Salem Lutheran Church, Mahtowa · Home of the Holy Hootenanners
Our Mission: Energetic Christian community of all ages called to love, accept, and grow through Discipleship Our Vision: is to be a stable foundation and vibrant hub for disciples new and old.
Salem Lutheran Church in Mahtowa was formally organized on July 19th, 1894 with 25 communicants, 21 children. Salem has continued in the same location at what is now 2702 - 1st Street in Mahtowa as a community of christians called to proclaim God's love and peace to the world.
Over the years the ministry of Salem has taken on many different forms, but always tries its best to center our ministry on the love of God and the call of the Holy Spirit.
Music has always been an important part of Salem's ministry with many talented musicians throughout the years. Miss. Evelyn Wilson was the organist at Salem for the better part of 60 years. In the 1970s a children's choir was formed, recorded and toured under the name "Come Back Kids". Over the years, various adults have formed a choir to add to the music during worship. In 2013 the group now known as the Holy Hootenanners formed and has since recorded various albums, written their own music, tour, and provide worship music leadership 2-3 times a month at Salem.
The original wooden church building burnt down on December 16th, 1944 and the current building was rebuilt in brick along with the parsonage beginning the following year. The two buildings were dedicated and blessed in a worship service and celebration in 1948. The office addition was added to the original church building in 1974. The old Mahtowa school building next door was purchased and renamed as Salem's Mahtowa Hall in 2012 in hopes to provide a community gathering space for Mahtowa and the surrounding area.