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site updated:
October 1 2009
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Hosanna!'s History
June 1, 1998, Pastor Richard Heinlen was officially appointed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as Mission developer for HOSANNA! He was installed on July 12, 1998 at St. James Lutheran Church.
The first community meeting of HOSANNA! was held July 15, 1998, at John and Laura Canuteson's home in Liberty. Twenty-three adults attended and decided to set worship services for 9:00am at Grand River Chapel and William Jewell College, beginning August 2, 1998.
The congregation grew and eventually purchased five acres of land on "A" Highway in Liberty, with an option for an additional 5 adjacent acres.
HOSANNA! Evangelical Lutheran Church was officially organized on January 16, 2000, under the theme "A New Day is Dawning for HOSANNA!. Bishop Charles Maahs, of the Central States Synod, ELCA, president. HOSANNA! was the first ELCA Mission congregation to organize in the year 2000.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was help April 2001. Mission Developers worked on constructing the building, with Don Keifer, Mission Developer foreman. many congregational members and friends also helped with construction.
The first worship service was held in the new building in June 2002. Regular services were then established: 8:30am and 11:00am worship services of Word and Sacrament with 9:30am Sunday Church School for all ages.
Pastor David Ebersole was hired as a part-time pastor to focus on New Member Outreach in January 2003.
Upon Pastor Richard Heinlen's formal retirement, January 31, 2004, Pastor David Ebersole assumed the official interim pastor position.
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