705 S. Hickory
Cole Camp, MO

The German immigrants had left Germany because of the religious, economic and political situation in Europe in the 1800’s. They left their homes to come to a new world to build a new life. But they did not come alone. They came with their faith. They believed that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among them”. This faith, this belief that God had blessed them, empowered their lives, and gave them strength in the struggle to build a stable, enduring community. Their faith gave them a mission, a mission to share the blessing of God, and give thanks and praise to the source of their blessings. So they established St. Paul’s Lutheran Church: a place where the community of believers could celebrate the grace of God which blessed each day of their lives.

Looking back one sees in the records of St. Paul’s only glimpses of these lives lived in faith. Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, and Deaths are recorded line after line. They tell us who and when, but little more. But they are signs to us that the lives of these people were truly blessed. God blessed them with Grace as they were born into this community and as they were re-born children of God. God blessed them in their youth as they were instructed in the joys and discipline of discipleship. God blessed them in their love toward one another as they married and raised families. God blessed them with the Holy Spirit to comfort them as family members died. When their lives were filled with hurts, failures or tragedies, God blessed them with the Word which strengthened and encouraged them to go on.

A constitution was drafted and signed by eighteen charter members. As is usual in this denomination, this included their families. On July 2, 1882, the Mora members met with the Cole Camp group in the Cole Camp school building and organized as the St. Paul’s congregation. The charter members were representative of various occupations: farmers, two owners of mercantile stores, postmaster, drayman (freight hauler), operator of a saddle and leather store.

Two locations for a church were suggested. One was about midway between Cole Camp and Mora. Final decision was Cole Camp. On July 30, 1882, a building committee was selected. The first church, which stood directly back of the present one, was 50’ x 26’ x 16’. It was built by Jacob VonHolten at a cost of $1,619.82. (The debt was paid by January, 1886.) Most of the lumber had to be hauled by wagon from Sedalia. It was the pastor’s job to find an organ which was purchased for $77. Louis Grother was to look for long-handled collection containers and a bell. He reported finding a “good bell” with a two year guarantee for about $90. The bell was installed and is still in use in the present church. The church was dedicated on December 10, 1882.

In 1890, a balcony was built in the church and an addition of 10’ x 16’ was built to the front of the church. On July 14, 1893, a baptismal font was donated by one of the members. In 1900, it was requested to hold complete funeral services in the church. Pastor A. Matthias was called as the first full time pastor in 1901. A parsonage was built in 1902 by Jacob VonHolten at a cost of $939.66, plus donated labor. The parsonage was enlarged and remodeled in 1924. In 1966, a new parsonage was built.

The first English service was conducted in 1902. In 1920, the congregation bought it’s first Bible. Before that they used the Pastor’s Bible. In 1917, the congregation decided to erect a new church. The size of the new church was to be 90’ x 49’ x 18’ with a tower being 16’ x 16’ x 60’. Peter Eickhoff was offered the contract to build the church for $12, 975. The cornerstone was laid sometime in 1917 and contained the following: papers from the cornerstone of the old church, membership roll, and copy of the local newspaper. The Women’s Organization voted to buy the altar, the statue, and the carpet for the new church. The price of the altar and pulpit was $495. The price of the pipe organ is unknown. Individual members donated the pews, stained glass windows, etc. The baptismal font was moved from the old church as were the pews. These pews are in use in the balcony today. The old church was sold for $275.