LaPorte Church of the Nazarene
Church History
Following a home mission campaign conducted by Rev. John Paul Mackey, assisted by the Valparaiso Church, LaPorte was organized in July 1937 by District Superintendent J.W. Montgomery in a store-front building on the corner of Pine Lake and Weller Avenues. Rev. Joseph Bright was appointed the pastor. The church was organized with 10 charter members-Mr.. and Mrs.. Frank Hensell, Mr.. and Mrs.. John Runion, Mrs.. Paul Meyer, Mrs.. Mayme Wieler, Mr. and Mrs. Don Cramer, and Mrs. and Mrs. Gray. During the six months that Rev. Bright was pastor the church moved to Bach Street.
Upon Rev. Bright’s leaving Rev. Russell York was appointed as pastor and the church moved into a hall on Tipton Street.
Rev. York left at assembly time-August 1939 and Miss Viola Roberts came to pastor. The church then moved into an old house at 402 Ohio Street. Rev. Roberts lived in the front part of the house.
September 1941, Rev. James Bixby was appointed as the pastor. In November 1941, the church purchased a lot on the corner of John and McCollum Streets. Work began on the building of the basement in the spring of 1942. During the summer the congregation worshipped on the back of the lot in a tent. By cold weather in 1942, the congregation had moved into the basement. The upper sanctuary was completed by September 1944. In 1945 the church was incorporated.
In February 1946, under the ministry of Rev. C.E. Toliver the parsonage at 309 Ohio was purchased.
During Rev. Burton’s ministry, improvements were made on both the parsonage and church, including new furnaces in each. The parsonage was sold and the house next to the church was bought for a parsonage in 1959. During Rev. Burton’s ministry land was purchased on the edge of town to build a new church.
After Rev. U.D. Dibble arrived it was discovered that there were restrictive covenants in the abstract that would make it impossible to build a new church in that location. The property was sold and the money returned to the District Revolving fund from which it had been borrowed. Many improvements were made during Rev. U.D. Dibble’s ministry. God blessed his good work and ministry in many ways.
During 1964-65 under the ministry of Rev. David Hess, the church, parsonage, and everything except the pulpit furniture was sold. Ground was broken for a new church at the present location of 2147 West Ash, on Mother’s Day, May 9, 1965.
Rev. D.R. Morris came to pastor on September 15, 1965. It was under his ministry the present church was completed.
In 1970 Rev. William Selvidge came to pastor and built the present parsonage at 2167 West Ash. Rev. Selvidge suffered a fatal heart attack in 1979.
Rev. Stanley Hamilton was appointed as pastor in 1979. He served until 1982 when Rev. Mike Dittmer came to pastor until June 1983.
In July 1983 Rev. Dan McDonald arrived in LaPorte and has served as pastor these past 20 years. The church celebrated its 50th anniversary and burned the church mortgage in 1986. The parsonage mortgage was paid in full in 1990.
Pastoral History
Joseph Bright 1937
Russell York 1937-39
Viola Roberts 1939-41
Edd Richey 1941
James Bixby 1942-45
C.E. Toliver 1945-49
Kenneth Suits 1949-53
B.E. Spross 1953-55
Kenneth Burton 1955-60
U.D. Dibble 1960-64
David Hess 1964-65
D.R. Morris 1965-70
William Selvidge 1970-79
Stanley Hamilton 1979-82
Mike Dittmer 1982-83
Daniel McDonald 1983-present
