A Brief History Of  
First Lutheran Church, Lorain

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1899 Started as a mission church. Services were in both German and English.

1903 Mission was reorganized, a constitution adopted and the current congregation began.

1906 Present property was purchased for $7,000.
A school house was purchased for $500 and moved to this site.

1924 Present “old brick” structure was erected at a cost of $65,000.
While it was being constructed Lorain was hit by a major tornado.
A soup kitchen was started and promised to stay open until it was no longer needed (cf. later dates)

1953 Additional land was purchased as more room was needed for the congregation.
A second worship service was instituted.

1963 An additional education unit was built adjacent to the original building
to accommodate growing educational ministry.

1970 A hand crafted, tracker type organ was built at a cost of $55,000 (it is now valued at $750,000).
It has 2,062 pipes and took 18 months to build.

1975 The Lorain Cooperative Lutheran Ministry started a Senior Taxi service.
Meals on Wheels was started to provide food for elderly people in their homes.

1984 Monthly distribution of food bags for neighbors was started through the Lutheran/Presbyterian
food co-op. Individual vouchers for help began through the LEAF program.

A Brief History Of  
First Lutheran Church, Lorain continued

1986 An early morning, 7:45a.m., quiet service was added during the summer months.

1987 A prayer chain was started so any member, during an emergency would know they were
being prayed for. We began the celebration of Holy Communion every Sunday.

1991 An elevator was installed and air conditioning provided in the sanctuary so all members of
the community could worship in year round comfort and health.

1992 Pastor Bennet Wilson of Ghana received hip surgery in the USA while he stayed with
First Lutheran Church. Upon his return in 1993 a new mission congregation was started in
Akrampa, Ghana, as an extension of our outreach ministry.

1994 The 7:45a.m. service became a year round celebration.

1995 A part time Family Life/Youth director was called to continue our expanding youth ministry.

1996 The final property on the block around the building was purchased for additional parking.

2000 The Good Shepherd Congregation on the East Side of Lorain merged with the
First Lutheran Church Congregation.

2001 The Chapel in the Woods was built at our Good Shepherd site.

2002 A fourth outdoor worship service was added in the Chapel in the Woods during the summer months.

 

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