History

Pursuing a Whole Life in Jesus for 175 Years

Since Pathfinder Church’s start by German immigrants in 1851, God's faithfulness has been evident. He has brought this community through tough seasons: wars, periods of economic uncertainty, and cultural shifts. Through it all, this church has remained a steadfast; rooted in faith amid a changing world. We are proud of our history as imperfect people in pursuit of a whole life in Jesus.

1851

The Beginning

A group of 20 families united and organized Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. They built a log chapel on Reinke Road. J.A.F.W. Mueller was the first pastor. Worship services were held in German.

Established Day School

1855

Established Day School

Established day school and hired first teacher at a salary of $100 per year; a tuition fee of $.75 per month was charged for each pupil

Second Church Building

1871

Second Church Building

After the congregation sold its first church building to the Public School District in 1870, a larger brick church was constructed and dedicated on one acre of land along Manchester Rd., donated by Captain William Hutchison the year prior.

1874

Land Purchased

Congregation bought 24.2 acres of the adjoining land from William and Edwina Hutchison for $500. 50 fruit trees were also planted on the land.

Name Change

1878

Name Change

The church name was changed to Evangelical Lutheran St. Johns Congregation U.A.C.

1878

New School Built

A new frame school was constructed with brick-insulated walls. 

Congregation Joins The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

1882

Congregation Joins The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

Looking to plant roots and continue to grow, the congregation joined The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS).

New Parsonage

1914

New Parsonage

The first Elllisville parsonage was razed and aframed, seven room dewlling was erected on the same site

Ladies Aid Society

1918

Ladies Aid Society

Ladies Aid society organized with 30 members. The society was active in helping to support The Lutheran Hour, KFUO, Children’s Friend Society, The Lutheran Orphan’s Home, the Lutheran Community Center and Relief packages to needy families in war-torn Europe as well as the Women’s Missionary League.

Sunday School established

1922

Sunday School established

Sunday school was organized and began with an enrollment of 18 children.

1925

English Hymnals Purchased

After WWI, 200 new English hymnals were purchased and the congregation voted to add one English speaking service per month

75th Anniversary

1926

75th Anniversary

Celebrated 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee with German services in the morning and English services in the afternoon.

Remodeled 2nd Church

1929

Remodeled 2nd Church

The second church was remodeled in 1929 after a tornado (two years prior, electricity was installed). A basement was dug, and the stucco tower was added on the north wall. This church stood until 1956.

Parish Hall constructed

1941

Parish Hall constructed

The Parish Hall was completed at a cost of $5667. It was a long, narrow structure featuring a large kitchen and dining area in the basement, with an auditorium and stage above. The building served as a venue for public officials' meetings and was also used by the congregation for social activities.

All English Worship Services

1942

All English Worship Services

Congregation votes to discontinue all German language worship services.

New Three-Room School

1946

New Three-Room School

A new three-room brick school with a full basement was completed, costing $20,645. This school building was in use until 2001.

Church building deemed unsafe

1953

Church building deemed unsafe

The sanctuary building was declared unsafe. In a special ceremony on October 24, Pastor R. Mueller, the elders, and members carried sacred books, vessels, and hymnals into the Parish Hall, where worship services would be held temporarily until a new church could be built.

Heritage Hall Dedicated

1956

Heritage Hall Dedicated

The new church building, Heritage Hall, was constructed between 1955 & 1956. It cost $185,000 and could now seat up to 500 people. 

Second School Building Built

1962

Second School Building Built

To house the growing number of students attending St. John School, a new building was built in addition to the now multi-level school.

115th Anniversary Celebration

1966

115th Anniversary Celebration

“One Hundred and Fifteen Years of Blessings”– Collected was a $11,500 Thanks Offering to God for His 115 years of blessings. "In gratitude for the truth of the Gospel as God has continued it among us, we wish to share with other the gift of eternal life by supporting missions in this country and abroad.”

Expansion and Development Fund Launched

1967

Expansion and Development Fund Launched

With the pledges of church families and a loan from Lutheran Brotherhood, a comprehensive package of new improvements and buildings was launched. An Expansion and Development Fund was created to support campus enhancements, including a gymnasium, media center, multi-purpose room, expanded parking facilities, renovated church offices, and air conditioning in the church.

125th Anniversary

1976

125th Anniversary

The 125th Anniversary Celebration in 1976 finds the church with approximately 2200 members and 240 students in the school. The adult education program includes a “Special Topics” class which addressed Christian and contemporary issues.

New Organ Installed

1981

New Organ Installed

A new Zimmer pipe organ was purchased in 1981. It replaced the old Concordia Seminary organ that was purchased and renovated 25 years earlier for the 1956 church. The old organ was dismantled, and parts and pipes sold individually to the members of St. John’s.

1987

Service Broadcast on KFUO

Beginning in November, the 10:45am St. John’s service was broadcast on radio station KFUO. The cost for the telephone lines for transmitting the service was $60 per Sunday. Members were invited to sponsor or make a contribution toward the broadcast.

Stephen Hower Installed as Senior Pastor

1988

Stephen Hower Installed as Senior Pastor

St. John called an unconventional yet mission-driven visionary, Stephen Hower, to serve as their Senior Pastor. He would not only modernize worship but also every aspect of how the church operated. 

1991

140th Anniversary

140th Anniversary celebrates God’s blessings and guidance throughout 140 years of existence. Average weekly attendance exceeds 1,000 worshippers for the first time in St. John’s history.

