History

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​A brief history on how Prince of Peace Lutheran Church was founded.

Imagine leaving behind everything you know in search of a better life in another country. When you arrive in the new land, you find all new sites, sounds, smells and tastes. The food is different. The culture is foreign to you. And, perhaps most significant, you don't speak the language.
This was the situation only a little more than 75 years ago in Fort Dodge. Many Slovak families came to work at the nearby gypsum mines. They found refuge in banding together, and solace in worshiping in their native langage as they gathered in each other's homes. Now and again, they were able to bring Slovak speaking pastors from Minnesota to Fort Dodge in order that they might partake of the sacraments. These visits, however, were few and far between.

Rev. J. Bertram was serving the German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of St. Paul's, in Fort Dodge. As the Slovak people needed a larger place to gather for worship, Betram invited them to worship and commune in St. Paul's school.
Understanding their great need, Bertram helped the Slovak group issue a call for a pastor of their own.
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In 1924 the Mission Board of the Missouri Synod, Iowa District, agreed to pay the greater share of a minister's salary for the Slovak congregation. Pastoral candidate George Hronec was issued a call and accepted. Hronec was ordained and installed on September 16, 1924. And so the Slovak congregation, which came to be known later as Prince of Peace, had its beginnings.