"The heritage of Augustana is in the story of her people and her God…

The moments it takes to read her history and struggles are but moments in the story of God’s creation and the soul of man. The power and love of God shall be known by those who seek it. Only by continuously doing so shall our present story one day indicate that we did earnestly strive for that fulfillment."

By 1860, Lutherans of Scandinavian descent had come to Montana, now Boone, Iowa. Nils Thorson, an early lay leader, worked zealously to interest immigrants in settling in the area. As early as 1865, the first itinerant Lutheran pastor made the first preaching stop. The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation was organized on February 28, 1870, with the following resolutions: 1. The name of the congregation shall be the same as the city, namely Montana. 2. The constitution of a congregation of the Augustana Synod shall be adopted. 3. No stranger shall be permitted to speak before the congregation until examined by the Board of Deacons and given permission.

This new congregation grew and, in 1872, the first building was erected at Sixth and Monona streets. With growth came controversy over who should belong to the new church. Many members believed that only true (pure) saints could be members of the congregation. In July 1877, a congregational resolution was adopted that all ties with the Augustana Synod be forever broken and the congregation was to be forever free of any connection. Most members left the Augustana Synod and took possession of the church building. The Mission Covenant Church was formed (later to become the Evangelical Free Church).

With loss of the church building, in September 1877, 17 of the members remaining met in the home of Nils Thorson to reorganize. They voted to remain affiliated with the Augustana Synod. In 1878, the church was renamed Augustana. In the next two years, a church building and parsonage were erected in the vicinity of Ninth and Carroll streets. In 1895, this property was traded for the property at Seventh and Carroll streets. Subsequently, a new parsonage was built and repairs made to the church building.

In October 1941, with a balance of $32.12 remaining in the building fund, the congregation decided to establish a special fund. Charles Anderson pointed out that if every member would save a Penny-a-Meal we could some day build a new church home. From this humble beginning, sufficient funds were available to build the present church at Greene Street and Forest Avenue. On Sunday, December 18, 1960, the first service was held in the new building. The mortgage on the new building was retired by paying twice the required amount every month.

In 1962 the Augustana Synod merged into the Lutheran Church in America. In 1988 the merger with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took place.

More than 135 years from its beginning, Augustana now has more that 1,600 members.