Covenant News

Dassel (MN) Marks 125 Years of Ministry

DASSEL, MN (August 31, 2004) - Donn Engebretson, executive vice president of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), preached during Sunday worship service as the Evangelical Covenant Church of Dassel celebrated 125 years of ministry last weekend.

The church hosted a barbecue on Saturday as part of the weekend festivities. Three weeks earlier, the congregation hosted a Heritage Sunday to commemorate the event.

A total of 20 members were part of the official founding of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Dassel on August 15, 1879, according to church records. Pastor J.G. Sjoquist was instrumental in helping the church get started as he led service one Sunday per month as part of a "circuit preaching" ministry. The church constructed its first building in 1881 and joined the ECC (then known as the Swedish Mission Covenant Church of America) in 1895.

Sjoquist was a pastor at the church until 1902 and also served in nearby South Kingston. Some of the early church pastors went on to serve in other ministerial roles in the Covenant. Sigfrid Carlson, became superintendent of the Upper Michigan Conference (which later became part of the Great Lakes Conference). Clifford Bjorklund became secretary of the ECC. Another former pastor, Wallace Pratt, served as chaplain at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis.

The Evangelical Covenant Church of Dassel currently has an average worship attendance of 206 under pastor Keith Carlson. For more information about the church, its celebration activities and its ministries, call church staff at 320-275-3315.

Printable version of this page.