Our Story

Centennial Lutheran Church started Dec 5, 1937 when evening services were held in the dining room of the city auditorium under the direction of Rev. O.W. Juengel.  The Following Sunday they moved to the council room of the auditorium and immediately began to look toward the future.

A Constitution was adopted in a meeting on August 7, 1938 and signed on August 22, when the congregation met to elect its first officers.

The name of the congregation, Centennial was chosen to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Saxon immigration to which the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod traces its beginning.

In a meeting on September 1, 1939 it was decided to request membership in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.  In June, 1941 the church purchased their first building at 8th and Kansas.  Soon however, it became known that a church property located at 9th and Dakota would possibly be coming available, the congregation inquired into the possibility of purchasing the church and parsonage.  Negotiations were begun in August, 1944 and the purchase was completed in October.

In 1951, the original parsonage was sold and the current parsonage was built on the site of the present fellowship hall.

Since Palm Sunday 1952, the morning services of Centennial have been aired on KRFS the local radio station, a mission venture which God has graciously blessed and prospered.

In 1976, it was decided to move the parsonage to the south in order to construct a fellowship hall to the south of the sanctuary.  In June 1977 this work was completed.

In 1988, Centennial Lutheran Church celebrated50 years of blessing with a theme of “Remembering, Rejoicing, Rededicating.”

Now Centennial has had over 80 years of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout south Central Nebraska and North Central Kansas, and we look forward to many more years of serving God in his kingdom here.

Pastors of Centennial Lutheran Church

Rev. Earl W. Finnigsmier (November 1937 – November 1942)

Rev. Arnold G Ahlman (May 1943 – September 1946)

Rev. Victor Jordening (December 1946 – November 1957)

Rev. Robert J. Leege (April 1958 – May 1972)

Rev. Dale Doerr (July 1972 – November 1974)

Rev. Paul D. Theiss (July 1977 – October 1983)

Rev. David P. Loeschen (July 1984 – September 1991)

Rev. Paul G. Albrecht (December 1991 – August 2008)

Rev. Brian S. Earl (August 2009 – August 2014)

Rev. Robert D. Hopkins (June 2016 - July 2022)