History of St. Mark's Lutheran Church
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In 1947, a group of Christians living in the Allenton, Missouri area contacted Rev. Martin Olsen, then Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Grover, Missouri, about holding services in the Allenton area. Services began on Easter Sunday evening, April 16, 1947. St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church of Allenton was officially organized as a congregation June 9, 1948. Needing a worship center of their own, the members themselves started construction of a church on September 24, 1950, and the first building was dedicated on August 5, 1951. The Church continued there under the shepherding of various part-time pastors and two full-time pastors. Pastor Dr. Lorenz Wunderlich, Professor at Concordia Seminary, served as part-time Pastor for 10 years. The two full-time Pastors were Rev. R.C. Radde, (1964-1967), and Rev. William Schulz, (1968-1970). Shortly after the installation of Rev. Darwin Karsten as Pastor of St. Marks on May 6, 1972, plans were started to build a new church, relocated in Eureka. Groundbreaking for St. Marks Lutheran Church in Hilltop Villages was celebrated in September 1974. The new building was completed and dedicated on June 8, 1975. Three additional building programs have added to St. Marks facilities: an educational building was dedicated in March, 1987; a gym with 4 additional classrooms was dedicated in August, 1990; and a new Worship Center, dedicated in April, 2002. In 1982 St. Marks began conducting ministry through its Christian Day School, and now serves preschool through 8th grade. The school was started under the leadership of Bruce Wurdeman after his installation on October 6, 1980. Jim House served as Principal of the School from October, 1994 until June, 2001. Mrs. Kristy Roberts became School Principal in August, 2001 and served until June 2005. Mrs. Sue Templeton was installed as Principal in August, 2005. St. Marks continues to carry out a Christ-centered family ministry to make disciples of those who do not yet know Jesus and to equip those who already are His disciples. To accomplish this St. Marks added to its staff Pastor John Jameson, who was installed February 2, 1997, as the second Pastor, to serve as Director of Adult Ministries and Assimilation, as well as the staff representative for St. Marks World Outreach Mission Team. Pastor Joseph Sullivan was added to the staff in 1999, and started New Beginnings Lutheran Church, a cell church located in western St. Louis county. Pastor Bob Liebmann, Director of Youth Ministry in July 2001; Sandra Canida, Director of Children's Ministry in 1996; and Chris Rowan, Office Administrator in 1999. The staff also includes a full staff of teachers and assistants for a school that is serving 150 students and their families. In July, 2004 Lauren Luedtke became Director of Children's Ministries. St. Marks broke ground on Easter, 2000, to build a new Worship Center, office complex, expanded child care facilities and the conversion of the present sanctuary to a Youth Center, media center, library, classrooms and additional support offices. These new facilities were dedicated to Gods Glory and to serving people on Easter, 2002. St. Marks purchased
7.38 acres just south of the new Worship Center in December, 2002 and a new
senior apartment facility was opened in the fall of 2004. These apartments
are for low income seniors and are managed by Lutheran Senior Services of
St. Louis.
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