September 19, 1963 "In the beginning........"
 

Thirty-nine people met to organize a new congregation in Ewing Township, north of the city of Trenton. The meeting was called to order by Pastor Roy Miltner, mission developer, and led by the Rev. Dr. Edwin H. Knudten, President of the New Jersey Synod, United Lutheran Church. Mr. Chris Meyer was appointed secretary of the meeting, assisted by Mrs. Rosemary Sinniger, who took and prepared the minutes. Mr. Bill Oshman offered the following resolution:

RESOLVED that this Congregation this day duly assembled and meeting is organized and will be incorporated and governed in pursuance of Chapter 5, Title 16 of the Revised Statutes, of the State of New Jersey so far as the sections therein contained are applicable to churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The resolution was seconded and unanimously adopted.

Mr. Walter Fort offered the resolution as to the name of the church and this resolution was also unanimously adopted.

These people were named as the first council:

Walter Fort John Wigley Chris Meyer Earl Fielder Jack Faust

William Oshman Richard Jabs William Townsend Mrs. Alford Naus Rev. Paul E. Carl

At a later meeting, John Wigley was named Vice President; Chris Meyer, Secretary; Richard Jabs, Treasurer; and Earl Fielder, Financial Secretary.

Thus, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church was born.

A year and a half effort to establish a congregation "in the suburbs," as members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church moved outward from Trenton, became a reality.