Our Savior's Lutheran Church

Folder includes a statistical record, church constitution, various letters from the pastor/church, floorplans, application for membership, bulletin from 1957, bulletin from dedication service, newspaper clipping from church dedication, Articles of Incorporation, insert from bulletin about the symbols over the altar, map of other church denominations in the area, parish resource survey, building contract, blueprint of second floor of church building, letters of call, newspaper clipping from church reunion service, newspaper clipping from a story about the initial building of the church, church and Eskimo mission budget proposals, and Alaskan Annual Report from 1964.

Rev. and Mrs. Tollef L. Brevig began their ministry at the Teller Reindeer Station on August 1, 1984. On his trips throughout the Seward Peninsula, Rev. Brevig occasionally stopped at Nome and held Lutheran worship services.This practice was continued by subsequent missionaries. In 1943, there began a migration to Nome of Lutheran Eskimos from Mary’s Igloo, Shishmaref, Brevig Mission, and Teller, and work of a more permanent nature became necessary. Dr. Philip S. Dybvig, executive director of Home Missions for the ELC, authorized the Rev. Norval Hegland, superintendent of Lutheran Eskimo Missions, to purchase lots and a quanset hut for use as a temporary chapel. The first service was conducted on September 20, 1953. Our Savior’s Congregation was formally organized January 21, 1957, and the new church was dedicated October 30, 1960. These units were completely funded as a national project by the Women’s Missionary Federation.