Divine Word Evangelical Lutheran Church of Plover is blessed to commemorate its 25th anniversary in 1996. While Divine Word was officially organized in 1971, the congregation had been meeting for nearly a year before that.

Regular worship services were initiated largely because of the persistence of Charlie and Mary Hunger. They lived in Plover, drove to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids for services and requested Pastor William Lange to start exploratory services in the Stevens Point area.

On Sept. 13, 1970, the first service was held and 28 people attended. Many were students at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and members of Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) churches elsewhere in the state. They gathered at what was then the Whiting Village Hall, a former one-room schoolhouse near the Consolidated Papers’ Wisconsin River Division.

Pastor Lange and Vicar Paul Zittlow held services there every Sunday after Sept. 13, using a table for the altar and folding chairs for pews. The building was clean, roomy and cost $10 to rent each week. It even had a piano, although there wasn’t always someone to play it. When no pianist was present, someone would strike the first note for the hymn, and those attending sang a cappella. The only break in services occurred during Lent when a Wednesday evening service conflicted with a Village Board meeting.

On Aug. 1, 1971, seminary candidate Roger Kobleske was ordained and installed as the first resident pastor of Divine Word. In September, the congregation held an organization meeting. They adopted the WELS model constitution, applied for membership in the Synod and chose the name Divine Word Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Divine Word was started by 31 communicants who joined in 1971 of whom eleven are still members. Gene Rovang served as the first president of the congregation, followed by Charles Hunger, James Engelson, Paul Clasen, Neil Parker, Richard Platz and Robert Zondag.

Lisa Ann Kobleske, daughter of Pastor Roger and Lois Kobleske, was the first child to be baptized at Divine Word in 1972. Patricia Sutheimer was the first child to be confirmed in 1973.

With guidance from the Synod, Divine Word leaders began looking for a site on which to build a church. Plover was chosen because it had the greatest potential for growth -- and new members. In October 1972, the current site -- 3.6 acres -- was purchased for $9,000. Plover Springs Drive ended just east of the site. Concerned that the parcel was larger than needed, Synod officials suggested a portion could be sold in the future.

At the recommendation of the Western Wisconsin District Mission Board, Divine Word requested a portable chapel. It was dedicated on Dec. 2, 1973, at which time the congregation numbered 67 communicants and 111 souls. Two services had to be held to accommodate the members.

Sunday School, led by the late Betty (Dennis) Schultz, was initiated at the Whiting hall. Bible classes began when Pastor Kobleske came to Divine Word. With the portable chapel, a choir was formed, directed by Sue Stueck.

The Lord continued to pour His blessings on Divine Word. By September 1974, the Synod approved construction of a parsonage. It was built at a cost of $34,786 and dedicated on April 26, 1975. Richard Dockter was chair of the building committee.

The planning phase for constructing a permanent church and fellowship hall was initiated in 1975.

More change occurred in 1976. In March, Pastor Kobleske asked for release from Divine Word to accept a call to West Bend, Wis. The congregation did not receive a candidate from the seminary to fill the vacancy, so voters called Rev. D. Craig Weber. Pastor Weber was installed on Sept. 5.

On Sept. 23, 1976, bids were opened for construction of the new church and fellowship hall. Don’s Construction, Waupaca, was the low bidder at $183,197. Ground break ceremonies took place Oct. 31, and the church was dedicated on July 24, 1977. Dan Mortensen was chairman of the church building committee.

A used Wurlitzer organ was purchased from a WELS family in Appleton, Wis., in 1977. Monday evening worship services were initiated during the summer months beginning that year. Also in 1977, a weekly church cleaning system was implemented in which all families of the congregation were scheduled to help with the cleaning of the church.

Divine Word adopted a church seal in 1978. Designed by member Eldon Nuessmeier, the seal is based on the great commission found in Matt 28:19: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations."

Also in 1978, Women’s Club of Divine Word financed an upgrade of kitchen facilities. A new refrigerator was purchased and additional cabinets were installed.

The church saw several improvement projects in 1979. Pews that had been donated by Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran Church, Appleton, and transported by Divine Word members were stored in the basement of Paul and Lois Clasen’s home for a couple of years until Charles Oswald was hired to refinish and install them for $2,470. Folding chairs acquired from Pacelli High School had been used until the pews were installed.

A balcony was built with the church, but it had no stairway or fixtures until 1979. Eldon Nuessmeier, who built the baptism font and communion rail for the church, also constructed the stairs, handrail and balcony rail. His son Mark carved the symbols of the Trinity into the balcony rail and added other details. Several members helped construct the balcony sub-flooring, installed carpeting, stained woodwork and painted walls.

Many members of Divine Word have shared their talents over the years. In 1980, Al Scherwinski designed new service folder covers. The cover included a line drawing of the church, weekly schedule of church activities and our statement of purpose.

Member Russ Davis designed and built benches for Sunday School in 1981, using roof planking left over from church construction. When the roof shingles on the church and fellowship hall were found to be defective in 1982, member Mark Henkel, an attorney, pursued their replacement under warranty. During this time, the reconstruction of the roof over the office was also done.

Divine Word helped sponsor the 1982 WELS International Youth Rally. More than 500 Synod youth attended the rally, which was held at UW-Stevens Point.

1982 saw several facilities improvements, including installation of a new furnace at the parsonage, and a donation by the State Bank of Rosholt of a safe to the church.

