Fassifern Lutheran Church history

1869
first meeting of Mutdapilly Reserve Church (21 Nov 1869)
1870
Fassifern Scrub was opened for selection
1880s
Fassifern was 90% German (half baptist and half Lutheran)
Nearest services were held at Reserver (Mutdapilly) and Hoya (Dugandan)
1881/1882
First church was Julius Domjahn's (St Mark's) (near what is now Old Kalbar Road)
1882
church built in Hoya
1885
St John's church built
1885
St Luke's in Milbong (golden jubilee was held Sep 1935)
later
Numerous churches were built from the plentiful timber, but were not centrally controlled and German individualism manifested itself in the frequent schism over trivial matters. Thus churches sprang up like mushrooms and it was no uncommon sight to see two or three churches in one locality.
1895
[In reference to the cemetery] .. to bury children up to 12 years of age on the opposite side of the cemetery to the adults. It was also decided not to plant trees on the graves. (a German custom), but only flowers. All members were obliged to help keep church, church grounds and cemetery clean. But old customs die hard and the pine trees still live, planted on these graves.
1901
Julius Domjahn's (St Mark's) no longer operates
1903
Storm destroys St John's, but was rebuilt
1903
"Cross of Christ" Lutheran Church opens in Teviotville
1910
Aratula area opened for selection
1913
St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church opens in Aratula
(before) 1914
Church building from Domjahn's church used as a Church of England church (and has been moved several times)
1936
German language used in church meetings through the 1920s. Services in German (with separate English language services) in 1936
1945
last use of cemetery at Domjahn's church
1968
Harrisville started
1969
"Cross of Christ" Lutheran Church closes in Teviotville
1974
St Luke's Milbong closes 24 Nov 1974.
Building was broken up and rebuilt as a house. (However there seems to be a church building still there, though now a provate residence. Perhaps really Hoya or Teviotville?)
1974
St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church closes in Aratula
1976
Mutdapilly Reserve Church closes Palm sunday 1976 after 107 years of worship.
Building moved to Harrisville.
1980
St John's Lutheran Church Engelsburg (Kalbar) centenary 1880 - 1980

Reference: St. John's Lutheran Church Engelsburg-Kalbar centenary book, including history of Mutdapilly Reserve, Teviotville, Aratula, Milbong / by Howard Pohlner and members (1980)

HISTORY OF KALBAR LUTHERAN CHURCH

The hard working German settlers who immigrated to Queensland in the latter half of the nineteenth century were men and women of hard working calibre resolute religious conviction and stubborn will. They we rugged indivualists. When the Fassifern Scrub was opened for selection in the 1870's they cleared and ploughed it, They fenced it, and brought it into production. And, while this rugged individualism earned them the reputation as the best settlers in Queensland, it often had a disruptive effect on the Church and community life which they worked hard to establish Their Church meant just as much to them as their own livelihood for small church buildings soon dotted the countryside.
Domjahn Church

Th. Hebart comments, "Numerous churches were built from plentiful timber, but they were not centrally controlled and German individualism manifested itself in frequent schism over trivial matters. Thus churches sprang up like mushrooms and it was no uncommon sight to see two or three Lutheran churches in one locality. Moreover shortage of pastors, too, permitted many sectarian abuses to enter the Church. Laymen preached and even women offered prayer in services." The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia" page 114.

This aptly describes the situation pertaining to the Fassifern. But peculiar to the Fassifern was a well organized and strongly motivated German Baptist movement which made considerable impact on the Lutherans At that time the Fassifern would have been at least 90/o German, fairly evenly divided between Baptist and Lutheran. But the Lutherans were also potentially divided among themselves. When in 1885 a Synod was formed to try and unite the scattered congregations, that very same year another one was formed, which split them down the centre.

While this is a history of hard working pioneers attempting to come to grips with the problems of setting up Church and community life it is also far more. It is breath taking to see the way God overrules. Despite pressures and trials, arguments and schisms, the Lord of the Church has brought a peace and a unity which is amazing, and for which we praise Him. It is with a sense of awe we note His guidance in the midst of human clamour and division, as we piece together the history of the past 100 years. This is the heritage of the present day St. Johns Lutheran Church, Kalbar.

