Pastor Tim Bruno (Interim Pastor)
808-333-0212 (Cell)
808-333-0212 (Cell)
History of Riverside Chapel The original constitution of the Zim Church is undated and written in elaborate grammatical style in pencil on Northern Pacific Railroad stationery. The congregation was named the Scandinavian Ladies Aid. In May 1903, the Rev. P.A. Johnson and seven families incorporated as the Swedish Evangelical Mission Society and began raising money for a church building. It took nearly three years to raise the money needed, mostly by the Ladies Aid from auctions and sales. One of the popular fundraisers was the basket social, especially in the spring when the men would come in from the lumber camps. It was reported that one basket sold for as much as $38. Finally they had the money for the building, and Lars Olson went to Duluth to purchase materials.The lumber was dropped off at the railroad spur at Zim, but before it could be moved to the building site, it burned. Many believed the fire was set by a group of people who didn't want a church in Zim. Fortunately, the DM&IR Railroad Co. replaced the lumber, and in 1906 the Zim church was built. From 1910 to 1951, the church was served mostly by Lutheran pastors from the Augustana Synod. The picture of the Good Shepherd was donated to the church by Mrs. Rask in memory of her husband. Rev. Hjalmer Olson bought the frame for the picture. The picture now hangs in the back of Riverside Chapel. In 1950, the church was reorganized as the Zim Community Church, in order to make it more acceptable to the entire community. Any person over 15 yrs. of age, professing belief in the Holy Trinity could become a member. Then, in November, 1951, the American Sunday School Union under the leadership of Rev. Bert Stanaway took over the services. The chancel, altar, and baptismal font were dedicated; the baptismal font was dedicated in remembrance of the Alfred Nelson children and grandchildren. 1959 saw continued growth and the building was moved across the parking lot onto a new basement. Rev. Deursen of the Presbyterian Rural Missions served as pastor from 1953-1960. in 1963, Rev. Harold Andrews became pastor and the church decided to affiliate with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Fall of 1977 was when the Forbes Lutheran Church was purchased and services were held in both buildings. Declining attendance in 1993 moved the congregation to vote to use the Forbes building as the worship center as it was slightly larger than the Zim building and two buildings were no longer needed. Later the name was changed to Riverside Chapel, an Evangelical Free Church. |
Address: PO Box 355 8706 Church Lane Forbes, MN 55738 Church phone: 218-744-6155 Prayer Chain 744-1822 (Doris) or 744-5430 (Joyce) doris.lilygardener@gmail.com Our Mission Riverside Chapel seeks to help all people develop a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ through the foundation of Biblical teaching. Our Vision
Riverside Chapel seeks to bring Biblical truth in a relevant way to people of all ages in our community and beyond. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28: 19-20 NIV |
"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thes 5:18 NASB