Faith Lutheran Church celebrates 100 years

There are many ways to measure 100 years in the life of a church. Faith Lutheran, 5440 East 51st St., will observe its 100th anniversary in January 2026, with a celebration set for Oct. 5 this year.
A church’s history can be measured by its baptisms and funerals, its growth and remodeling, its services to charity and community and its expanding programs.
Joyce Smith, who has been the church secretary for 40 years, said the congregation first started in 1926 at 56th Street and 34th Ave. According to church records, the city was expanding southwest at the time, and the location seemed ideal to be reaching out to new neighborhoods.
However, a runway for both commercial and wartime planes was developed just a couple blocks from the church location, and the decision was made to move. Originally called the Morris Lutheran Church, the name was changed to Faith Lutheran Church in 1934.
In 1950, the first addition was built for congregants at the present location, and a second addition was completed in 1958.
“During the transition period, members met at Nokomis Junior High School, which is currently Nokomis Square,” Smith said. With the new church came the longest-serving pastor. “Rev. D.W. Lau served from 1949 until 1984,” Smith said. The current pastor, Rev. Jared Yogerst, has been at Faith Lutheran since 2023.
“Over the years, the church has been remodeled a couple times,” Smith continued. The remodels included adding an elevator, remodeling the kitchen and altar railing.
Stained glass windows have been added to the church, provided by special gifts.
Smith said there are currently about 60 people in the congregation, with an attendance each Sunday of about 30. “The church population is taking a downward trend, but we do have more than we had a while ago,” said Smith
The church had to rely on video services during COVID, according to Smith. “We lost six people during that time, one to COVID,” she said. She said there are about half a dozen younger members. The oldest members are a couple. He is 96 and his wife 92. She was baptized in the church in 1934
“We have some congregants who originally started here, but moved to Bloomington and still attend services here. So we draw from the neighborhood and all over the Cities,” Smith said.
A pipe organ was added to the church in 1971.
Over the years, Faith Lutheran has added programs and group gatherings to its offerings.
“We have a blind group that meets,” Smith said. “And we just added a grief group. There is a senior exercise group, and both NA and AA meetings are part of the services available.”
Faith Lutheran has also contributed to funding for Ukraine. “If there is some tragedy some place, we will try to help,” Smith said.
There will be a regular 9 a.m. morning service on Oct. 5, with a celebration service for the anniversary at 2 p.m. This will be followed by a meal, and all are welcome.
A hundred years in the life of a church. The people, the services, the contributions and the dedication to keep going and growing describe Faith Lutheran’s century-long existence.