Brief history: St. Stephen Lutheran Church was organized in 1860. Stephen Klingman served as the congregation's first pastor. By 1864 there was a church, school, and parsonage. In the year 1869 a church was built on the corner of Center and Toledo Streets. In 1876 a church bell (still in use) was purchased. In 1883 property was purchased on the corner of Finch and Front Streets. In 1899 a second school was built at the corner of Finch and Front Streets. In 1914 the Rev. J.H. Nicolai begins 27 years of faithful service to the congregation. In 1919 the doors at St. Stephen's School were closed and remained closed until 1944. In 1927 a new church was built and dedicated at the corner of Toledo and Church Streets. Pastor Alvin Baer is installed as pastor in 1941. In 1951 land at Madison and Beecher (present property) was purchased. By 1955 school was held on this property in the Butler building. Pastor Robert Baer is called as associate pastor. Pastors Alvin and Robert Baer would serve St. Stephen together until both leaving in 1956.
In 1957 Pastor Daniel Gieschen accepts the call to St. Stephen. In 1959 additional land was purchased at Beecher and Madison. In 1960 the present parsonage was dedicated. January 15, 1967, the present church building was dedicated. In 1972, groundbreaking took place for the present classrooms and gymnasium. On April 26, 1992 Pastor Gieschen preached his farewell sermon at St. Stephen. Later that year, Pastor Jonathan Stern was installed. Pastor Brian Keller began serving the congregation early in 1997. In 2002, Pastor Stern accepted a call to Arizona. Pastor David Koehler was called and installed that summer. After years on years of matchless grace, the same gospel of Jesus Christ is still being proclaimed today...
