Reverend Adolphus Nussman

Adolphus Nussmann (aka. Adolph Nussmann, b. July 12, 1739; d. November 3, 1794) was the first Lutheran missionary and preacher in North Carolina. Baptized a Catholic in the Liebfrauen cathedral at Meunster, Westphalia, he joined the Franciscan Order before converting to Lutheranism

He has been called "Father of the Lutheran Church in America"††, much written of him in early Lutheran publications. A hugh obelisk in his honor stands in front of the St. John's Lutheran Church, in Concord, North Carolina.

†† doubtless the honor should be shared w/his associate and friend, the Rev. H.M. Mühlenberg

http://stjohnslutheranchurch.net/history.html

The Rev. Nussmann and Mr. Arends arrived in North Carolina in 1773 after coming by way of London and Charleston, SC. North Carolina had its first Lutheran pastor to locate permanently within her boundaries. Pastor Nussmann's first sermon was preached on the second Sunday in August 1773 at Organ Church in Rowan County. For the first year, Pastor Nussmann gave primary attention to Organ and St. John's Salisbury, while also serving St. John's Mecklenburg (Cabarrus) and other groups as opportunity allowed.

In 1774, Adolph Nussmann moved to Mecklenburg County and became the first regular pastor of St. John's. This relationship would continue for twenty years - the remainder of Nussmann's life. During these years Pastor Nussmann ministered to other Lutherans of the area, frequently riding horseback to communities within a fifty to sixty mile radius. Under his guidance, other Lutheran congregations were founded in the area.

Three years after Pastor Nussmann arrived in North Carolina, the Revolutionary War began. The St. John's congregation was loyal to the cause of independence and so suffered many hardships. Members of St. John's fought in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, near Wilmington, and other skirmishes in the Carolinas. Many St. John's members were wounded, killed in battle or died in British prisons. While the British armies did not conduct operations in the St. John's community, the Tories plundered, robbed and made life miserable for anyone who supported independence. In order to protect their farms a number of members remained home on Sunday morning during the war. It is said that the throat cancer that ended Pastor Nussmann's life was the result of a torture burn administered by the Tories.

~• on July 28, 1779 the Rev. H.M. Mühlenberg ( of PA) received a letter from Rev. Nuessman suggesting an abandonment of his parish due to the difficulties of the War. (see journals project)

On October 22, 1782 three church council members; Jacob Ferget, Marx Haus, and Jacob Thieme paid fifty shillings for approximately one hundred acres of government land and entered it "in trust for the congregation of Dutch Buffalo Meeting House." This tract included the land where the church and cemetery were already located. This property remains as a valuable St. John's asset and is known as the church farm that presently accommodates the church buildings, parsonage, cemetery, fellowship building and recreation complex.