State Archives had more difficulty with it. His name, in the index to the selectors, is recorded as Julius Domjaka. No wonder they wrote back, unable to locate it! However, that doesn't alter the fact that on 7th July, 1875, he selected, what is described as 40 acres of agricultural and 80 acres of first class pastoral land, portion 188A, Parish of Fassifern, County of Churchill, and after having fulfilled the conditions laid down, obtained the deed of grant on 10th October, 1881.

THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING

It was on this ground that the first Lutheran Church building was erected. An acre of land was obtained, together with access, from what is now known as the Old Kalbar Road. This building was erected by hard work and determination. Despite problems, nothing was spared to make it durable and lasting. The hard work included hand sawn timber and a shingle roof. It was well built. This is attested by the fact that it survives today after almost 100 years. It has been shifted three times, on two sites as the Kalbar Church of England, and now as the centre of a ranch type residence of Leon Cantrell, Obum Obum Road. The shingle roof has long since been replaced by iron, excepting in the porch, where the original shingles are clearly visible under the iron.

This building was originally dedicated by Pastor Ernst Heiner of Ipswich as St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Fassifern. The date is not clear, but it would have been in 1881 or 1882.

Edward Iker liked to be where the action was. In 1882 or 1883, he had bought portion 198, Parish of Fassifern, County of Churchill, off C. E. Volkmann. In 1883 he paid 8/- in rates. Significantly, the purchase of this property made him a neighbour of Julius Domjahn. When he bought it, it had two slab huts on it. But soon it was to have more buildings, a flour mill and a Church. In the meantime he was involved with St. Mark's, coping with a problem and looking forward to a big event in the life of this newly formed congregation.

Iker's flour Mill Original Church School

THE FIRST FASSIFERN LUTHERAN PASTOR

With the completion of the church building came the more difficult task of providing regular preaching services. Pastor Heiner was overtaxed and ordained preachers were a scarce commodity in those days. However, J. F. R. Goessling, a former missionary at Bethesda, Killalpaninna, S.A., who had been trained at Hermannsburg Mission Seminary, Germany, and who was now stationed at Kirchheim (Marburg), helped arrange for four young men from Hermannsburg training centre to come to Queensland. They landed in Brisbane on 12th March, 1883.

One of them, Pastor Conrad Prenzler, was destined to be the first resident Lutheran Pastor in the Fassifern. He was a young married man, aged 33 years. He had been ordained on 16th October, 1882. This was to be his first parish. It must have been with a certain trepidation that he and his wife and family-set sail for another country. They arrived by way of Adelaide on 7th January, 1883. On his arrival in Brisbane, he was duly registered to perform marriages by the Registrar General on 16th March, 1883. The form is still in the parish records. This authorization was also duly recorded in the Queensland Government Gazette 1883, Vol. XXXII. These have been photostated and published for their historic interest, pp 14 and 15.
Pastor Conrad Prenzler
Pastor Prenzler was duly installed on Palm Sunday, 18th March, 1883. It must have been a day of special rejoicing. In connection with this service, Elizabeth Elsa Emma Sonnenburg, daughter of August Sonnenburg and his wife Emilie nee Poelitz, of Fassifern Scrub, was baptized. She had been born on 16th February 1883. God parents were Edward Iker and Bertha Poelitz. These particulars, together with all his other pastoral acts, are clearly recorded in a well bound book, embossed with gold lettering, "KIRCHENBUCH der Evang. Lutherischen Kirche zu FASSIFERN."

In addition to the Fassifern congregation he also served Hoya, then known as Dugandan, where he lived in a manse provided near the church building. Thus he would seem to have been firmly established as the first Lutheran pastor in the Fassifern district.

DIVISION

However, Pastor Prenzler's ministry was soon to be plagued with divisive strife, which had been smouldering in the Fassifern congregation even prior to the building of the church. Obviously there had been some sort of reconciliation which enabled the work to go ahead. But it was to erupt with frightening vehemence. Earlier in 1885 there is reference to some trouble over confirming children of non members. Then, in August of that year, when two Synods were formed, some members objected to Pastor Prenzler being a member of the United German and Scandinavian Synod. On the 12th Sunday after Trinity they actually physically prevented him from officiating at the altar. The following Sunday they refused to allow him to enter the church grounds. He, together with those who remained loyal to him, about half the congregation, proceeded to the house of Edward Iker (the present Wittenhagen home). Here they held regular worship services and meetings for the next two months.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ST. JOHN'S

These members formed themselves into a congregation, St. John's. They decided to build another church at a meeting on 14th September, 1885. It was noted that their numbers had shrunk to 16 members. But they were able to raise £51/10/- and were so unanimous in their desire to erect a new church building that St John's was built and dedicated the very next month, on 28th October 1885. Iker donated the ground, which is the site of the present church building. Their sister congregation at Hoya generously contributed £13/2/6  while firends from the Logan area gave £7/16/-. ...

