When the construction of the church was finished, members of Salem (two families) who wished to transfer to the daughter and some people from the community began to worship in the new facility. Because the new group was small, loan were difficult to obtain. But God provided blessings when Atonement Lutheran Church became a guarantor for the loan.

Professor John Jeske of the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary filled the preaching duties and Pastor W. Nommensen of Salem took the rest of the workload for the fledgling congregation.

In March Pastor Thomas Spiegelberg was installed as the first resident pastor. At this time there were 67 baptized souls, 29 communicant members, 10 voters and 15 in Sunday school.

On September 17, 1973, Risen Savior Congregation was organized.

There were 111 baptized souls, 55 communicants, 19 voters, 45 in Sunday school, eight in confirmation class and one in adult class at the time of organization. The first church council of four members consisted of Mr. Herbert Sager, Mr. Chris Dorio, Mr. Tim Schneider and Mr. Robert Morse.

The congregation refinanced its mortgage to the amount of $125,000 for twenty years.

Pastor Fred Zimmerman received and accepted a call from St. Bartholomew Ev. Lutheran Church in Kawkawlin, MI. Mr. A. J. Kunde, a Seminary student and member of Risen Savior, under the supervision of Pastor Nommensen who served as vacancy pastor.

Pastor George Ferch accepted our call and was installed as pastor of Risen Savior on January 3rd.

An emphasis on stewardship, which had begun under Pastor Zimmerman, was continued. Tangible results showed that Risen Savior's number of souls in 1979 of 182 had increased to 248 in 1983.

There were now two services per Sunday and Wednesdays during Lent. A communion Sunday was added and communion was held in both services twice a month.

Risen Savior had 35 children attending Salem Lutheran School. Risen Savior now called a Minister of Education to teach at Salem School and to be in charge of all educational programs for children at Risen Savior. Mr. Daniel Whitney, from Rapid City, SD, accepted our call and was installed on July 29th. He taught the middle grades at Salem.

A storage shed was built and a chain link fence was installed on the north and east sides of the property for security reasons.

It was approved that Seminary students may be used to make evangelism calls in the area with an emphasis on personal witnessing.

A new AOB organ was purchased and paid for at the cost of $16,565. This organ replaced the two previous used organs, which served well, if not for a long period of time.

On July 7th Mr. Whitney presented a proposal to start a preschool at Risen Savior to serve the young children of the church and of the nearby area. It would be self-supporting with a start-up cost of $1000. Mrs. Nannette Ferch accepted the call of the congregation to be the first preschool teacher.

A computer and printer, along with fresh exterior paint and new storm windows on the church building, were the major projects of this year.

From 1987 to 1990, new lighting in the nave and a new ceiling in the basement were also achieved.

On August 22, 1993, Risen Savior celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Professor Jeske of the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary was the guest speaker. He was the first regular preacher in the beginning days of the congregation. The celebration fittingly was called 20 Years of God's Grace. The members had decided to have a thanksgiving offering which would be extended over three years. The hope was that the offering would be large enough to pay for the mortgages on the church and the teacherage. At the picnic dinner, following the celebration service, we were privileged to burn the mortgage on the church building. Over $60,000 had been gathered by this time.

Pastor Ferch received a call from Bethlehem Ev. Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana. In July, he accepted the call of that mission congregation and he and his family moved in August.

Risen Savior then called Pastor Kenneth J. Fisher to serve as its vacancy pastor. Pastor Fisher was serving the WELS World Mission Board under a one-year call to develop the World Mission Collection.

Pastor Fisher was installed as Risen Savior's fourth resident pastor on April 26th, 1998.

On June 28th Risen Savior celebrated its 25th anniversary with the "Appreciation-for-Ministry Sunday."

This was the first of two special anniversary worship services. Professor John C. Jeske, emeritus, was the guest pastor as we thanked God for the blessings of 25 years of public ministry. We rejoiced for the many blessings we have through Sunday school, Lutheran elementary school and high school, Bible classes for teens and adults, and the many other opportunities to learn God's Word. We thanked God for the added blessing we enjoy as the church home for many young men while they are students at the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Many former members are now serving in Christ's ministry throughout the world.

On September 13th Risen Savior officially celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special "Anniversary Sunday."

Pastor Thomas Spiegelberg, our first resident pastor of Risen Savior, traveled from Colorado to preach the sermon. A choir from the Seminary Chorus proclaimed the Word in song. A picnic followed.

The generous offerings of thanksgiving from the members of Risen Savior on the occasion of its 25th anniversary have permitted the installation of two outdoor signs to welcome the community to hear and learn God's Word. The gifts have also permitted the installation of the addition of a 21-note set of chimes to the church organ.

