The Mission Board of the Augustana Lutheran Synod sent the Rev. F. Lagerman to Colorado in 1876 to investigate the prospects of organizing Swedish Lutheran Churches in Colorado. On September 20, 1878, six people met to organize the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church (now Augustana Lutheran Church). Dr. Johannes Tellen, was called by the Mission Board to take charge of this small congregation. He arrived on April 7, 1880 and stayed until 1884.