PREPARING FOR TOMORROW

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word . . .

Our Congregation's History Overview

1940s:

• Pastor Quentin Garman came as a pastor-developer to a growing city
• Congregation organized June 8, 1947, as a United Lutheran Church in America with 114 adult charter members in a small rented building
• Focused on evangelism, stewardship, and a building program
  

1950s:

• Built an educational unit, fellowship hall, and parsonage
• Grew to 482 confirmed members and 423 children in education
• Focused on arts (choirs, orchestra, drama) and purchased a new organ
• Established seminary internship and deaconess programs
• Began ministering to the needs of the community
  

1960s:

• Increased fellowship events with a number of sporting teams
• Called the first associate pastor to support a growing congregation
• Merged with other churches to form the Lutheran Church in America
• Acquired neighboring land establishing present-day boundaries of the campus
  

1970s:

• Built Garman Fellowship Hall and Education Unit
• Founded a community pre-school (Childhood Enrichment Center)
  
• Used the Word and Witness discipleship program for members
• Purchased a second parsonage for the associate pastor
• Built and began managing our 48-unit Luther View Apartments for low-income seniors
  

1980s:

• Pastor Garman retired after thirty-six years of ministry at the church
• Introduced a new focus involving laity in more of our ministry
• Started a variety of small group ministries to meet congregational needs
• Merged with other churches into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Childhood Enrichment Center began full time daycare including infant care
  

1990s:

• Began a succession of pastoral changes
• Education became a focus with ecumenical Vacation Bible School and adult education
• Baptized membership was at 1,712
• Began an ecumenical Friday lunch program to feed homeless from our community
• Initiated Thanksgiving dinner open to all in community
• Hired a part-time (20-hours per week) Parish Nurse to provide medical advice and care
• Partnered with Clairemont Lutheran Church to institute Hispanic ministry
• Introduced Stephen Ministry program under the direction of newVisitation Pastor
  

2000:

• Renovation and redecoration of Sanctuary, Garman Fellowship Hall, education unit, parking lot and grounds
• Opened an eclectic book store on campus (Open Door Books)
• Expanded Parish Nurse Program to 30-hours per week
• Introduced Musical Mosaics, a high quality music series program for the community
• Hispanic ministry moved to Clairemont Lutheran Church full time; however our financial support of this mission continues.
• Closed Child Enrichment Center
• Developed and adopted our Welcoming Statement
• Initiated long range planning for under-used facilities
• Luther View Apartments will begin building Coastal Community Center on campus in April 2005

Major Events

• The founding of Christ Lutheran Church in 1947 followed by thirty-six year pastorate and leadership of Pastor Quentin Garman.
• The ongoing construction, maintenance, and renovation of our buildings and grounds to offer a contemporary worship site with extensive facilities to support our ministries.
• The continued expansion and variety of ministries offered for spiritual growth and discipleship.