The Mission Covenant Church of Red Oak, formerly the Swedish Mission Church, had its beginning in the early 1870's, when large numbers of Swedish immigrants were settling in this area. A small group of people, known as "Mission Friends" gathered in homes for services with Mr. J. P. Peters as lay preacher until 1891. He was the father of Emil and Luther Peters, Mrs. Arthur Larson and Mrs. Carl J. Anderson, who are present residents of Red Oak.

The first church was a one room house by the riverside. The "pews" were wide boards nailed all around the room, with the walls serving as back rests. Six bracket kerosene lamps furnished light and a stove stood in the center of the room.

A new church was built on First Avenue in 1890, with a larger edifice erected in 1902, this time at the present location on the corner of Third and Hammond Streets. In 1916, extensive remodeling was done making the present brick structure.

Services were conducted in the Swedish language up to World War I when the Governor of Iowa issued a proclamation prohibiting the use of any foreign language in public services. A missionary spirit has always been prevalent in the church, which was highlighted in 1948 when the Church assumed the full support of Mrs. Maynard Londberg, a missionary in Alaska.

Source: "Red Oak Church Histories from Cavalcade of a Century"; 1853-1953
Presented by Montgomery County Centennial Corporation,
Compiled by Business and Professional Women's Club Red Oak
Contributed by Dixie A. Laire