and Mrs. David Schneider.   Pastor Thomas Schneider of Winona, Minnesota served as guest preacher for the organ dedication service.  In July, the members observed Pastor John Gaertner’s 25 years in the preaching ministry with a service at which South Central District President Vilas Glaeske served as guest speaker and Pastor Timothy Petersen of Atonement presided.  Adult Bible Study completed the three year study of the Old Testament in November, and began the “Gifted to Serve” series on stewardship.  And in May, daughter of the congregation, Carrie Schmeling, graduated from DMLC and was assigned to Zion, Torrance, CA. 

During 1989, Calvary prepared to celebrate 25 years of God’s grace in North Dallas.  In anticipation of the 25th church anniversary celebration, a fresh coat of paint was added to the church.  On February 5, Calvary celebrated its 25th anniversary with three special services.  Guest preachers were District President Vilas Glaeske, Calvary’s founding Pastor Robert Neumann and WELS Synod President Carl Mischke.  An ice storm did not chill spirits for this special day and guests came from hundreds of miles.  Following the afternoon service a catered dinner was held in the cafeteria of Lake Highlands High School.  After dinner speakers recalled God's rich blessings during our 25 years. 

25 years earlier, Calvary had begun as a simple seed among a few core families.  After 25 years, that seed sprouted into 355 baptized souls and an average of 182 worshippers per Sunday.  But more than that, by God’s grace the seed of Calvary had also sprouted into a viable Lutheran Elementary School where children could receive Christian training in all subjects for time and eternity.   By God’s grace Calvary had sprouted into sister and daughter congregations through the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where other seeds could sprout and grow in their own soil.  By God’s grace many hundreds of people had come and gone through Calvary’s doors and received God’s pure Gospel for the good of their souls.  By God’s grace some few had also finished their race while at Calvary and with joy the membership could commend these saints to the eternal care of our heavenly Gardener (John 15:1).

After 25 years of going and growing in North Dallas, the leadership of Calvary began to consider expanded pastoral ministry in the form of a two-pastor team.  The two-pastor ministry was intended to help train and equip the laity to become more involved in kingdom work.  The congregation was surveyed and plans were laid for the calling of a second pastor.  The seed of Calvary had sprouted in many ways and in many places for 25 years.  With God’s help, the seed was ready to become a “growing seed.”

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