Rev. Earnest E. Nelson was called from Gardner, Mass., and accepted the call to become the next regular pastor. The welcome reception for Rev. and Mrs. Nelson, Warren and Jimmy was held May 21st, 1937. With the arrival of the pastor’s family, Mrs. Nelson immediately stepped into the role of musical director of the church with great success. The choir was built up into an outstanding choir of the community due to her tirelesseffort and musical ability. During his ministry sveral evangelistic campaigns were conducted, outstandib\ng of these were with Rev. and Mrs. Bromfield, Rev. Alphin Conrad, Rev. Axel Anderson, Rev. Eric Anderson, and Rev. Oscar Gunnerfelt. During these campaigns and through the services of our pastor, we had the pleasure of recieving into the church 69 new members. Patsor and Mrs. Nelson saw the need of a regular Bap[tist work int the field surrounding, Gulliver, Michigan, and through their effort and co-operation with the U.P. and the General Conference, funds were securedto erect a chapel in this growing community. Student pastors together with Rev. Nelson served this district. Pastor Nelson felt thet a great work could be accomplished working with the men of the armed forces during this Second World War, and joined himself to the military forces as Chaplain. He left the church in M ay, 1943, at which time a reception was held for him. Mrs. Nelson then carried on the work for several months, togther with Rev. Peter Bissett of the American Baptist Church, who spoke at the Sunday evening services until October when he also left to becomeChaplain. Mrs. Nelson decided to join Rev. Nelson in Sioux Falls, S.D., and a farewell reception was held for Mrs. Nelson and the boys and Mrs. Carl A. Anderson, her mother, on October 6th, 1943.
