from open land, to mission field
Risen Savior Lutheran Church located in Franklin, Wisconsin, began as a dream in the hearts and minds of the South Wisconsin District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the late 1960's to early 1970's.
The land for the congregation was part of a 40 acre parcel purchased by the District in the mid 60's as a future site. When Drexel Avenue was extended westward, the lower 12 acres was designated as the site for this new mission. This acreage included a pristine woodlands on the extreme Southern portion of the property.
Work to formulate the new congregation in the Franklin area began some years later in 1982. Pastor George Bralick was called by the District to begin work as a missionary-at-large in September of that year. Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in nearby Greendale helped establish the new mission congregation with a generous donation toward the building program, and also with several families from that parish transferring to join the newly formed church.
The first worship service was held at the Valley View Center in Hales Corners. The congregation was organized in February of 1983 and Pastor Bralick was installed as the first pastor of the congregation in March '83. Come early 1984, worship began in Franklin at the Robinwood School in Mission Hills. Risen Savior was officially accepted as a congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in June of 1985.
Groundbreaking of the original church building on the Drexel Avenue site was held on June 1ST, 1986, and construction proceeded one month later. RSLC was constructed largely by the synod's Laborer's For Christ Work Force Program, and the building was fully completed in December, 1986. A nationwide program, Risen Savior Lutheran was the first church constructed in Wisconsin by LFC, which established RSLC as a unique building.
ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION GALLERY
p1 education wing addition
Click here to enlarge photo - Year 2000
In the early spring of 2000, RSLC again broke ground with Pastor Doug Groenewold for it's phase 1 (P1) building expansion project. The addition would ultimately double the square footage of the church by adding an additional 5000 square feet. Construction time was 4 months.
The P1 expansion added much needed classrooms for the Preschool and for the Sunday School, and eliminated the need to rely on off-site facilities.
P1 CONSTRUCTION PHOTO GALLERY
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
contributed by BOB TENNIE
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Originally the addition was going to be on the west side of the existing property, and it had a different Architect and plans. |
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The congregation decision to proceed with the addition won by a vote of 105 to 1. |
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We had to relocate the electrical lines around the building before construction could begin. |
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Getting all the permits and paper work was a struggle. |
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The blue prints were 20 pages and the specs book was 250 pages. |
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Construction was delayed 2 weeks because of heavy spring rains. |
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Often during construction when it rained, Pastor's office and the old preschool room became flooded. |
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A major construction cost was the requirement to add a sprinkler system to the old building and to add a larger water main into the building. |
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Labor's for Christ were considered as an option to lower the cost, but a tight labor supply in the area for sub-contractors prevented it. |
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It was estimated the church saved about $6000 in sales tax through our tax-exempt status. |
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Many members signed their names and wrote inspirational messages on the plywood walls during construction. |
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There was a countdown clock running in the fellowship hall during construction as the workers nervously watched...they had promised it would be completed in the timeframe to meet our preschool schedule. |
CONTINUE TO HISTORY, PAGE 2 > |
