Living Word belongs to a fellowship of independent, spirit-filled churches known as the
Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. The church was founded on November 5, 1978, and became sovereign, self-governing on March 6, 1979. Its legal name is Living Word, Inc.
The seed of Living Word began in the early 1970s as a Bible study. The Jesus movement
of the 1970s was sweeping across the nation. Those at the Bible study grew hungrier and hungrier for the Word of God and seeking the Lord, growing beyond the church experiences in Brodhead, so some took their families to the Madison Gospel Tabernacle, now known as City Church, in Madison, for Sunday services and weekday children’s ministries. Here, they met Warren Heckman, who helped them plant the new church in Brodhead.
From Bible studies and prayer meetings in homes, the meetings grew so large that the
group began meeting in an empty, old house owned by Helene Meythaler on Highway County T across from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Warren Heckman recommended Donald (whom people called Rusty) and Gladys Younger to lead Living Word. They arrived in the summer of 1978 and stayed about five years. They decided upon the name Living Word Tabernacle that was later changed to Living Word, Inc.
Following the Youngers, the following people have served as pastors at Living Word: W.
Alvin and Virginia Wright, from 1983-1990 with David and Becky Lee as youth pastors from 1984-1989; K. Mark and Mary Pederson from 1991-2004 with Phil and Renee Porterfield helping as high school leaders; Rob and Susi Gibson from 2004 until 2014 with Wade and Kendra Williams as youth pastors; and Russ and Becky Doebler, from 2015-present, with Noel and Tina Yoshida as youth pastors. Emil and Recarda Carlson assisted the pastors from 1982-1984. John and Linda Brown stepped in as interim pastor for 18 months in 1990 and 1991. Manny and Judy Carson, who were from Rockford, helped from September through December 1990.
Our church grew from a Bible study in homes to a house church to a church in modulars
to the building we have today. It grew in property size as well from one acre to 15.
Children’s ministries have always been a priority at Living Word. From the beginning,
parents wanted their faith sowed into the community youth. For pre-K through fifth grade, the program started as AWANA (Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed) changed to Son light then to Cornerstone and back to AWANA. The junior high group, for grades 6-8, was called the Junior High Jammers, then became known as Edge. The high school group was called ROCK, Reaching Others for Christ’s Kingdom. The junior high and high school groups merged and became Impact in 2012. Wednesday evening AWANA classes share the gospel with children now, while Impact meets on Sunday evenings.
Sunday school for all ages continued from the beginning until the Covid-19 Pandemic of
2020-2021. Currently, only an adult Sunday school is offered. During Sunday services, children are released for Super Church for kids in first through fifth grades, and middle grade students meet with Noel in the Impact room.
Other children’s programs have included Christmas programs and numerous plays and
skits performed by our youth. Songs from the plays were shared at nursing homes.
VBS was offered starting with the Youngers and continued through the Pedersons’ time.
Youth and adult mission trips occur occasionally for those interested in participating.
Women’s and men’s Bible studies and prayer and fellowship meetings continue since the
beginning. Meetings times are provided in the weekly bulletin.
Special events occur every year since our formation as a church. The current regular
events include Family Sundays and special outreach programs such as Alpha and Pathway to Freedom classes.
Carols by Candlelight is a special Christmas Eve program celebrated each year.
Tuesday night prayer meetings include prayer walks through town during the summer
months and monthly corporate worship.
Many opportunities exist to grow in your faith and get involved in our church. We hope
you will join us and embrace the goodness the Lord has for you here.
Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. The church was founded on November 5, 1978, and became sovereign, self-governing on March 6, 1979. Its legal name is Living Word, Inc.
The seed of Living Word began in the early 1970s as a Bible study. The Jesus movement
of the 1970s was sweeping across the nation. Those at the Bible study grew hungrier and hungrier for the Word of God and seeking the Lord, growing beyond the church experiences in Brodhead, so some took their families to the Madison Gospel Tabernacle, now known as City Church, in Madison, for Sunday services and weekday children’s ministries. Here, they met Warren Heckman, who helped them plant the new church in Brodhead.
From Bible studies and prayer meetings in homes, the meetings grew so large that the
group began meeting in an empty, old house owned by Helene Meythaler on Highway County T across from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Warren Heckman recommended Donald (whom people called Rusty) and Gladys Younger to lead Living Word. They arrived in the summer of 1978 and stayed about five years. They decided upon the name Living Word Tabernacle that was later changed to Living Word, Inc.
Following the Youngers, the following people have served as pastors at Living Word: W.
Alvin and Virginia Wright, from 1983-1990 with David and Becky Lee as youth pastors from 1984-1989; K. Mark and Mary Pederson from 1991-2004 with Phil and Renee Porterfield helping as high school leaders; Rob and Susi Gibson from 2004 until 2014 with Wade and Kendra Williams as youth pastors; and Russ and Becky Doebler, from 2015-present, with Noel and Tina Yoshida as youth pastors. Emil and Recarda Carlson assisted the pastors from 1982-1984. John and Linda Brown stepped in as interim pastor for 18 months in 1990 and 1991. Manny and Judy Carson, who were from Rockford, helped from September through December 1990.
Our church grew from a Bible study in homes to a house church to a church in modulars
to the building we have today. It grew in property size as well from one acre to 15.
Children’s ministries have always been a priority at Living Word. From the beginning,
parents wanted their faith sowed into the community youth. For pre-K through fifth grade, the program started as AWANA (Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed) changed to Son light then to Cornerstone and back to AWANA. The junior high group, for grades 6-8, was called the Junior High Jammers, then became known as Edge. The high school group was called ROCK, Reaching Others for Christ’s Kingdom. The junior high and high school groups merged and became Impact in 2012. Wednesday evening AWANA classes share the gospel with children now, while Impact meets on Sunday evenings.
Sunday school for all ages continued from the beginning until the Covid-19 Pandemic of
2020-2021. Currently, only an adult Sunday school is offered. During Sunday services, children are released for Super Church for kids in first through fifth grades, and middle grade students meet with Noel in the Impact room.
Other children’s programs have included Christmas programs and numerous plays and
skits performed by our youth. Songs from the plays were shared at nursing homes.
VBS was offered starting with the Youngers and continued through the Pedersons’ time.
Youth and adult mission trips occur occasionally for those interested in participating.
Women’s and men’s Bible studies and prayer and fellowship meetings continue since the
beginning. Meetings times are provided in the weekly bulletin.
Special events occur every year since our formation as a church. The current regular
events include Family Sundays and special outreach programs such as Alpha and Pathway to Freedom classes.
Carols by Candlelight is a special Christmas Eve program celebrated each year.
Tuesday night prayer meetings include prayer walks through town during the summer
months and monthly corporate worship.
Many opportunities exist to grow in your faith and get involved in our church. We hope
you will join us and embrace the goodness the Lord has for you here.