About Us

We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and
the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod.

Organized in 1962
We have 132 Baptized and 115 Confirmed members.
Our average attendance is 32.

We are part of the Moundsville - New Martinsville Shared Ministry with our sister congregation Good Shepherd, New Martinsville, WV.
We are currently without a called pastor.

The history of Messiah actually begins in 1904 as the Reverend B. B. Stupp of Wheeling founded the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Mission. The mission flourished and in 1908 a call was extended to The Reverend H. F. Obenauf as full time pastor. Other full and part time pastors were called to continue the work at Zion until around 1927.

At that time many people left Moundsville or drifted into other congregations. In 1927 the congregation officially disbanded. From 1927 until 1962 there was no Lutheran presence in Moundsville.

The winter of 1961 saw a new mission called Messiah, being developed. Messiah became an organized congregation on the 3rd of March, 1964.

On 15 September, 1968, ground was broken for our current church home.
The building was dedicated, 4 May 1968.

The mid 1970’s was a tough time for the Upper Ohio Valley through the suffering of economic decline and dislocation. These difficulties did not stop at the doors of Messiah and our sister congregation of Good Shepherd. As with many smaller churches throughout the region, there was talk of closing the doors due to decline in membership and stewardship.

The churches weathered the “storm” and financial pressure was eased. Both congregations were without a called pastor in 1975, so the idea was conceived of a Shared Ministry. They would share a pastor between them. This allowed both congregations to keep their own identity and continue their ministry while supporting a called pastor. This arrangement continues to this day.

 The church has remained through trying times and the history of Messiah continues.

“Whatever we do, let it be for the glory of God”