Nebo Evangelical Lutheran Church

Nebo Lutheran Church was organized in 1901 as a member of the Augustana Synod in the Portage Park district of Chicago.

In the late 1880s, 80 acres were purchased along the south side of Irving Park Boulevard and a mile west of 48th Ave. (now Cicero Ave.) by a syndicate with the purpose of establishing a Lutheran college and community. Martin Luther College was established, but soon closed in the depression of the 1890s. Rev. S.A. Sandahl, however, continued to pursue the objective by moving his family to the area and holding worship services. Through his work, a congregation was organized on August 18, 1901 and the name "Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Nebo Church" was chosen.

A church, dedicated on April 20, 1902, was constructed on land donated by the syndicate on the southwest corner of Menard Avenue and Dakin Street, at 3914 N. Menard. A larger church building was constructed, being dedicated Feb. 14, 1915. The Educational and Recreational Building was dedicated on Feb. 21, 1937.

Nebo changed its name to Nebo Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1923 and adopted English as the official language in 1927.

In 1998 Nebo merged with Gladstone Park (1936, ULCA), Holy Communion (1966, LCA), Medill Avenue (1927, NLCA), Our Lord's American (1934, ALC), Our Saviour's English (1909, United Norwegian), Peace (1923, ULCA), and St. Andrew (1924, ULCA) to form United in Faith Lutheran Church.

Original records
Original record books should be found at United in Faith Lutheran Church, 6525 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634. Early record books have been microfilmed, as Augustana #A15 and are available at the ELCA Archives and at the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. The microfilm includes church minutes from 1901 to 1933 and membership records from 1901 to 1930. The ELCA Archives does have congregational histories, church publications and other materials relating to Nebo.

Sources
Nebo Lutheran Church, Anniversary Volume, Chicago, Ill.: Harold O. Windahl, 1926.

Nebo Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fiftieth Anniversary, 1901-1951, 1951.