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This is the story of a town and a church . . .

            The town came first . . . rough and rugged . . . hand hewn from a wilderness of maple, hickory, elm and oak.

            Lumber was the leading business - and people followed the receding timberline.  Hard on this line came the farmers, clearing the fields for tilling.

            This was the pattern:  here and there the lumbermen set up their mills.  Towns sprang up.  Unpainted clapboard towns, vigorous at first . . . but with a fast-spent youth that died as mills moved on to virgin timber stands.

            Williston was such a town.  The stave mill set the pace.  But in addition, it also had the railroad - and through a combination of the two, the town had basis for a more enduring life than most.

            As the community deepened its roots, the need for a church, initially fostered by a few, became more recognized.

            And so it was that on June 24th, the traditional date of the birth of John the Baptist, in the year of our Lord, 1883, twenty-nine Lutheran men of the vicinity of Williston, Ohio, met and unanimously decided to found a Lutheran congregation.  The Rev. Gideon Rausch, pastor of Salem Church, Toledo, acted as chairman.

            Rev. Rausch was already familiar with Williston.  His wife's two sisters resided here.  One was married to the physician, Dr. George Kilmer; the other was wife of Gust Shephard, a local merchant who was leader in the movement for a village church.

            Pastor Rausch established himself as a pioneer with vision in the home mission field.  Sunday after Sunday he held services for his Salem congregation in North Toledo in the morning and then came to Williston on horseback for services in the afternoon.  When rains made the mud roads impassable, the pastor would arrive on foot - belated, but not undaunted after 15 miles of walking the railroad ties from Toledo.

            The congregation, too, displayed a hardy spirit.  On warm worship days they would assemble outdoors, seated on bundles of scrap lumber.

            The first services were held in Shephard's Hall above a store building, which was located on the northwest corner, diagonally opposite the present church building.

            The name chosen for the congregation was St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Its first trustees were Henry Hansen, Julius Lentz, and Fredrick Streetz.  Ferdinand Stroshine and Epke Lorenzen served as the first deacons and Gust Shephard was the treasurer.

Resolution To Build Is Passed

            On January 21, 1884, the congregation passed a resolution to build a frame church.  The minutes state that: "Thirty-seven promised to help with the building, eight didn't."

            A contract for $1,475 was awarded to Edward Berck, a Port Clinton, Ohio builder.  The church was built on property donated by James Thorpe and wife.  Rev. Rausch and student pastors served the congregation until 1885 when Pastor Rausch accepted the call to serve at Williston full time.

            In March 1885, two acres of land just north of Williston were purchased for use as a congregational cemetery.  During this time a parochial school was conducted for children of the congregation.  Later a small frame schoolroom was built beside the church.  Also during this era the pastor began to serve a congregation formed at Blackberry, three miles east.

            The mill town phase of village life was declining . . . soon to disappear.  From it emerged a mature community of farmers, merchants, carpenters and other tradesmen.  The congregation, and the town and countryside revolved around the church.

            The Rev. Rudolph Muensinger served as pastor from 1894 - 1907.  It was during his pastorate that a lot was purchased in 1897 on which to build a parsonage.  This was constructed in 1901. 

            In 1907, the Rev. C.F. Schleicher became pastor of the congregation.  He served six years until ill health prematurely cut short his career.  He resigned in 1913 and died shortly after his son, the Rev. Max Schleicher, had been called to take his place.

            Among the physical changes that took place while Rev. Schleicher served was the building of a new brick church.  It was dedicated in the spring of 1916 and cost approximately $16,000.  In 1924, a new brick parsonage was built for $8,000.

            Gradually during his pastorate, the use of the German language for services was changed to English.  In 1915 one service a month was held in English.  By 1919 German services were limited to twice a month.  On the last Sunday of 1943 the final German communion service was conducted.

            Rev. Schleicher resigned as pastor at St. John in 1934 to devote his full time as superintendent of the Luther Home of Mercy in Williston, which he founded.  He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Capital University, Columbus, in 1957 and was called to his eternal home in November 1962.

            In 1935 the Rev. Walter J. Fritz was installed.  During his pastorate the organizational life of the congregation further developed with the beginnings of Luther League and choir.

            In 1936, approval was granted to use an envelope system for giving as the Lord blessed, rather than the $12 assessment per year.  The first two sons of the congregation were ordained in 1937 - Edmund Schleicher and Charles Sandrock became Christian ministers.  A pipe organ was installed in the church in 1942.

            In 1942 the cemetery care and title were turned over to the Allen Township authorities.

            In 1943, pastor Fritz was called to serve a congregation in Port Huron, Michigan.  He was called to his eternal home in 1982.

            The Rev. Gerald E. Ferne accepted the call here and was installed on August 22, 1943.  When in 1944, some major parsonage alterations were undertaken, our Church Building Fund was started with the funds that remained.

            In 1949, our third son of the congregation was ordained, Lester F. Heins.  In January 1949, the congregation decided to proceed with an enlargement program for the church building.  Congregational growth had been continuing at a healthy pace and both church and Sunday School facilities were taxed beyond their intended capacities.

