1956: A small group began to meet in the home of Mrs. Alice Larson to begin an evangelistic work in the community of Cumberland. They later moved into the basement of the Toftness Clinic and by June 3, 1956 they had moved into the Seventh Day Adventist building. The early ministry was divided among several men, J. Brygger, Lester Weko, Alex Hubbert, Rev. Nelson of Balsam Lake and Rev. Anderson of Amery. In April of 1956 the group called Clarence Wood to preach, a student at Bethel, agreeing to pay him $20 per month plus weekend lodging.
1957: Cumberland Baptist Church held its first Vacation Bible School and also support of its first missionary, the Albert Gustafsons of Argentina.
1958: Pastor Gary Joslin, a student of Moody Bible Institute was hired in June of 1958 and in September of 1958 it was voted to affiliate with the Wisconsin Baptist General Conference. Charter members of the church were: Paul Johnson, Hazel Johnson, Paulette Johnson, Annette Johnson, Roy Davis, Wilma Cimfl, Lucille Davis, John Walton, Ruth Walton, Steve Walton, Alice Larson, George Larson, and Don Marske.
1962: The church removed affiliation with the Wisconsin Conference. They began a radio station (WJMC) broadcast (with other Barron County Baptist churches) called "The Hour of Redeeming Grace". Pastor Joslin resigned in November of 1962 to return to school.
1963: Rental of the Lutheran Church building began in February. Pastor Lowell Gardner, a senior at Bethel Theological Seminary began a weekend ministry to Cumberland Baptist and moved to Cumberland with his family after graduation in June. After renting the Lutheran Church building for a few months, it was purchased for $5,000 in September
1967: Pastor Gardner resigned to go to Bethel Baptist in Janesville, WI. At that time, William Harper was called to succeed him as Pastor. Pastor Harper resigned later that year.
1968: In March, Jess Watson began ministering to the church and was called to be the Pastor upon graduation in June. In February, the First Lutheran Church parsonage was purchased for $8,000 and the remodeling proved to be a big undertaking! In August, Byron and Arlene Vocelka moved with their sons to Cumberland and soon joined the membership. It was this combination of musical gifting and talent that would help grow the church within the Cumberland community in the future.
1970: The church's choir had been formed and a boy's club started.
1973 - 1980: After serving for four years, Pastor Watson resigned to move to another pastorate. In June, Pastor Roland Christenson (with wife Verna) was welcomed as the new pastor. Pastor & Verna Christenson organized a new youth organization called "Joy Club" which stood for 'Jesus, Others and You'. The church continued to grow and it was apparent that the building was not meeting the needs of the congregation and also needed much repair. Ohnie and Joan Ohnstad donated a 4+ acre parcel of land to the church and a building committee was formed by the members. The church choir had become very active and was giving concerts at many neighboring churches. One of the first concerts was at Grace Baptist Church in Grantsburg, WI and the offerings taken that night started the fund for the new Cumberland Baptist Church building. Many future plays, concerts, community hymn sings and choirs for the fall Rutabaga Festival were a blessing for all. Pastor Christenson resigned in late 1980
1981: Rev. Deane Thompson of St. Paul filled in as interim pastor until the Fall. Several months passed, and Rev. Paul Lundgren came in as interim pastor.
1982: Pastor Stephen Smith accepted the call to come to Cumberland Baptist Church as a full-time pastor. This was, again, a time of church growth in attendance, membership and spiritual growth.
1984: A ground-breaking ceremony for the church building was held on August 12 and the next 12 months were very exciting with the congregation working, eating , growing and fellowshiping together.
1985: On June 23, the first church service was held in the new building even though the inside was not yet finished.
1986: A dedication ceremony for the new building was held on April 27.
1992 - 1997: Pastor Smith left in 1992, and once again the Lord took care of us in sending Pastor Walton Johnson to be our interim pastor. Pastor Mark LaFollette answered the call to serve our church in December of 1992 and remained until 1997. Once again God was faithful in sending wonderful interim pastors. Pastor Paul Hedstrom was with us for a short period in 1997, then Pastor John Palutke until late 1998. In 1997 we hired our first custodian, Norm Essex. Norm was gifted in teaching and was given a certificate as a lay preacher.
1998: In August we celebrated our 40th anniversary and in the Fall, Pastor Brian Perry and family arrived from Iowa to serve Cumberland Baptist until 2007.
1999: Our mortgage was retired and at about that same time we sold our parsonage to Augustana Lutheran Church, then bought it back in March of 2006.
2005 - 2007: Nick (and Alana) Hardt were with us, with Nick serving as assistant outreach/youth pastor. When Pastor Perry left we were again blessed by God when he sent us Pastor Max Fisk as our interim pastor. We all enjoyed our time with Pastor Max who began a mid-week prayer time and a hugging ministry!
2008 - 2020: We celebrated our 50th anniversary on August 9th and 10th. Our celebration caused all to reminisce and to thank and praise God for His faithful guidance. Once again, the Lord answered prayers and Pastor Gary Dorn answered a call to serve Cumberland Baptist in July and began serving in August. Pastor Gary faithfully served Cumberland Baptist Church for 12 years. He was called by God to serve in another church in May 2020, and will be greatly missed.
2020: We were again blessed by God when he sent Pastor Peter Bergeson who joined us in May as our interim pastor.
2021 - Present: After much prayer, God blessed us with our current pastor, Pastor Jared Andrea, with an affirmation to his call in March. Pastor Jared and his family moved to Cumberland in May 2021.
