The history of the ministry of Salem is an echo of the works of the Apostle Paul to the early Church in the city of Philippi: "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
God is bringing to completion His work in the life of each Christian who has walked the slope over this hill upon which Salem has sat for the past 155 years. Further, God has been faithful to this congregation. From the first day to this present day, the Holy Spirit has molded and shaped this body of believers into a spiritual temple where Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. All praise to the Father in heaven! God is continuing His good work in Jesus in this place.
The simple hopes and dreams of the founders of Salem continue to be realized to this day, even though they may be on a far larger scale than ever envisioned. Meeting at first in homes to pray, the founders quickly established Salem as a congregation in 1851 on three acres of land on the hill in northwest Harris County. Johann Heinrich Braschler, heeded God's call, preached the first sermon on July 21, 1851 at Spring Creek, just outside the city limits of what is known today as Tomball. Three months later the first baptisms were performed in Willow Creek in Northwest Harris County and Salem was on its way forward in a ministry that grew year after year.
After Pastor Braschler's one-year stay, Swiss missionaries led the pastoral ministry and Salem was a founding member of the Texas Synod, a Lutheran branch of the Swiss Mission Society.
Eventually, Salem was instrumental in starting daughter congregations in Harris and Washington counties. The first house of worship was a simple hand-hewn wooden structure. A Christian School to educate the children was begun by Pastor Johann Georg Ebinger in 1853 and continues still today.
Shortly after the Civil War, Salem joined the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and in the 1880s built another worship center. The majestic bell in the steeple could be heard for miles, and was the areas first communication system, tolling to tell of deaths and tragedies long before the arrival of mass communication. Through immigration of German residents throughout the 19th Century and early 20th Century, Salem continued to expand in membership. A large wooden structure sat majestically upon the hill, with its tall steeple rising over the countryside.
Tragedy struck in 1964. Salem's pastor and wife were killed in an automobile accident, and a few months later fire completely destroyed the church building. The members, counting on the faithfulness of God, quickly rallied and a beautiful new brick worship center was rebuilt on the hill. Immigration from Europe had long ceased and the congregation began to reach out to the new immigrants moving out to the country from the Houston, or moving in from other parts of America. Mission zeal intensified as it became evident that many of the newcomers did not know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
As always, God provided to meet every need, even when tragedy struck again on November 21, 1995, and Salem's worship center burned to the ground in a fire reported on national television the day before Thanksgiving.
Within one year the new church atop the hill was dedicated and is the current campus for ministry and worship.
Books and Resources:
A Moment In Time video, which tells the story of Salem's early years is available at $20 each.
From Hilltop to Hilltop, A Pioneer Spirit Endures - This book traces Salem's first 150 years of history of early pioneer families from Europe to Texas to Rosehill. This is the story of a people of God who have retained that pioneer spirit of courage, risk-taking, perseverance, generosity, hard work, and care for the community throughout Salem 's history. Hardbound: $35.
Salem Lutheran Church Register, 1853-1924 - This is a replica of Salem 's register of events for the years 1853-1924 and includes baptisms, confirmations, marriages and death records. All events have been indexed. Hardbound, gold lettering. Price: $50.
To request any of these resources, email slconline@salem4u.com