Immanuel Lutheran Church made history again Sunday afternoon at the re-dedication ceremony held at the church on the Ward County Historical Society grounds at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, 2005 Burdick Expressway East, Minot. The historical church is officially back in working order after having been repaired and restored following the flood in June 2011.
It was nearly a full house at the re-dedication ceremony for Immanuel Lutheran Church with multiple speakers, many thanks, a hymn of praise, fellowship and refreshments held in the historical sanctuary. Blake Krabseth, Lutheran lay pastor, said Immanuel Lutheran Church is an example of resiliency from the flood and the re-dedication ceremony signifies the future of Minot. "And the future looks very bright," he added.
Ward County Commission member Carroll Erickson read a letter from Sen. John Hoeven and his wife, Mikey. The restoration and re-dedication ceremony of Immanuel Lutheran Church is an important milestone and has long served as an historical landmark in Minot, the letter said. "The 2011 flood caused significant damage, but has led to this re-dedication ceremony due to all of the volunteer efforts," the letter continued. "We pray that God will continue to bless Immanuel Lutheran Church."
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Jill Hambek/MDN • Immanuel Lutheran Church, located on the Ward County Historical Society grounds at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, was re-dedicated in a ceremony Sunday afternoon. The church was badly damaged in the 2011 flood, but has since been restored with the help of many volunteers.
The Ward County Historical Society also received assistance from the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Claudia Berg, expansion coordinator for the State Historical Society of North Dakota gave a brief history of Immanuel Lutheran Church. The church was a landmark on a vast horizon, she said, and settlers took great care to build it. Immanuel Lutheran Church was built in 1904 and was located in McKinley Township, 11 miles northeast of Minot, then was moved to the Ward County Historical grounds in 1967, Berg explained. "The church represents the community history and fosters a place in Ward County's history."
It was announced at the re-dedication ceremony that residents will be able to have weddings and renewal services again at Immanuel Lutheran Church and there will also be services held at the church during next summer's North Dakota State Fair. The church will be closed for the winter and reopened in the spring.
Numerous volunteers were recognized for their dedication and service to the church restoration, including Sue Bergan, site director for the Ward County Historical Society, Bruce Brooks, treasurer for the Ward County Historical Society, and Matt Aichele, board member of the Ward County Historical Society.
The ceremony closed with everyone singing the first verse of "Amazing Grace," followed by opportunity for fellowship as well as cookies and hot apple cider.