 History
of AlleluiaAlleluia is a daughter congregation
of Bethany Lutheran Church of Kaukauna. In 1997,
evangelistic outreach was focused on Wrightstown.
Mentored by Bethany's pastor, Walt Steinbach, and in
partnership with the North Wisconsin District of the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Bethany renovated a
rented storefront and called it the "Wrightstown
Ministry Extension Center". It was staffed by a
series of three pastoral interns from Bethany: Dave
Dukovan, Dan Iwinski, & Jeff Duncan. Long-range
plans were developed by a special Task Force, and
Bethany volunteers blessed the effort with hands-on
ministry.
In March of 2000, Bethany requested full-time
assistance to intensify development of this promising
Wrightstown initiative. Pastor Robert Selle, the
district's Mission Facilitator, accepted the challenge.
Together with his wife, Penny, he moved to the village
in July as "Missionary at Large to the Wrightstown
Area". Five years later, "Pastor Bob" accepted a
divine call to be Alleluia's first pastor.
To better identify this growing community of
believers, a name was chosen: "Alleluia Lutheran
Church". On July 15, 2001, a Constitution and
Bylaws was ratified. Formal incorporation with the
State of Wisconsin under Chapter 187 followed. On
October 21, 2001, Charter-Member Sunday was celebrated,
and Alleluia was accepted officially as a new member
congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
In 2003, a thirteen acre parcel of land was purchased
in the Town of Wrightstown, with 1000 feet of frontage
on Highway 96, located one mile east of the Wrightstown
high school. On Sunday, May 13, 2007, after months
of prayers, planning and preparation, ground was broken
to initiate construction of Alleluia's new church.
It was completed by Thanksgiving of that same year, and
on December 2, 2007, Alleluia's beautiful new facility
was dedicated to the glory of God.
On Sunday, June 7th Aaron Hutton was
ordained into the holy ministry, and installed as
associate pastor of Alleluia Lutheran Church. The
church is located on Highway 96, halfway between
Wrightstown and Greenleaf. In May of 2009, Pastor
Hutton was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from
Concordia Seminary in St. Louis MO. This is his first
call. Officiant for the occasion was Pastor Joel
Hoelter, president of the North Wisconsin District of
the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Reading the Gospel
was Rev. Dennis Lassanske, pastor of Hutton’s home
congregation: Trinity Lutheran Church in Muskegon, MI.
Clergy present for the occasion were (left to right)
Dennis Lassanske, Paul Shackel, Tom Oie, Jim Wiebel,
AARON HUTTON, Bob Selle, Bruce Hartung, Joel Hoelter,
Jeff Smiles, Nate Reichle, and Steve Pockat. We welcome
Pastor Aaron and his wife, Krissy.
Alleluia's mission statement aptly describes this
young congregation as "a community of celebrating
Christians whose joy is to know Jesus and make him
known."
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