New House of Worship Dedicated

            Groundbreaking services were held on Palm Sunday, March 18, 1951, and on May 2, 1952, the enlarged and beautified House of Worship was dedicated.  In 1953, a new pipe organ was dedicated.  This entire program was completed at a cost of approximately $145,000.

            All through the years, the pastors served both Williston and Blackberry congregations.  Both churches grew to such proportions that it was decided in 1954 that each church should have its own minister.  The union had been marked by years of harmony and the sister congregations parted with great mutual respect.  We still have combined Thanksgiving and Good Friday services.

            On August 19, 1956, a special and awe-inspiring event took place at St. John.  The older Heidmann brothers ordained their three younger brothers, Kurt, Armin and Rex, into the Christian ministry.  St. John now had six sons as Lutheran Pastors.

            At the annual meeting in 1957 approval was granted to proceed with two Sunday morning services.

            In May of 1962, we celebrated our 10th Anniversary in the building with a vesper service.  We also celebrated Pastor Ferne's 25th year of ordination.

            In June of 1963, we celebrated our 80th Anniversary with a guest preacher and a potluck dinner.  In November, Pastor Ferne was granted a release from St. John to follow the Lord's call to Mt. Zion in Detroit, Michigan.  Pastor Gerald Ferne was called to eternal rest in August 1993.

            Pastor Henry A. Tegtmeier was installed as our pastor in April of 1964.  In April 1965, a remodeling program for an educational building and a revamped Front entrance was approved for $150,000.  We continued to help our neighbors when in 1966; we approved transferring $9,634 in mission funds to Calvary Lutheran in Millbury, Ohio.

            May 1967, found us dedicating the new educational building, bell tower and front entrance.

            John Schleicher, the seventh son of the congregation was ordained on January 18, 1970.  This was special in that John's great-grandfather and grandfather had both served as St. John's pastors.

            We surprised Pastor and Mrs. Tegtmeier on their 25th wedding anniversary and his 25th year of ordination in May 1970, with a guest preacher and dinner for their family.

            In 1971, the internship program was approved with Dan Merz being our first intern.  The Luther League purchased a used church bus.  Mike Bennett was our intern for 1972-1973.

            January 1980, Pastor Tegtmeier resigned from our ministry.  In his retirement years, Pastor Tegtmeier became the mission developer for Christ Lutheran Church in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.  St. John with its strong concern for mission has given some $18,775 toward this mission church.  In December of 1992, Pastor Tegtmeier joined God's angelic host.

            On October 19, 1980, Rev. Ronald J. Diener became our shepherd.  Also the new lounge was completed that year.

Revised Constitution Adopted

            In June of 1981, we adopted a revised constitution.  A proposal was made that St. John and Luther Home of Mercy share an ordained pastor.

            January 1982, found us offering communion at every other Sunday service.  On June 27th, we found new pads in our pews and Rev. James V. Bosse installed as our associate pastor.  On August 1, our eighth son of the congregation, Paul Gruetter, became a pastor.

            In the spring of 1989, Pastor Diener resigned to become the pastor of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Cheboygan, Michigan.  Pastor Bosse resigned to assume full time responsibilities at Luther Home of Mercy.

            On March 18, 1990, Pastor J. Lindsay Shaner was installed as the 10th pastor of St. John.  In 1991, a new constitution was accepted to be in accord with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Seven standing committees to oversee the life of the congregation replace the older positions of Deacons, Trustee, and Elders.  In 1993, after some years of discussion, ground was broken for a new building addition on the southeast corner to add an elevator so all levels of the building are accessible without use of stairs.  The approximate cost of the project, including upgrading existing bathrooms is about $230,000. 

            In 1994, an additional alternative worship service was added on Saturdays at 5:00pm. 

            In 1997, Pastor Debra Domeier joined the staff at St. John for 18 months.  The existing parsonage received a major upgrading, which involved a new roof, new plumbing and fixtures, new electrical wiring, and remodeled bathrooms and kitchen with new cabinets.  

           June 15, 1999, was the date that St. John purchased the adjacent property formerly known as Connor’s Bike Shop (Tank Motors).  The property has been used as a storage facility and was partly renovated to be a Youth Center for the youth of St. John.

            In 2001, the courtyard was renovated with the addition of an arbor, new brickwork, benches, lighting, underground soaker hoses and plants.  The drainage system was upgraded and a sump pump added as well as new doors installed at the entrance.  

           On November 1 and 2, 2003 an open house was held to show off the renovations to the kitchen in the church basement. Included in the renovations were all new cabinets, an island cabinet with doors and drawers, two new stoves, two new wall ovens, microwave oven, new double sink, flooring, ceiling fans, a hand sink, a stainless steel rolling counter shutter, dishes, new wiring and plumbing. 

            For almost 125 years the people of St. John have displayed amazing, spirit-led resolve to accomplish some great things in the name of God.  St. John has been a place of learning and worship, a place out of which Christian witness has spread.  That vision for mission and reaching out continues at St. John.