A Journey of Faith 

Long before Faith congregation came into being there was an early Missouri Synod presence in Northeast Lincoln. On July 27, 1911, lots 11 and 12 on the northwest corner of 69^th and Ballard were sold to the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio , and Other States, Nebraska District, for $1,000. Some time later a small frame church was erected. The District decided the venture was not viable. Building and lots were sold to another church group. They moved the building to 70^th and Platte, where it still stands today.

  On January 19, 1953, the charter members of Faith, under the guidance of the Rev. Melvin J. Tassler and the Allied Council, signed the first constitution giving birth to a congregation, Faith Lutheran Church. God has been good to our congregation of believers with blessings that are innumerable. The most obvious of these blessings is the growth of the congregation from its original 67 soul members to its current size of nearly 1,500.

  Faith Lutheran Church was chosen as the congregation’s name, a name that reflects that need for much faith, trust in the Lord, and hard work to accomplish their goals. The congregation had its first worship service on April 26, 1953, a week after the installation of Rev. Charles H. Born as Faith’s first pastor.

  The Bethany Community House served as the first worship center. Since the building was often used for dances the night before, the ladies came early to clean the floor. Six men were needed to lower the piano from the stage to the main floor. The collapsible altar, pulpit, and lectern were made by several of the members. Then the folding chairs, brought in each week by the trustees, were arranged. In the winters, quarters were needed to pay for the metered heat.

  On August 28, 1953, the congregation approved plans to build a new church on a site at 63^rd and Madison Avenue. Groundbreaking on December 6, 1953 was followed by cornerstone laying on March 22, 1954. Dedication services for the new sanctuary were held on July 11, 1954 with seven hundred in attendance. By now the congregation had grown to 207 souls and 120 communicants. The next day saw eighty children enrolled for Vacation Bible School.

  As Faith grew, the need for a larger sanctuary became apparent. On July 8, 1957, another building committee was elected to consider the needs of a growing parish. Four more acres of land were purchased in March, 1958, bringing the property size to 7.8 acres. Plans were approved to build a large sanctuary attached to the original building. Groundbreaking for the new facilities was on March 27, 1960, cornerstone laying was on June 19, 1960, and on January 29, 1961, the new Faith Lutheran Church was dedicated ‘to the Glory of the Triune God.’

  In addition to the physical structure, staff and programs were being increased to serve the growing membership of Faith. The Director of Christian Education (DCE) program supervised the educational programs of the parish from 1962 to 2003. A new mission congregation was formed in Waverly, NE in September of 1969. Students from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis served our parish as vicars from 1966 through 1970, leading to the addition of a second pastor in 1970. In 1974 the worship area was enhanced with a new 1500-pipe organ.

  Other milestones for the congregation have been:

• A new education wing was added in the Fall of 1978.
• A preschool was started in 1980. In 2002 the program was renamed Touching Hearts Early Childhood Center.
• Establishment of a parochial school in the Fall of 1983. That program, together with the preschool has grown to an enrollment of over 240 students.
• Implementation of the Stephen Ministry Program in 1988.
• Started direct support of missionaries in the late 1980s

  By 1994 it became clear that space was needed for the school to grow. A modular unit that housed two classrooms was used as an interim solution. In May, 1996 a decision was made to relocate our ministry facilities to our current location at 8701 Adams St., Lincoln, NE. The congregation held its first worship service in the new facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 18, 2002.

  Faith has definitely been on a journey and with the blessings of God we will continue ‘To know Christ, and to make Him known.'