New Sanctuary Building Dedicated

1992

New Sanctuary Building Dedicated

In the late 1980s, church leadership realized their worship facilities couldn't accommodate the growing congregation. To address this, the Building the Kingdom campaign was launched to fund a new sanctuary and expand facilities. Members committed to supporting this for 3 years, alongside regular offerings. The new sanctuary was dedicated in 1992. Items from Heritage Hall, such as the wood pews in the balcony and the glass doors from the old Narthex used to enclose Commons West, were repurposed.

1996

Association of Courageous Churches Established

St. John was assisting churches nationwide through the Association of Courageous Churches, a ministry the church founded to guide other congregations during the pre-Internet days when such resources were hard to find.

1999

Growth at St. John Continues

In the prior decade, the congregation doubles and worship attendance triples. Student enrollment for St. John School exceeds 400 students. West County Christian Counseling launches from the St. John campus, then later moves to Windgate in Wildwood.

Increased Community Engagement

2000

Increased Community Engagement

The 2000s saw increased community-focused hospitality through events such as Easter Eggstravaganza, July 4th, and Christmas events, as well as mission partnerships in West County and St. Louis City through food drives, back-to-school supplies, toy drives, and more. Additionally, Whole Life programming like Action Teams and Pop-Ups launched, aiming to bring more people into community after the pandemic. 

Cornerstone Youth Center Built

2001

Cornerstone Youth Center Built

Cornerstone Youth Center built and dedicated to serve youth, 6th – 12th grade.

Ministry Center Opens

2002

Ministry Center Opens

Offering an additional 60,000 square feet, the Ministry Center opens with spaces for church offices, meeting rooms, music room, and the Early Childhood Center.

2002

Warehouse Services Launch

Contemporary worship is offered in Cornerstone, called "Warehouse."

Next Generation Center Dedicated

2007

Next Generation Center Dedicated

Next Generation Center opened its doors in 2007, creating more space for St. John School and Kids Ministry.

2007

School of the Arts Begins

School of the Arts (SOTA) begins it's inaugural year, offering music lessons to students of all ages.

Start of the "Launch" Campaign

2010

Start of the "Launch" Campaign

Launch campaign sets in motion the Cambodia partnership with a group of Khmer Christians to serve the whole-life needs of Cambodian children and their families. From that dream, Stronghold Cambodia was born.

First Services Live-streamed

2012

First Services Live-streamed

In September of 2012, St. John began live-streaming worship services with an average of 102 unique online viewers over a 3-week period.

2014

Worship Services Unified

To unify the congregation, St. John defined its worship style around a single, unified worship experience, making all of its services identical in style, format, and setting. 

Dion Garrett Called as Senior Pastor

2015

Dion Garrett Called as Senior Pastor

in 2015, following the retirement of Pastor Hower, the congregation called then associate pastor, Dion Garrett, to be the new senior pastor. 

Congregation Votes to Change Name to "Pathfinder Church"

2018

Congregation Votes to Change Name to "Pathfinder Church"

On Sunday, October 28, 2018, the church voting assembly overwhelmingly (84%) adopted Pathfinder Church as its new name. This was only the second name change in the church's then 168-year history. The name was officially adopted in March 2019.

Commons and Kids Ministry Remodeled

2019

Commons and Kids Ministry Remodeled

Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, and as a part of the NEXT campaign, the Commons and Lower Level Next Gen Building were remodeled to be more functional and inviting for people to gather and fellowship with one another. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic

2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person worship for 10 weeks. Worship services continued through livestream.

175th Anniversary

2026

175th Anniversary

By God’s Grace, Pathfinder is blessed to celebrate 175 years, remaining steadfast in its commitment to helping the people of Pathfinder, its surrounding community, and beyond to grow toward a whole-life in Jesus. 

1851
1855
1861Civil War begins
1865Abraham Lincoln assassinated; slavery abolished in Missouri
1871
1874
1876The "Great Divorce" of St. Louis City and St. Louis County
1878
1878
1882
1882St. Louis Brown Stockings (Cardinals) established
1904St. Louis hosts the World's Fair
1914
1917U.S. joins World War I
1918
1920First radio broadcast in Pittsburgh, PA
1922
1925
1926
1926US Highway Route 66 established. Manchester Road served as the primary Route 66 route west from St. Louis during the early years.
1927Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis crosses the Atlantic
1929
1929NYSE collapses; Great Depression begins
1941
1941Surprise attack on Pearl Harbor
1942
1946
1953
1956
1962
1966
1967
1976
1981
1987
1988
1991
1992
1996
1999
2000
2001
2002
2002
2007
2007
2010
2012
2014
2015
2018
2019
2020
2026
1861
Civil War begins
1865
Abraham Lincoln assassinated; slavery abolished in Missouri
1876
The "Great Divorce" of St. Louis City and St. Louis County
1882
St. Louis Brown Stockings (Cardinals) established
1904
St. Louis hosts the World's Fair
1917
U.S. joins World War I
1920
First radio broadcast in Pittsburgh, PA
1926
US Highway Route 66 established. Manchester Road served as the primary Route 66 route west from St. Louis during the early years.
1927
Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis crosses the Atlantic
1929
NYSE collapses; Great Depression begins
1941
Surprise attack on Pearl Harbor

CELEBRATING 175 YEARS

By God’s Grace, Pathfinder is blessed to celebrate 175 years bringing together imperfect people! We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone throughout 2026! Pathfinder staff and volunteers have thoughtfully planned a variety of opportunities and events to honor our history and look forward to the future God has in store for our community. Come celebrate with us!

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