Over 300 people took part in the Concord Evangelical Free Church's 125th anniversary celebration earlier this month.
The event included a morning worship service, a sit down meal that was served to 363 people and an afternoon service.
Rev. Todd Thelen is senior pastor at the church, a position he has held from more than 20 years. He is joined by Associate Pastor Scott Kahn, who is in charge of youth and children's ministry. Both took part in the celebration services.
Also taking part in the services were Pastor John Westerholm, who served the congregation from 1978 to 1986, Judy Brenner Johnson (Pastor Bob Brenner, who served the congregation from 1986 to 2000) and Dr. Colby Kinser, EFCA Midwest District Superintendent.
The church started in 1897 as a Swedish Free Mission Church. It was located in rural Dixon County before being moved to its current location in Concord in 1918.
The Forsberg family of Concord was instrumental in getting the church started and many of the family descendants remain active today. There are nearly 275 people who consider Concord Evangelical Free Church their church home.
In addition to worship services, the church offers an AWANA program during the school year for area youth, Bible studies, a worship band and men's and women's ministries.
The following have served as pastors at the church since its beginning:
Rev. Glen Nelson (1919-1922); Rev. Oscar Anderson (1922 - 1924); Rev. Fred Beck (1925 - 1927); Rev. Victor Mars ((1927 - 1929); Rev. Alfred Stone (1929 - 1933); Rev. Lloyd Peterson ( 1935 - 1938); Rev. Oran Swabeck (1939 - 1944); Rev. Paul Nelson (1945 - 1948); Rev. John Gabrielson (1948 - 1951); Rev. Raymond Johnnson (1952 - 1955); Rev. Ambrose J. Collins (1956 - 1963); Rev. Marvin Litorja (1963 - 1967); Rev. Mel Loge (1968 - 1972); Rev. Aubrey McGAnn (intern - 1972); Rev. Detlov B. Lindquist (1972 - 1978); Rev. John Westerholdm (1978 - 1986); Rev. Morris Matthews (intern - 1986); Rev. Bob Brenner (1986 - 2000); Rev. Mel Loge (2000 - 2001); Rev. Todd Thelen (2001 - present); and Rev. Scott Kahn (Associate Pastor) 2011 - 2015 and 2017 -present).
