Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minnesota

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Lost & Found Ministry

Transition into Ministry Program

Trinity's History

Trinity Preschool

Vibrant Worship

Wednesday Prayer & Worship

Young Adult Ministry

Youth Ministry

A Brief History of Trinity Lutheran Church

HIGHLIGHTS

The Norwegian Lutheran Trinity Church was founded December 1, 1882. The founders and their families numbered 42. The constitution, adopted on December 15, 1882, remained in place until 1909 when the congregation became known as Trinity Lutheran Church. The congregation has built four church structures as noted in the images to the left(1884, 1895, 1916 and 1952). The Christian Life Center (also seen), built in 1989, provides facilities for worship, education and fellowship. The English Lutheran Church and Trinity merged in 1919 with provision that English be the official language used in worship and otherwise. Today Trinity congregation numbers 3,724 baptized members.

Mission and outreach have always been an important part of Trinity’s ministry, beginning with the first Mission Sunday in 1891. The women of the church supported a missionary to China in 1923. In 1947, Trinity sponsored the opening of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in north Moorhead. In 1959, Trinity helped sponsor Christ Lutheran Church in Tacoma, Washington, and Christ the King Lutheran Church in Moorhead. Today the congregation supports Philip and Lou-Marie Knutson as missionaries in South Africa. Trinity’s mission outreach also includes support for the Northwestern Minnesota Synod Companion Synod, the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church of South India.

Lutherans of the Red River Valley had long recognized the need for higher education for their children, and when Concordia College was founded, Trinity was an early and active advocate and participant.

The women of Trinity were granted the right to vote in February 1890, far ahead of the passage of women’s suffrage in the 1920’s. At present, all confirmed members of the congregation may vote.

In 1914, Trinity began its first church paper, The Trinity Lutheran. The radio broadcast of the Sunday worship service began in 1938; "This is Good News" in 1958; and the first television Bible class aired in 1955. Bible study is an integral part of Trinity’s mission, and as early as 1885, lay people of the church held prayer meetings with Bible study. More recently, the Bethel Bible Series, Crossways, and many other studies have been offered.

Currently plans are being formed for a small group ministry program. In November of 2001, Trinity received a $750,000 Lilly Endowment Grant for the establishment of a Pastoral Residency Program that will train six pastoral residents over a period of five years.

Valuing its youth, Trinity organized the first Sunday School in 1883; the first Summer Parochial School (now called Vacation Bible School) in 1892; the Young People’s Society in 1909; and in September 1921, a Weekday Religious School. In 1934, Trinity and Bethlehem Lutheran of Ulen, Minnesota, organized what became Camp Emmaus which thousands of young people have attended. Camp Emmaus is currently owned by Trinity and administered by Pathways. In 1995, Trinity began the WINGS program, currently the GIFTS program, a weekday supplement to Sunday School. The commitment to youth continues through a strong and vital youth program.

The first choir came into being in 1898, and music remains an important part of worship. Today seven vocal choirs and four bell choirs contribute to the richness of worship services. A contemporary worship service called Worship Too! was begun in 1990. Trinity currently has three traditional and two contemporary worship services on Sunday mornings.

The concept of a 90/10 Sunday began Palm Sunday, 1981. This gives members the opportunity to contribute 90 percent of a week’s income (over and above the regular tithing), to show gratitude for God’s gifts. These monies are distributed to various benevolences. Trinity also began the Refugee Resettlement program in 1975.

Trinity seeks to minister to all of its members. Friday Fellowship is a caring ministry for senior citizens. The Caring Center is staffed by volunteers who address various needs and wants of the membership, as well as provides Parish Nurses and Stephen Ministers. The Lost and Found Ministry offers counseling services and an additional resource library. The Trinity Foundation provides funds for in-church projects and groups, as well as for community ministries to the homeless and others in need.

Trinity has been served by the following senior pastors:
John Hanson Brono (1884-1892)
Andreas Oefstedel (1892-1897)
Gustav Adolf Larsen (1897-1903)
John Peterson (1903-1913)
Martin Anderson (1914-1920)
Sigurd T. Sorenson (1919-1931)
Fredrik A. Schiotz (1932-1938)
Roy A. Harrisville, Sr. (1938-1947)
Erling R. Jacobson (1947-1954)
Oscar A. Anderson (1954-1963)
Paul A. Hanson (1964-1973)
David L. Anderson (1973-1985)
Richard J. Foss (1986-1992)
John Matthews (1993-1994)
David W. Preus (1994-1996)
Ann Svennungsen (1996-2004)
Stephen Wold (2004-present)

Trinity Archive and History Committee - January 2002
Robert Loeffler, Chair
Lyle Nelson
Dr. Verlyn Anderson
Michael Young