St John's Lutheran, Kalbar. Church, tower and school (after 1908)

Domjahn's Cemetery

After the uniting of the three congregations in 1900, and the construction of an enlarged St. John's church building in 1901 to accomodate the increasing number of worshippers, "Domjahn's" church became redundant. It was closed and sold to the Church of England, Kalbar, for £25. Ernie Wittenhagen was the last child to be baptized in it on 14th March, 1901. The ground was then dedicated as a cemetery. It was used for this until as late as 1945.

In keeping with his request, Julius Domjahn was buried there and the bell tolled for his funeral would have been clearly heard. He died on 8th December, 1911 at the age of 65 and was buried the next day by Pastor Monz, with H. Wittenhagen and C. Muller the witnesses. He had been in Queensland for 39 years. It was 38 years previously that he was first mentioned at Mutdapilly Reserve, in January, 1875, as a financial member. There he had contributed both to the new organ and the extensions to the church building.

It was through his 'Will' that the Archives were able to trace him. For there his name was spelt correctly. They offered to make a copy of the will for our research. The 49 pages of it cost us $4.90. Such were the legal procedures of the early 1900's. The Will is simple enough and dated 21st November, 1911. It was filed in the Supreme Court by C. W. Louis Heiner, Pastor Heiner's son. One item of interest, "I give and bequeath my gold watch and chain to the said Hermann Gustav Domjahn absolutely." In the inventory it is stated to have a value of £5. Today it is still in the family, in the possession of his grandson Victor. It looks like new. Each link of the chain is stamped. The front of the watch is embossed with a large "J.D.".

Clearly Julius Domjahn prospered in the Fassifern, and the Lutheran Church continued to prosper following the union. But there were some difficult times when Pastor Frank left and the parish had no pastor.

Mutdapilly

The pressure for realignment in the early 1970's was resisted by Mutdapilly. At a special meeting on 4th November 1973,
it was moved by B. Weber seconded by V. Ruthenberg "That realignment be deferred as long as possible," carried.

However, the future was bleak for this congregation. The Sunday School had closed. No children disturbed the services,
for parents with Sunday School children sought out other congregations. The most likely one was St. Matthew's Harrisville,
which Pastor Lister commenced in late 1968, with a flourishing Sunday School.
Also, it was a somewhat isolated  spot, not signposted. When the Parish Service was held there on November 5th 1975, there were members of the Kalbar Parish who did not know where it was. Pastor Howard Pohlner suggested that sign posts be erected and a noticeboard with service times displayed. But this was declined. The fear was expressed that vandals would be attracted. Back in 1940 a couple of windows had been broken, but this had been done by local lads and their parents were asked to help with repairs. Also an additional glass insurance was taken out to cover the windows.

In 1976 Pastor Pohlner suggested that John Bowes, a parish worker, be invited to help conduct an evangelistic visitation in the area in conjunction with Harrisville. This was declined. A secret ballot was held on 1st February 1976, which resulted in
seven votes for closure, six to remain open and one informal. After the closing service, Palm Sunday, 11th April 1976, a meeting was held, where a vote of thanks was moved to Pastor Bergmann for his translation of the German minutes into English and a cash donation of $100 given in recognition of his preaching services freely given since his retirement to
Mutdapilly. The candlesticks were also given to him. The Communion set was given to Harrisville. The church building and land was given to Kalbar Parish, which in turn donated same to St. Matthew's, Harrisville. Within three years the building was put to good use on a new location.

