A Brief history

of Valley of Peace Lutheran Church

originally written in observance of the 15th anniversary

A stated need and desire for worship services to be conducted in the Hailey, Idaho, area in 1973 resulted in a positive response from the Northwest District and the churches of the Magic Valley Circuit. The Rev. E. F. Loessel and his wife were at that time living in retirement in Twin Falls. When approached about this possible project, they eagerly responded and, with the help of Lutherans living in the Hailey area, conducted surveys of church affiliation in August 1973.

Having been assured that this mission would not be in competition with any other Lutheran venture in the area, the first worship service was held in the Grange Hall on Wednesday evening, September 12, 1973. On November 18, 1973, the first Sunday morning worship service was held at the Wood River Junior High School. Because of contracted painting in the Junior High School, the mission group began holding their worship services at the National Guard Armory in July, 1974.

The Constitution and By-Laws of Valley of Peace Lutheran Church were approved, and the congregation was accepted into membership of the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod at its convention in June 1974.

Property and a double-wide mobile home, purchased with a $50,000 loan from the Church Extension Fund of the Northwest District at the corner of Main and Galena Streets in Hailey was the worship center of the Hailey mission congregation. The building was dedicated as “The Chapel” of the congregation on October 27, 2974. The congregation was officially incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the State of Idaho on November 25 of that year.

Pastor Loessel encouraged the members of the congregation to seriously pursue calling a pastor who would be able to spend more time in developing the growth of the congregation. As a result of this suggestion, the Rev. John Herrmann, a new graduate from the Seminary at Springfield, Illinois, was installed as a “worker-priest” pastor on July 13, 1975. Pastor Herrmann remained until February 1978, when he accepted a call to the dual parish of Bethany, Osborn and Emmanuel, Mullen, Idaho..

Mr. Richard Luttrell, officially approved by the Northwest District to serve as a lay minister, was contracted to serve as vacancy pastor beginning May 12, 1978. He served as a part-time minister until July 1, 1983. During that time the original worship center was sold and the present church building was constructed. Designed by Linda Bergerson, this present worship center was constructed by a local contractor and much volunteer work by members of the congregation. It was dedicated to the glory of God on October 19, 1980.

Because of his other business ventures, Mr. Luttrell was not able to always be present to conduct worship services. A number of area pastors served the Hailey mission during those years. With the approval of the Northwest District Board of Directors, Mr. Robert Meyer, also approved as a lay minister, served as part-time pastor while also serving as Director of Camp Perkins. Together with Mr. Luttrell, he conducted worship services and was the spiritual leader of the congregation from June 6, 1982 until July 1, 1983.

The Northwest District Board of Directors encouraged the Valley of Peace congregation to begin calling a full-time pastor. From August 1982 until February 1983, the Rev. Wayne Beebe, a chaplain living in the Wendell area, served as vacancy pastor.

During this time a Synod-wide fund-raising effort called “Forward in Remembrance” supplied additional funds, which were offered to the Hailey mission to help pay the salary of the full-time pastor for a three year trial period. On April 8, 1984, the Rev. Jerome V. Wohlfeil, formerly of Cañon City, Colorado, accepted the call of the congregation and was installed as its first full-time pastor.

The voters of the parish accepted the gift of a building lot on October 20, 1985. This anonymous gift stipulated that it be used only for the purpose of building a parsonage for the parish. The parsonage was contracted in part, and members once again gave many hours of volunteer work in erecting the house at 1420 Aspen Valley Drive. On December 31, 1986, Pastor Wohlfeil and his family moved into the parsonage.

God has blessed Valley of Peace Lutheran Church with many dedicated spiritual leaders and members. We rejoice in His mercy on this fifteenth anniversary of the founding of this congregation. To God be the glory!