This Is the Will of God: The Construction of St. John's Wauwatosa's Second School Building

Abstract

Jon Bergemann’s 2003 paper recounts the history of the construction of St. John’s Lutheran School’s second building in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Beginning with the congregation’s early commitment to Christian education in 1882, Bergemann traces the challenges faced by the aging school facility in the 1950s and the congregation’s deliberations over building a new structure. The purchase of land from the Fingado estate in 1950 set the stage for a decade-long process of planning, fundraising, and construction. Bergemann details the work of the Building Plans Committee, the congregation’s stewardship campaigns (“This is the Will of God” and “Venture of Faith”), and the eventual dedication of the new school in 1958. The paper highlights the congregation’s faith-driven resolve, sacrificial giving, and commitment to Christian education, offering a model of perseverance and vision. Interviews and archival materials enrich the narrative, emphasizing the spiritual and historical significance of the project. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).