Risen Savior begins to conduct Advent and Lenten Services at Luther Haven.

Major property improvements include new siding, furnace, flooring, and patio at teacherage; new windows, roof vinyl flooring in parsonage.

Risen Savior received $12,700 grant to begin an outreach program directed at at-risk children in the neighborhood.

Risen Savior begins Youth Haven - an after-school program for children in the neighborhood. It is held once a week and offers a safe place for latchkey children.

Mission statement: "Risen Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church, uniting hearts and hands through Word and sacrament, exists to nurture believers and reach out with the gospel, all to the glory of God" and 10-year vision unanimously adopted by the voters after cottage meetings.

Planning Committee works on long-range plan for the development of improved facilities.

Food pantry begins at Risen Savior Lutheran Church.

Youth Haven (after-school program) expands to three days a week.

Parish nurse program begins.

On March 27, 2003 at a special voters’ meeting the voters unanimously decide to move forward with the $1.35 million building expansion project o which includes improved handicapped accessibility (bathrooms, covered drop off, etc), 4 classrooms, a media center, and Christian life center (gym).

At a special joint service on June 8, 2003, ground is broken for the new building project. Anderson-Ashton is the general contractor for the project. On this Sunday, special speakers include Scott Walker (County Executive), Curtis Gielow (State Representative), Barbara Horton (Milwaukee Public School Board representative) and Rev. James Kleist (Wisconsin Lutheran High School). The congregation all joints together to pull a rope attached to an antique plow as the soil once used for farming is now turned for planting a different kinds of seed (God’s Word).

Risen Savior receives a $30,000 grant from the Milwaukee Foundation for the development of the Milwaukee Urban Inclusion Collaborative.

On July 21-25, 2003, the entire staff participates at Camp TREES--a week-long camping experience for 70 urban children (about half of whom are unchurched from our own neighborhood). Staff also mentors about 30 high school counselors who participate in program.

On September 2, 2003 Risen Savior Lutheran School opens with rented space (4 classrooms) at Redemption Lutheran Church with an enrollment of 51 children. The new teaching staff (Preschool, K5, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Grade teachers and principal) are installed on September 7, 2003.

A redesigned Preschool program (ages 3-4) opened on September 29 with 12 children which now is full day and accepts private pay and W-2 payments. On October 22, 2003, the voters unanimously approve adding fourth grade in 2004-2005 school year with additional teaching staff.

Children of school participate in a Christmas program with 158 in attendance on December 21, 2003.   

The calling of teachers for the new school begins.  The first two called accept -- Mrs. Beverly Wright and Mrs. Carmen Rupprecht.

May 1, 2004 Risen Savior dedicated its new facility with almost 400 people in attendance. An article entitled “School Knits Church Into Community” appears in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on May 3, 2004.
           
Last day of classes for the first year of the school concludes on May 28, 2004.

After extensive brain-storming in June, Risen Savior adopts a new organizational structure and elects a Board for Parish Ministry and a Board for School Ministry.

Camp TREES (a week-long camp for urban kids) hosted and staffed by Risen Savior from June 11-16, 2004. Also during the summer, members redevelop the church basement into office space and two new classrooms for the growing enrollment of the school with dual access to the restroom.

Risen Savior hosts its second annual School Supply Give-Away and Recruitment Fair from August 7-8, 2004. The entire neighborhood is canvassed. Hundreds visit and tour the facilities.

On September 1, 2004, Risen Savior Lutheran School opens its second year with a staff of six classroom teachers, one teacher’s assistant, a specialist for inclusive services and the principal. Ninety students are enrolled in K-4 to 4th grade in multi-age classrooms. Christian Education Sunday held in the Christian Life Center with an attendance of 179 on September 12.

Dr. E. Allen Sorum of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary conducts personal outreach training for congregational members to make visits on school families in their homes. Over 20 people attend on September 30, 2004. Also, Mr. John Stroh begins an internship providing professional counseling services for Risen Savior. Mrs. Melissa Wolfgram is hired full-time as the Care Coordinator to expand Risen Savior’s ministry by identifying needs (emotional, spiritual, physical and social) in the congregation and community and developing and coordinating services to meet these needs.

In October 2004, a new mid-week Service initiated at Risen Savior on Wednesday nights.

On October 7, 2004, the first in-home visits are made by the lay members to school parents. Weeks later 4 children are baptized as a first direct result. Later in October, Sixteen people attend the first multi-lesson Bible Information Class intended for school parents which will be held over 4 weekends.

In November 2004 Hispanic Outreach begins under the direction of a seminary student hired to research Spanish-language needs.

On December 12,2004, fourteen children are baptized and six adults confirmed in a single service.