Actually this congregation had clung on tenaciously through a difficult time when farmers were moving to the city.
But by the time it closed the trend was reversed as city people were moving to the fresh country air. While   this congregation had no Sunday School the local  school was overcrowded. However, the 107 year old Church was unable to take advantage of this opportunity. Most of the members joined St. John's Ipswich, one family Harrisville and one member, Kalbar. Throughout its life, this Church had been something of a springboard to greener pastures as members moved off.
Now even the church building was to be moved to a more central place to serve the Harrisville community. It may have been the end of the chapter, but not of the book.
from Mutdapill to Harrisville

STATUTES FOR THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN

     CONGREGATION IPSWICH AGRICULTURAL RESERVE

 A GENERAL
 1. The name of this Congregation shall be, "Evangelical Lutheran Church."
 2. The main principles are: To form a unity which ties all members together, to encourage each other, to support each other to form a unity in spiritual matters concerning the Church.
 3. The name of our Church is, "St. John's Church."
 4. The day of dedication of this Church was, 29th March 1869. The Church was dedicated by Pastor Ernst Heiner.
 5. The "Church" comprises the church services and all church performances and dives each one opportunity to have his (or her) devotional exercises in the church, to strengthen and develop his faith and to bring up young people to adult membership of the church.
 6. Services will be held on all Sundays and all Festival days. These will commence at 12 midday in the winter and 11 a.m. in the summer.
 7. The sermons shall be delivered by the preacher in memorised form. If the preacher is hindered by sickness or other circumstances to come, a member of the congregation shall read the sermon.
 8. Voluntary gifts in collections after the service will be given and the money will go into the church fund, as other income will too, which will be superintended by the treasurer. If possible the income of the collections should help pay the debts of the congregation.
 9. Devotional performances include. Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Confession and Holy Communion, Visiting the sick and Burials.
10. For ail these services the members pay the officiating preacher a voluntary donation except for weddings, for which the preacher will receive £2/10/-, and 10/- for Confirmations. But all non members have to pay a certain tax, i.e. At Baptisms 5/- to the Pastor, but if non members promise to become members and if they pay 6/- in advance for the next half year, then they have not to pay the above mentioned tax.
11. The salary of the Pastor will consist of a sum which the whole congregation will aqree upon and should be paid monthly in advance.
           

ST. MATTHEW'S LUTHERAN CHURCH HARRISVILLE


      St Matthew's Lutheran Church, Harrisville, was formed as a congregation on the 21st March 1971, and became part of the Kalbar Parish after having held regular services in the Harrisville School of Arts Hall for three years, prior to this date. Pastor Lister was Chairman and Mr. B. Schmidt was elected as Secretary. Mr. C. Ernst was elected as Chairman
at the meeting held on the 30th May.

At a meeting on 11th March 1974, it was decided that the Chairman enquire about a Church building in view of holding services in same. Confirmation and Christmas services were held in the Presbyterian Church. After several meetings and discussions refering to the purchases of a Church building and block of land, Mr. Des Dull was asked to look for a suitable building block. It was decided on 11th September 1977, that a block of land in North Street, Harrisville, be purchased as the site for a future church building to be erected. Pastor Bergmann, who had purchased the Mutdapilly Church building,  offered it to the Harrisville congregation, for removal to the site. This generous offer was gratefully accepted.
Harrisville St Matthews Lutheran opening day
A motion was moved by the Church Council that the Queensland District of the Lutheran Church of Australia be Trustees. The members of the congregation became a hive of activity with the thought of having their own Church to worship in. The ladies held street stalls to raise money. After the Church had been moved on to the site in North Street, there was the job of stripping and re-painting, which was done by voluntary labour by the members who worked afternoons and weekends. A toilet block was built. Landscaping for gardens and lawns was done and shrubs and trees were planted.

       The Church was opened on 3rd December 1978, by Pastor Brian Lister who was responsible for the forming of St. Matthew's congregation ten years earlier. The Church was re-dedicated by President R. J. Mayer,  President L. C. A. Queensland District. Pastor Bergmann unveiled the plaque with the following inscription, This Church was moved to Harris-
ville and re-dedicated to the Glory of God on 3rd December, 1978.' The text from James 1:22, which hung over the altar in St. John's, Mutdapilly, was inscribed on a timber plaque and hung in St. Matthew's. It reads,  "Be doers of the Word and not hearers only." The Church on the move had become a reality and is growing in God's care, under the guidance of Pastor H. Pohlner, elders, B. Schmidt and L Mocker, with dedicated members, a Sunday School and a youth group.

HISTORY OF ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, MILBONG

       "When the Government threw open the land in the Coulson-Milbong district it was mostly English people who took it up. The heavy scrub proved a barrier too hard to overcome so that many were glad to dispose of their land to Germans, who came mostly from Walloon and Fernyview." So begins the report of the Golden Jubilee of St. Luke's Lutheran Church
Milbong, 8th September 1935. The report continues, "With vigour and endurance they applied themselves to the task of hewing a home out of the dense scrub. They only had the bare necessities of life; an extra Sunday suit was unknown to many; food was the plainest; luxuries could not be indulged in."

