The Kiron church had its beginning with the Otter Creek settlement itself. One may well say, then, that it has grown with the community and has been a part of it.

 By the summer of 1868, so many families of Baptist principle had immigrated, and enjoyed Christian fellowship together, that on August 16, 1868. they banded themselves together in a Baptist church. The original roll of members may be seen on Page 1. Carl Peter Frodig was elected chairman, Nils Lindberg, deacon, and Charles J. Star, secretary. By the close of 1868, the membership had risen to 31.

 The church continued to meet in dug-outs and in other places which were opened to them until in 1869 when a school house was built and opened for their use. This served as a meeting place until 1876, when a church building was erected at a cost of $1800.

 Andrew Norelius served the church as superintendent from 1870 until 1873, and Frodig again served from 1874 until New Years, 1877. At that time, the church had grown to membership of 160 largely due to the revival under N. Hayland in 1876. At that time Frodig suggested that a full time pastor be called to take care of the work.

 John Ring took up the work in March 1877, and continued till the close of April 1880. During 1877, the church erected its first parsonage at a cost of $270.

 L. J. Ahlstrom took over the work in October 1881, and remained until February 1886. Mikaelson and Frodig were elected superintendents of the work until a pastor could be procured. In the fall of 1886, Betsy Anderson conducted meetings which proved to be an uplift for the church.

 In February, 1887, Erick O. Olson took up the work. The first church was rebuilt at a cost of $1100. During the fall of 1890, a deep revival arose under the leadership of Betsy Anderson. Forty-one members were added by baptism. Olson's rich ministry closed in 1895. During his time, the church increased in membership by forty members, bringing the total to 116. Up to that time the membership had fluctuated from large to small through various discouragements and misunderstandings.

Chader followed Olson, and stayed until 1897. In August of that year, A. P. Hanson began his work. The railroad having determined the location of the town, it was thought wise to move the church into town. This was done in 1899. A parsonage was also built in, town, and the two projects together cost $2000. There was an increase of about 26 members during this ministry.

 John Johanson served the church two months, and A. Berglund served the next eight months, after which G. Nyquist took up the work. During this time the Prayer Conference was instituted, and the traditional meeting has been followed faithfully through the years. Brother Nyquist served until April 1906, when student A. E. Lysell took up the work for the summer.

 During the summer of 1906, the present parsonage was erected at a cost of $2001.13. J. N. Soderstrom took up the work in December, and remained until September 1907.

 October 1, 1907, A. G. Lagerquist took up the work of the church continuing until December 1, 1910. During his pastorate the splendid church building was erected.

 January 1, 1911, Anton A. Anderson began his work which continued until April 1, 1914. Meetings under the leadership of P. C. Nelson, and of V. E. Hedberg resulted in substantial gains. John Selander supplied the church during the summer of 1914. Rev. N. N. Morton took up the work Nov. 1, 1914, and remained until the summer of 1919.

 Rev. C. I. Peterson was pastor from December 1919 until the spring of 1925. Revival meetings under the leadership of Stucker. Nygren, and Dahlquist, again resulted in gains for the work. At the close of this pastorate, Rev. E. J. Nordlander who was residing in Kiron at this time, was called as temporary pastor. Later in the summer, he accepted a call to be permanent pastor. He remained in the work until April 1927.

 Reuben E. Nelson was called to take up the work for the summer, and in the fall, he accepted the call to become permanent pastor for a year. September 1, 1928, the present pastor, Gordon Carlson took up the work.

 Such a short history can contain only the skeleton of events. The work of pastors, the pioneers and the members is too great to be compressed into the limits of a few words. Upon this framework you may build your own beautiful structure of work, prayer, souls won, comfort given. These can be remembered and meditated upon better than they can be described.

 Since such a burden could not be undertaken, the brethren decided to build the church themselves, utilizing labor donated by men in the church. Rev. Lagerquist superintendended the work, and Joseph Engberg was foreman.
 Work began as soon as possible. After a short prayer service in the old structure, May 4, it was torn down under the supervision of Carl Erick Engberg. Ben N. Benson supervised the excavation work. The whole membership worked faithfully, and it was a happy group of men who gathered daily for the task of building a new church home.
 The church was ready for the festive ten-day dedication service held in connection with the Fortieth Anniversary early in December. Thus within the space of one year, the decision to build and the building itself were both accomplished. The total cost was $10,765.54.

The building today stands as a monument to the foresight of Rev. Lagerquist and the church. Few country communities have buildings to equal it, and few city churches built twenty years ago can compare with it in modern arrangement and convenience. God surely led even in this, and above all, the structure stands as a place of worship and as a monument to the faith of men in Him who is the corner stone and head of the Church.

 The Swedish language was used in its early history. Some classes soon adopted the English and gradually other classes began using the English language. Today only two classes use the Swedish.  The International lessons were used in the early years by all classes but of later years the younger children use the graded lessons.

 One of the outstanding faithful workers is Wm. Lindberg, who has served in some way for the past forty years. He now serves as Superintendent and has so served for about twenty years. Alvin Winquist as Secretary and Treasurer has about fourteen years service to his credit.  The enrollment is now 264, teachers and officers 21. A Cradle Roll and Home Department is also maintained.

 Among those who have served faithfully for many years can be mentioned C. P. Frodig, who served as Secretary and Treasurer for twenty-three years, and Alf. J. Clauson, who succeeded him, served for twenty-two years. Others are Emily Swanson, Mrs. I. Michaelson, Mrs. Nels Winquist, Mrs. E. P. Sievers, Mrs. Johanna Engberg, Nellie Winquist and Mrs. C. M. Olson.

Sales of the finished articles were held for some years, but later the articles made were sent to Childrens and Old Peoples homes. Space does not permit to mention the many different objects to which the Society has contributed, but the total amount of donations they have made is $5198.50, since its organization.

Today the Society follows the group plan, and this has been a very helpful plan in getting the greater number of members to take some part in the meetings at some time. There are at present sixty-seven members who make up the Society. During the summer months the first half hour of the Sunday Evening services has been in charge of the Society, but during the winter months the meetings are held in the basement using the full hour.  The Society has control of the Library in that it elects the members of the Library Board. The members of the Society also contribute annually one dollar each toward the support of the Library.

 Looking at the giving part of the Society, of the $2746.51 that has been received through voluntary offerings, $2582.92 has been given to the Women's American Foreign and Women's American Home Mission Societies.
 As one looks back over these twenty-seven years of work, the organization feels truly inspired over the progress that has 'been made. Certainly much credit is due Miss N. Florence Johnson, who has labored during all these years, giving of her time and self for the interest of the work; also to Mrs. E. J. Nordlander, who for twenty-five years served as Secretary-Treasurer.

 At the end of the first year there were 288 catalogued volumes. Today there are 1419, and about 30 periodicals are coming regularly to the reading tables. The circulation of books and periodicals for the year ending March 31st, 1928, was 4424.

 The church furnishes rooms, light and fuel. Other expenses are met by fines, sale of borrowers' cards. annual B. Y. P. U. membership fees, donations from some of the Sunday School classes, clubs and individuals. Miss Alice Sandberg served as Librarian from the beginning, continuing for about thirteen years, after which N. Florence Johnson has served.

 The membership numbers twenty-seven at present, only four of the present members being charter members of the organization. They are: Alf. J. Clauson, J. A. Engberg, Lillian F. Engberg and S. M. Sjogren. The aim of the Choir is to use the talents in the Church to help bring the story of the gospel through song and to help make inspiring services.