It was in September 1838 that Friedrich Wyneken, a 28-year old missionary from Germany, on his way from Pennsylvania to Fort Wayne, Indiana on horseback, came upon this small settlement of German pioneers here in Auglaize County. Moved by their dire spiritual hunger, he tarried with them for eight days, preaching the Word of Life and baptizing daily. Thus a worshipping community was formed. They worshipped in private homes and grew in numbers. By 1840 they built their first log church on Cemetery Road, two miles northwest of the present site, where the old cemetery still marks the area.
They adopted the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and became known as St.
John's German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fryburg. In 1848 they appealed to the Ft.
Wayne Seminary of the newly founded Lutheran Church of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States
for a pastor. In February 1848, the Rev. Paulus Heid was installed. On June 12, 1848, they
were chartered as a member of Synod. However, when Pastor Heid's true Lutheran theology
became apparent, the congregation split, but they continued to share the log church.
Pastor Heid served here until 1852 when he accepted a call to Greenville, but he first
installed his successor, the Rev. J.H. Werfelmann.
The steadfast Lutheran group continued to worship in the log church until 1858 when they acquired land at its present location on Pusheta Road and built a small brick church there, just east of the present parsonage. No further information is available on this building.
In 1888, probably because they needed a larger facility, they built the present frame church which was dedicated on November 11, 1888. This is still the same structure that adequately serves us to this day. Through the years it has had its face-lifts: its steeple removed, a basement dug, new siding and roof two times, and most recently, a modern narthex and entry area. Many skilled hands have worked and many loving hearts have cheerfully supported "this old house of God" not because they sought honor and reward, but because they, like the Psalmist David, said: I have loved the habitation of Thy house and the place where Thine honor dwelleth." (Psalm 28:8)
During these 148 years, the congregation counts as its greatest blessing the shepherding received from its twenty-three faithful pastors. Many have been the opportunities to hear the proclamation of God's gracious Gospel from its pulpit, and to be comforted, forgiven, and renewed at its altar. Here THOUSANDS, having come to know their Lord as their personal Savior, were well prepared to meet Him on their death bed, and are NOW reunited at heaven's Banquet Table.
Our church history reveals that these years were not without struggles. People of God will always suffer attacks from Satan who seeks to destroy them, but stalwart faith and uncompromising steadfastness to the inerrancy of Holy Scriptures have always been the steady anchor for this congregation in all the storms of the past and will also be their hope for the future into Eternity