ESTABLISHING A CHURCH

       As these hardworking settlers commenced life in a new country they also desired spiritual strength. They gathered together around the Word of God. They met with like-minded Christians in homes at Hoya. In 1882 a church building was erected there, and a manse built alongside it. Pastor Conrad Prenzler was installed in 1883. This was a time of rejoicing. But soon such dissension arose that when two Synods were formed in 1885, part of the congregation left, joining the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and called Pastor Heiner to serve them. Worship was held in the home of Mr. A. F. Badke on the Ipswich Dugandan road. Mr. Badke was a butcher, farmer and served as district council member. As more German settlers arrived it was decided to purchase an acre of land off Mr. Badke for £3, for church and cemetery. W. Wendorf, H. Menge and E. Wieland were elected elders and W. Pokarier, H. Wilken and H. Zillmann trustees.

Plans were drawn up for a building 20 feet by 30 feet with walls  11 feet high. The floor and shingle roof to be of hardwood, the rest to be of pine. For this the congregation had £2/12/6 on hand. But no worries  regarding finances at Milbong! The 39 members contributed £46 and friends gave £51/13/6. This enabled the trustees to go ahead. The tender
 of A. A. Schelbach for £105 was accepted and the building proceeded  promptly.

DEDICATION

This building, which could seat 100 people, was dedicated on 23rd  September 1885 by Pastor Ernst Heiner, assisted by Pastors C. F. A.  Shirmeister and E. 0. Maier. This congregation, known as St. Luke's was  destined to take a prominent role in the establishment of the Lutheran  Church in the Fassifern, especially in the Milbong-Kalbar Parish.  Original members included H. Menge, E. Wieland, Ch. Rossow,  C. Siedowski, F. Lankowski, H. Wilken, W. Pokarier, W. Kucks, A. Lewald,  C. Wenzel, J. Podlich, A. Badke, H. Zillmann, F. Carl, H. Wendorf, F.  Sommerfeld, H. Zieike, G. Beitzei, F. Leu, G. B. Wiess, W. Rossow, C.  Kaaden, D. Badke, F. Draheim, C. Eggert, H. Badke, A. Kaatz, R. Laegel,
 J. Steffens, A. Peck, L. Kamp, E. Raatz and W. Graes.

The closing service was held on 24th November. It was conducted by Pastor M. D. Reuther. The address for the occasion was given by the retired Pastor H. W. L. Prenzler. It was based on Proverbs 22:28, "Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set," and 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
Such a crowd was present that they had to bring in extra seating.

REMOVAL OF BUILDING

The building and contents had been given to St. John's Kalbar. At a later meeting the trustees were directed to transfer the land also and the congregation of St. Luke's was officially disbanded.
The building was advertised for sale by tender but the response was so poor that none was accepted. Eventually it was sold to Wayne Lankowski. It was transported to Teviotville, cut down and made into a pleasant, roomy dwelling. The leadlight windows, especially bought for the Jubilee, have been acquired by St. John's Lutheran Church, Corinda. They were thrilled to be able to obtain such windows to adorn their sanctuary, an answer to their prayers.

TEVIOTVILLE (Cross of Christ) LUTHERAN CHURCH

  Through a Church paper from the South, Mr. Heinrich Liekefett of  Teviotville, learned there was a Lutheran Synod in the Southern States  with the same views on doctrine as he believed were correct. He contacted that Synod (it was later called the "Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia.") The result was that Pastor Otto Nichterlein from the Downs  commenced to conduct services in 1903 at H. Liekefett's home. A congregation was established on New Year's Day, 1904. Present at this service were: Mr. and Mrs. H. Liekefett and family, Mr. and Mrs. F. Richter and family, and Mrs. Richter's parents Mr. and Mrs. W. Raeck. This congregation grew. In 1909 it was too big to have services in a private home, so a church building was built on land donated by Heinrich Liekefett.
In 1915, a Parish was formed with Barney View and Helidon Serving the congregation at this time was Pastor C. Hoff, who only remained as Pastor during 1915 and boarded at F. Richter's.
In 1916, a parsonage was built for the new resident Pastor H. F. A. Bode. Pastor Bode worked very successfully for 53 years, and at first, travelled by push bike, horse and buggy with two horses, train, and from 1927 a car. Four years after arriving, Pastor Bode married. His wife Claire is well remembered as a music and singing teacher, and for her beautiful singing voice.
With the uniting of the Lutheran Synods,  Teviotville closed in May 1969 on the 60th Anniversary of the church building. Teviotville did not have to close on account of lack of  membership or attendance. The services were always very well attended right to the last. The Teviotville Church building was used to enlarge our sister congregation in Boonah.
The manse was given to Pastor and Mrs. Bode as a token of appreciation for services rendered. Approximately half of the members joined St. John's Kalbar.
Teviotville Synod 1922

