Torrance Unified School District history

The original small red brick church was built around 1861.

When the new church was built in 1874, the original church continued to be used as the classroom for the parochial school.

The original church/school, parsonage, and new church can be seen in this picture on the left, taken about 1880 of Pastor Flachsbart and his family.

The same was suitably furnished, and it was festively dedicated as a house of God on the 25th Sunday after Trinity, the 18th of November, 1888.

At that time, the St John congregation lovingly had given the daughter their old school property, so Pastor Fülling held school in the same until the spring, 1889.

On the 25th of October, 1891, the congregation consecrated a new pipe organ.

In the year 1893, the congregation built a school on Harvard Street near Kedzie, which was dedicated on the 13th Sunday after Trinity, the 27th of August.

Emmaus Lutheran Church received title to their original property at 1492 West 2nd Avenue in November, 1913 and built their first church on this property.

Emmaus was officially organized on March 12, 1915.

In 1923 the congregation opened a branch school 1.5 miles south of the parish building.

A new white frame school building was built in 1924, and shortly thereafter the original brick church/school was torn down.

When the parish hall was added in 1947, the men's and women's rest rooms in the basement were a huge improvement over the outhouses which were the only option up to that point.

On October 8, 1948 Zion granted a peaceful release to Rev.

On February 2, 1959, ten city lots (two and one-half acres) were purchased from the city of Eugene at the corner of West 18th Avenue and Polk Street.

Emmaus’ membership grew to over 700 souls and on December 12, 1960 the present 370-seat sanctuary was dedicated.

Church construction was begun in May of 1961.

Daniel Zielske was installed August 8, 1971 as the third pastor.

In January of 1977, the members of Emmaus voted unanimously to undertake the construction of a new fellowship hall and multi-purpose room, at a cost of $84,000.

Kevin Bonine was installed September 22, 1985 as Emmaus’ fourth shepherd with the theme “An Eternal Gospel to Proclaim Together.” Lay leaders walked with Pastor Bonine to key sanctuary positions with Scriptural words of encouragement.

On November 11, 1990 James Hahn was installed as Emmaus’ first assistant minister.

In late 1995, the church purchased a site on Covington Road in southwest Fort Wayne and built a new school.

In 1996 a Growth Study Task Force was commissioned by the Church Council to study the current and future needs of the Emmaus congregation.

A congregation survey concluded that “the facilities of Emmaus are marginally adequate to meet the needs of this congregation.” In 1997 a Facilities Review Task Force studied all the components of the Emmaus facility and recommended expansion and improvement of the existing sanctuary and classrooms.

Mortgage from Aid Association for Lutherans was paid in full July 30, 1999.

The new school building dedicated in 2001 has preschool through grade eight classrooms, computer lab, music room, art/science room, cafeteria/stage, kitchen, library, resource teaching room, gymnasium, and offices.

He accepted the call, continuing to teach at Concordia University as well, and was installed as the sixth pastor of Emmaus on November 11, 2007.

The 60th anniversary was celebrated on October 5, 2008 with a special worship service and meal afterwards with the theme “Walking the Emmaus Road with the Risen Lord,” which included a presentation of a photographic history of Emmaus.

Demelash Oumer Yoseph was installed as Deacon at Emmaus on August 5, 2012.

Nickolas Kooi was placed with Emmaus during the call ceremony at Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne in Spring 2016, and his ordination and installation service was held at Emmaus on July 17, 2016.

The last statistitcs available for the congregation reported only 15 members in 2017.