Our History
The German Reformed and Lutheran Church of Fisherville was organized in 1848 on land donated by George Fisher, Esquire. Shortly afterwards, the sum of $1.00 was paid to Squire Fisher for the legal transaction and the cornerstone was laid on September 9, 1849.
Berrysburg pastors served the new Fisherville parish until 1855 when it became an independent pastorate. At that time, it also became a member of the Fisherville Charge of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dauphin County.
No records can be found to show when the church officially became known as Messiah Lutheran Church although reference to this name is given in several church council minutes of the 1870’s. The Reformed membership was not strong and eventually dwindled out by the late 1800’s.
More than 24 pastors and a number of supply ministers served the Messiah Church throughout the years. Recently William Krenz served the longest term from 1971-1993. Currently Pastor Nancy Brody serves the Messiah Lutheran Church.
The Messiah Lutheran Church Sunday School was originally known as the Fisherville Union Sabbath School and had a large membership for such a small country church. In addition to regular Sunday School, German Bible classes were also taught for the German speaking people of the area.
With an ever-growing church school, a new Education Center was completed in 1989, consisting of a basement, two levels of classrooms and a pastor’s study. All of the labor in constructing the new addition was done by members of the church, both young and old. It is this type of devotion and fellowship which first built the church in 1849 and it is this same fellowship which strengthens our faith today and tomorrow.
List of Pastors Serving Messiah:
Berrysburg Pastors 1848-1855
Rev. L. K. Secrist 1855-1858
Rev. John H. Davidson 1860-1862
Rev. M. Fernsler 1863-1866
Rev. J. G. Breininger 1867-1868
Rev. E. Daron 1869-1872
Rev. F. Aurand 1872-1874
Rev. S. S. Engle 1874-1875
Rev. Charles Hay 1876-1877
Rev. J. K. Bricker 1877-1879
Rev. A. B. Erhardt 1879-1884
Rev. M. V. Shatto 1884-1886
Rev. H. A. Letterman 1886-1890
Rev. J. M. Stover 1890-1894
Rev. H. H. Flick 1894-1897
Rev. J. Peters 1898-1902
Rev. S. A. Garnes 1902-1910
Rev. S. A. Zimbeck 1910-1912
Rev. J. F. Stabley 1912-1931
Rev. R. M. Wise 1932-1943
Rev. L. C. Mortensen 1943-1948
Rev. John L. Rine 1949-1954
Rev. Edward G. Brame 1954-1962
Rev. David Strasser 1962-1965
Supply Pastors 1965-1971
Rev. William Krenz 1971-1993
Supply Pastors 1993-1994
Rev. Jeffery Laeger-Hagemeister 1994-1998
Supply Pastors 1998-1999
Rev. Michael T. Petresky 1999-2018
Supply Pastors 2019-2020
Rev. Nancy Brody 2020-Present