In 1983, the congregation became completely self-supporting no longer needing an operating or capital subsidy from Synod. This blessing was observed by a special service called Rededication Sunday. Once self-supporting, Divine Word became an associate congregation in the federation that supports Northland Lutheran High School, now located in Wausau. Many teens have attended the high school, including 7 during the 1995-96 school year.

Long before that association, Divine Word members were affiliated with St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School in Wisconsin Rapids. Many children have attended the elementary school, including 18 in the 1995-96 school year.

Ministry to UW-SP students has always been an important part of the Divine Word call. Bible study and fellowship were held at the Peace Center near campus for a time. Members provided car transportation for students to church; sometimes the start of services was delayed while cars went back to campus to pick up more students. In 1984, Divine Word acquired a school bus to provide transportation for both students to St. Paul’s School and UW-SP students to attend worship services at Divine Word.

Also in 1984, the congregation voted to hold two Sunday worship services, at 8 and 10:30 a. m. as the sanctuary was very crowded with just one 9 a.m. service.

The parsonage basement was remodeled to accommodate Sunday School children in 1984. New wall board, trim and carpeting were installed, creating space for about 15 students. But the children’s Bible study program continued to grow. In 1985, a Sunday School building was constructed. That fall, after three years of work, a new Sunday School curriculum was implemented. Pastor D. Craig Weber, Mrs. Connie Burow, Mrs. Ann Parker and Mrs. Cindy Platz were instrumental in this work.

In 1988, the WELS Campus Ministry Foundation awarded Divine Word a $15,000 grant to expand ministry at UW-SP. Allocated over a five-year period, the grant was used to fund a part-time church secretary, Frieda Pawlitzke. Freeing Pastor Weber from some office work enabled him to devote more effort to campus ministry.

In August 1990, Pastor Weber said farewell to Divine Word after accepting a call to Appleton. The Rev. Keith Free was installed as Divine Word’s third pastor on October 7, 1990.

A new school bus was purchased in June 1991 to continue the transportation of children from Divine Word to St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School in Wisconsin Rapids and also UW-SP students to church on Sundays. With a $7,500 down payment, the congregation was able to pay off the $24,000 cost by January 1994.

In August 1991, Pastor Free began serving as vacancy pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Rapids, a role that continued for six months.

Divine Word joined WELS congregations in Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids in sponsoring a month of our Synod’s TV commercial "Precious Is the Child" on local cable networks in December 1991. The effort tied in with the Synod’s "Precious is the Child" national TV commercial outreach campaign.

Another major outreach project was undertaken in January 1995 with St. Paul and Good Shepherd Churches in Wisconsin Rapids. Numerous members were involved in the Gospel Outreach (GO) program, sending surveys to thousands of local residents and contacting those who indicated they had no church home.

This decade has also seen the initiation of several fellowship activities. An outdoor summer worship service and church picnic at Standing Rocks, an annual golf outing and fall craft sale all began in 1992.

Other special services and events have included a presentation by Pastor Bruce Marggraf, missionary in Brazil, in July 1992; renewal of wedding vows among married members in a special afternoon service on Feb. 14, 1993; and hosting the regional WELS Youth Rally at UW-SP in July 1994.

Divine Word began using the new Synod hymnal, Christian Worship, in December 1993.

Several improvements to the church and parsonage have occurred in the past five years. New windows and a deck were installed at the parsonage; a used organ was purchased for church and the other one is used in the Sunday School building; risers and new carpet were installed in the balcony; and a new copier and computer were purchased. In these and many other projects -- from hosting meals to decorating church to plowing snow and mowing lawn -- scores of members have willingly given their time and talent for the work of the Lord.

Divine Word requested its first vicar in 1995. In September Vicar John Borgwardt arrived, providing additional ministry services both in Plover and on campus.

In January 1996, Divine Word’s debt dropped below $100,000.00 -- truly a blessing.

At a voters’ meeting in April 1996, the congregation recommended retaining WELS Parish Planning Assistance consultants to help determine its ministry goals and plans. The planning service will help us focus on our mission and gospel outreach in the Plover/Stevens Point area. By developing a ministry plan for the future, the congregation may consider a corresponding building plan.

We praise and thank God for his divine hand, which guided us for the past 25 years, and we ask his continued blessings and guidance in the years to come.

CHARTER MEMBERS

Rev, and Mrs (Lois) Roger Kobleske, Mr. and Mrs. (Betty) Dennis* Schultz, Susan Schultz, Tom* Schultz, Mrs. Kathy* Rutkowski, Mr. and Mrs. (Shirley) Eugene Rovang, Mr. and Mrs. (Mary) Charlie Hunger, Mr. and Mrs. (Mary*) Tom* Jeske, Mr. and Mrs. (Ann*) Gary* Glock, Mr. and Mrs. (Kathy) Jim Engelson, Mr. and Mrs. (Lois*) Paul* Clasen, Mr. and Mrs. (Gail) Donald Schuster, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jonely, Mr. Ralph Hopfensperger, Mr. and Mrs. (Kathiene) Robert Adams, Mr. Greg Wendorf, Mr. and Mrs. (Norma Jean*) Jim* Cliver, Mr. and Mrs (Jean) Jon Radtke.

*Current Divine Word Members

Communicants / Souls