Our Savior's Lutheran Church (Chester, Mont.)

This congregation was organized in 1910, and for its first five years, services were conducted by different pastors. Two full-time pastors served from 1915-1920, but then there were no pastors or services for many years. The congregation’s first place of worship was a converted butcher shop. In 1937 a building fund was started, and in 1950 ground was broken for a new church. This first house of worship was dedicated on April 12, 1953.

The parish shared pastors with other congregations until 1956. Rev. J. L. Walla was installed on January 22, 1956 as the first resident pastor of Our Saviour’s and the nearby St. Olaf Parish. In 1962 the congregation sold the old parsonage and built a new one. In 1969 the congregation decided to send 25% of the offerings to benevolences instead of a specified amount, and this has continued through the years.

The congregation has supported missionaries in Bolivia. Other things they have done include the adoption of two Vietnamese men, and supporting a missionary in Tanzania. In 1984, an Alcohol Community Action Support Group was started and continues to meet in the church.