WE TRUST THAT BY GOD'S GRACE, MERCY, AND STRENGTH WE WILL GO FORWARD AND REMAIN TRUE TO HIM IN WORD, DEED, AND OUTREACH TO THE LOST. WE WILL BRIDGE THE GENERATIONS, HEAL FAMILIES AND WORSHIP HIM WITH OUR GIFTS. WE GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS RETURN. WE WILL "STAND FIRM" UNTIL THEN.
1957: Cumberland Baptist Church held its first Vacation Bible School and also support of its first missionary, the Albert Gustafsons of Argentina.
1958: Pastor Gary Joslin, a student of Moody Bible Institute was hired in June of 1958 and in September of 1958 it was voted to affiliate with the Wisconsin Baptist General Conference. Charter members of the church were: Paul Johnson, Hazel Johnson, Paulette Johnson, Annette Johnson, Roy Davis, Wilma Cimfl, Lucille Davis, John Walton, Ruth Walton, Steve Walton, Alice Larson, George Larson, and Don Marske.
1962: The church removed affiliation with the Wisconsin Conference. They began a radio station (WJMC) broadcast (with other Barron County Baptist churches) called "The Hour of Redeeming Grace". Pastor Joslin resigned in November of 1962 to return to school.
1963: Rental of the Lutheran Church building began in February. Pastor Lowell Gardner, a senior at Bethel Theological Seminary began a weekend ministry to Cumberland Baptist and moved to Cumberland with his family after graduation in June. After renting the Lutheran Church building for a few months, it was purchased for $5,000 in September
1967: Pastor Gardner resigned to go to Bethel Baptist in Janesville, WI. At that time, William Harper was called to succeed him as Pastor. Pastor Harper resigned later that year.
1968: In March, Jess Watson began ministering to the church and was called to be the Pastor upon graduation in June. In February, the First Lutheran Church parsonage was purchased for $8,000 and the remodeling proved to be a big undertaking! In August, Byron and Arlene Vocelka moved with their sons to Cumberland and soon joined the membership. It was this combination of musical gifting and talent that would help grow the church within the Cumberland community in the future.
1970: The church's choir had been formed and a boy's club started.
1973 - 1980: After serving for four years, Pastor Watson resigned to move to another pastorate. In June, Pastor Roland Christenson (with wife Verna) was welcomed as the new pastor. Pastor & Verna Christenson organized a new youth organization called "Joy Club" which stood for 'Jesus, Others and You'. The church continued to grow and it was apparent that the building was not meeting the needs of the congregation and also needed much repair. Ohnie and Joan Ohnstad donated a 4+ acre parcel of land to the church and a building committee was formed by the members. The church choir had become very active and was giving concerts at many neighboring churches. One of the first concerts was at Grace Baptist Church in Grantsburg, WI and the offerings taken that night started the fund for the new Cumberland Baptist Church building. Many future plays, concerts, community hymn sings and choirs for the fall Rutabaga Festival were a blessing for all. Pastor Christenson resigned in late 1980
1981: Rev. Deane Thompson of St. Paul filled in as interim pastor until the Fall. Several months passed, and Rev. Paul Lundgren came in as interim pastor.
1982: Pastor Stephen Smith accepted the call to come to Cumberland Baptist Church as a full-time pastor. This was, again, a time of church growth in attendance, membership and spiritual growth.
1984: A ground-breaking ceremony for the church building was held on August 12 and the next 12 months were very exciting with the congregation working, eating , growing and fellowshiping together.
1985: On June 23, the first church service was held in the new building even though the inside was not yet finished.
1986: A dedication ceremony for the new building was held on April 27.
1992 - 1997: Pastor Smith left in 1992, and once again the Lord took care of us in sending Pastor Walton Johnson to be our interim pastor. Pastor Mark LaFollette answered the call to serve our church in December of 1992 and remained until 1997. Once again God was faithful in sending wonderful interim pastors. Pastor Paul Hedstrom was with us for a short period in 1997, then Pastor John Palutke until late 1998. In 1997 we hired our first custodian, Norm Essex. Norm was gifted in teaching and was given a certificate as a lay preacher.
1998: In August we celebrated our 40th anniversary and in the Fall, Pastor Brian Perry and family arrived from Iowa to serve Cumberland Baptist until 2007.
1999: Our mortgage was retired and at about that same time we sold our parsonage to Augustana Lutheran Church, then bought it back in March of 2006.
2005 - 2007: Nick (and Alana) Hardt were with us, with Nick serving as assistant outreach/youth pastor. When Pastor Perry left we were again blessed by God when he sent us Pastor Max Fisk as our interim pastor. We all enjoyed our time with Pastor Max who began a mid-week prayer time and a hugging ministry!
2008 - 2020: We celebrated our 50th anniversary on August 9th and 10th. Our celebration caused all to reminisce and to thank and praise God for His faithful guidance. Once again, the Lord answered prayers and Pastor Gary Dorn answered a call to serve Cumberland Baptist in July and began serving in August. Pastor Gary faithfully served Cumberland Baptist Church for 12 years. He was called by God to serve in another church in May 2020, and will be greatly missed.
2020: We were again blessed by God when he sent Pastor Peter Bergeson who joined us in May as our interim pastor.
2021 - Present: After much prayer, God blessed us with our current pastor, Pastor Jared Andrea, with an affirmation to his call in March. Pastor Jared and his family moved to Cumberland in May 2021.
WE TRUST THAT BY GOD'S GRACE, MERCY, AND STRENGTH WE WILL GO FORWARD AND REMAIN TRUE TO HIM IN WORD, DEED, AND OUTREACH TO THE LOST. WE WILL BRIDGE THE GENERATIONS, HEAL FAMILIES AND WORSHIP HIM WITH OUR GIFTS. WE GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS RETURN. WE WILL "STAND FIRM" UNTIL THEN.
