The First Lutheran Church
by Jose M.

A congregation was organized in 1898 with the help of Hans P. Duborg of Beeville. Pastor Duborg was a missionary of the Wisconsin Synod of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, serving Gonzales, Floresville, Karnes City, and Beeville, from 1890 to 1902, when he was 75 to 80 years of age. 

In 1906 the congregation moved into Floresville and on June 4th was put under the direction of Pastor Julius Schroeder. The first class to be confirmed was on April 16, 1905. A frame building facing C Street at the corner of 6th was purchased from the Christian Church in 1907. A bell tower was added to the front of the building in 1916. The bell was a gift from Zion Lutheran, Tyrone, Pennsylvania.

The first full-time, resident pastor was Lewis Freyberg, installed August 18,1918. Pastor Freyberg (the first American-born pastor) led the the people in a number of important events.

The longest term as pastor was that of Theodore Winter, from July 1931 to 1952. Floresville was his first call after he became a minister.

Some people wanted a bigger building, so in the year of 1942 they made a new church that was bigger and much cleaner.

In the year of 1950 they had a band called The Children's Missionary Band.

Somewhere around November 1952, a building program started. It was dedicated in April 1954. Attendance went as high as 164. The first telephone was put in in 1958.

A pastor named Chalmer L. Mollenkpf arrived in November 1952 and began the building program. Pastor Mollenkopf 's ministry was cut short by a heart attack and his death in November 1960. Mollenopf only served for 8 years.

 The church was first called St. Martin's Church, then it was called The German Lutheran Church, then 80 years ago they started calling it the The First Lutheran Church.

I got most of the info from Rodgers, Vickie. Personal interview.31 February 2000 and Anderson, E., Victor, Rev. Personal interview. 1 March 2000. , as well as from church literature celebrating the 100th birthday of the church.