1980 Date of incorporation for Greater Wausau Christian Services (March 21) Ten area congregations extend wish institutional chaplaincy known as GWCS First English Mt. Calvary St. Mark Luth. Pilgrim Good Shepherd Trinity- Wausau Immanuel Trinity- Stettin St. Stephan Zion
1981 The Rev. Edwin R Schwanke is installed as Chaplain/Director on January 11 Jail and Health Care Ministries begin
1982 Bethlehem joins GWCS in May Christian education classes for the developmentally disabled begin at Marathon County Health Care Center First Stephen Care Team commissioned
1983 Eastside ministry proposed (The Neighbor’s Place)
1984 First Chaplain in Residence at St. Mark Lutheran
1985 Ministry till Alzheimer’s Unit at Health Care Center begins
1987 Intensive plan to enroll new congregations begins The Neighbor’s Place begins operating
1988 St. Paul’s United Church of Christ becomes a GWCS member congregation Initial Jail Rehabilitation Program begins
1989 Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist joins GWCS
1990 Jail Volunteers commissioned
1991 Trinity Junior High youth begin to work with the Developmentally Disabled class at the Health Care Center
1992 Marathon County designates funding for the Criminal Justice Volunteer Coordinator
1993 GWCS works with County officials to develop the position of Justice Systems coordinator GWCS applauded at State Chaplains conference for: 1. Stephen Care Team 2. Congregational caring ministry to institutions 3. Secure funding from congregations
1994 Christian Education classes for the Developmentally Disabled at Mount Olive Lutheran Church The Rev. Edwin R. Schwanke, Chaplain/Director retires on December 30th
1995 The Rev. Dale Svendsen is installed as Chaplain/Director on November 5th
1996 Bible distribution emphasized at the Marathon County Jail
1997 Videotapes used for promotion of ministry
1998 The Rev. Dale Svendsen resigns after accepting another call on January 11th The Rev. Wendell Peterson is installed as Chaplain/Director on October 11th Marlene Schalow joins GWCS as secretary on October 26th
1999 Christ Lutheran becomes a GWCS member congregation “Kids Kount” Program (distribution of gifts to children of inmates at the Marathon County Jail) first takes place
2000 Elderly Care Services Survey taken Delores Kessel begins as therapist to female inmates at Marathon County Jail in April
2001 Joni Juergens begins as Bible study leader to female inmates in Marathon County Jail in April An Ad Hoc Committee of the Board of Directors meets with Pastors and members of congregations to help set the future direction of GWCS
2003 Delores Kessel begins a new program called “Breaking Barriers” at the Marathon County Jail in January. Joni Juergens begins a new position with GWCS as Volunteer Coordinator in April Dixie Lee Weber begins a new program at Marathon County juvenile center in April
2004 Dixie Lee Weber resigns from program at Marathon County juvenile center in May
2005 Joni Juergens resigns as Bible study leader to female inmates at the Marathon County Jail in February. Sally Scinto Reinertson begins as Bible study leader to female inmates at Marathon County Jail in April. The Rev. Wendell Peterson resigns as Chaplain/Director in June St. Peter’s Lutheran Church joins Greater Wausau Christian Services in February St. John’s Episcopal Church leaves Greater Wausau Christian Services in October
2006 Daniel Kohn begins as Dir. in January, after being the interim coordinator for Jail ministries Delores Kessel resigns from Breaking Barriers Program in March Charles Sanders begins the Breaking Barriers Program in November Good Shepherd Lutheran Church leaves greater Wausau Christian Services in February
2009 Charles Sanders resigns from Breaking Barriers Program in January B.J. Guderian takes over the Breaking Barriers Program from March to November
2010 Daniel Kohn resigns in January to take a post as Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Altoona WI. Ray Slatton becomes Director of Greater Wausau Christian Services in January Kristina Schultz takes over the Breaking Barriers Program in March
2011 New Hope Community Church joins Greater Wausau Christian Services Kristina Schultz resigns the Breaking Barriers Program in October
