Pastor B. M. Halland met with a group of Swedish people of Red Oak Junction on January 9, 1872 and helped them organize the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. There were twenty-four charter
members when the organization was completed on January 26, 1872.
At the annual meeting of the congregation in January 1873, Pastor Skeppstedt, resident pastor of the Fremont congregation was called to hold services at Bethlehem one Sunday a month,
and in this same year they were accepted into the Augustana Synod. The first church was built in southwest Red Oak on a lot donated by C. B. & Q. R. R. in the vicinity of the present depot,
and was completed in June of 1875.
In September 1885 this church was moved to Reed Street, where the present church now stands. In 1892 the church structure was enlarged, and in 1904 a
new church was built, which is the present church building.
The Swedish language was used entirely until a decision was made in 1915 to have two English Sunday evening services
per month, and in 1916 it was decided to conduct morning services in English on the fifth Sunday of the month when ever there were five Sundays in the month. Not until 1929 did
English become the prevailing language, and used at all services.
On Easter Sunday 1942 a new pipe organ was dedicated. It stands as a living monument to the memory of Pastor
Walter F. Peterson, through whose ceaseless efforts and planning the new organ was secured. Since the war membership and attendance have increased perceptibly and many are
beginning to think in terms of better church facilities for worship and education.
Source: Red Oak Church Histories from "Cavalcade of a Century", 1953.
presented by Montgomery County Centennial Corporation, by Business and Professional Women's Club Red Oak
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