Teviotville Cross of Christ Interior

Teviotville Cross of Christ
The Teviotville congregation was blessed with a talented choir. Those who heard it will never forget the magnificent voices of Pastor and Mrs. Bode, Frank and Rosie Hahn, Alf Bressow and others. The first confirmation class comprised Ruth Maddox, Archie Freiberg and Eck. Liekefett.
The first wedding was a triple celebration: Martha Liekefett marrying Edward Stehn; Hermann Schuiz marrying Louise Marquardt and Clara Schuiz marrying Richard Weber.

The first burial was Ottibiah Schuiz, who was buried by Heinrich Liekefett in Hoya Cemetery. Some long serving members were: Heinrich Liekefett, Fred Richter and Wilhelm Poelitz (German Lay Readers), Sir Harold Richter (Secretary), Henry Walter (Treasurer), Reiny Liekefett (Lay Reader — 39 years and Elder 23 years). Billy Bode (Organist — 31 years and
Sunday School teacher), Alt Schuiz (Elder and Sunday School teacher), Frank Podlich (Secretary and Elder), Frank Hahn (Elder), Alt Bressow (Elder), Bernie Schuiz (Secretary), Monica Liekefett (Organist and Sunday School teacher), and Murray and John Freiberg (Youth Leaders).

HEINRICH FRIEDRICH ARMIN BODE

"The Lutheran" 18th December 1972
      On August 9, 1886, a son was born to Pastor Joachim G. E. Bode and his wife, Emilie, nee Appelt, at Dutton, South Australia. He was Heinrich Friedrich Armin Bode.
       He received his primary education in the Lutheran day-school at Dutton, after which he went to work in a general store at Nuriootpa. During this time he received a call from God to become a Pastor of the Church. He enrolled at Concordia College and Seminary in 1907, and remained there until 1915. He was ordained on January 2, 1916, and was appointed to serve the Teviotville parish of Queensland.
       On February 17, 1920, Pastor Bode married Clair Simon, of Adelaide and in 1927, when a family in his congregation became orphaned, he and his wife fostered three of the children: Alice, Bernie and Billy, Bernie predeceasing him in 1956.
       The work in the Teviotville parish necessitated a great deal of  travelling — up to 10,000 miles a year by rail alone, and until 1927, when a car was purchased, Pastor Bode used a push-bike, a hack, and later buggy and ponies, to cover the long distances. Among the places which he served were Teviotville, Barney View, Glen Eagle, Ipswich, Helidon, Blenheim, Binjour Plateau, Reid's Creek, Esk, Clarendon, and Mount Mort. When the Lutheran Synods amalgamated, parishes were re-aligned, and Teviotville joined Boonah, Kalbar and Miibong Congregations. Pastor Bode retired in 1969, having created a record (in Queensland at least), by serving one parish continuously for 53 years.
       His fearless preaching had the desired effect of convicting people of their sinfulness, and of sending them fleeing for forgiveness and mercy to Jesus, their Lord and Saviour.
      Throughout his ministry, his childlike faith and trust in his Saviour, and his unshakeable belief that every word of the Bible is God's Word and cannot be altered, was evident whenever he spoke.
       One of Pastor Bode's greatest joys was to sing God's praises, and his fine bass voice could always be heard leading the singing. He often used to speak with excitement of his anticipated joy of singing in heaven.
       On June 10, his voice was silenced by a stroke, which also left him partly paralysed. His condition gradually became worse, until God graciously relieved him of his suffering on November 23 at the Boonah Hospital.
       At the funeral service at Boonah, Pastor A. H. Koehler based his address on Ephesians 2:v 8, 9. Pastor J. Perkins read the obituary, Pastor M. D. Reuther conducting the service. President F. H. Schmidt officiated at the graveside in the Kalbar Cemetery, on November 27th 1972.