A History of
Christ Lutheran Church and School
Prior to 1980
Christ Lutheran Church and School has a rich heritage beginning when First Lutheran Church opened a Christian day School in 1870. Over the years a growth in enrollment, limited space, and an outdated facility necessitated the search for a new building site. On December 18, 1961, an eight-acre tract located on a gravel road in an undeveloped area on the western edge of Little Rock was purchased. How this area has changed over the years!
Ground was broken on October 4, 1964, for the new First Lutheran Elementary School and Roy E. Steuber Memorial Chapel. The new school was dedicated on September 19, 1965, followed nine years later by the Junior High Wing on August 25, 1974. Worship services were held at the Chapel beginning in 1965 with Rev. Ralph Fessler (1914 to 1976) serving both locations, the Chapel at 9 a.m. and downtown at First Lutheran Church at 10:45 a.m. Pastor Duane Brunette became Pastor in 1976 and served both locations till 1980.
The Lord blessed the Chapel congregation; it grew large enough that services had to be moved into the gymnasium. Due to the growth of the Chapel congregation a special Planning Committee began work to determine the needs of both worship locations. The in-depth study produced a recommendation that the congregation separate into two independent entities. Christ Lutheran Church was born on May 1, 1980.
1980 to 2000
Pastor Brunette accepted the call to serve the new congregation along with Vicar Gene Goldsby and Minister of Music. Congregational officers were:
Executive Director: Gene Schild
(1936 to 1996)
Assistant Executive Director: Jim Keppel
Assistant Executive Director: Henry Griffin
Treasurer: Walter Funk
Congregation Secretary: Marge Dunlop
Purchasing Agent: Willard Bellin
Dedication ceremonies were held on May 25, 1980, in the school chapel. Rev. Norman Groteluschen, Executive Secretary of the Mid-South District was the guest speaker. Additional highlights of that year were in September, Mr. Russell Renninger joined the staff as Minister of Music, on October 10, the first Oktoberfest was held at Ricks Armory, and on October 26, a Reformation Rally was held here with fourteen congregations participating.
1981 began with the inauguration of two services, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. A building committee was formed for the new Sanctuary, Will Bellin, Bob Grant, Karl Grever, Henry Griffin (Vice Chairman, Funding), Carl Habig, Dennis Hackbart, Sammy Harrill, Jim Keppel (Vice Chairman, Construction), Lamar Massie, Edith Miller, Henry Noor, Larry Pahlow, Jody Funk, Gene Schild, and Harold Baer (Chairman). On September 13, ground-breaking ceremonies were held.
On September 12, 1982, the new Sanctuary was dedicated with Dr. J.A.O. Preus (LCMS Synodical President, 1969 to 1981) as the speaker. The dedication booklet was a memorial to Rev. Ralph Fessler.
April 24, 1983, the ground-breaking ceremony took place for the Petit Jean Camp on Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, Arkansas. Also in April, Norbert Malenke accepted a call to serve as Minister of Music. On October 30, the Little Rock Circuit Reformation Day Rally was held at Christ Lutheran celebrating the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s birth.
Pastor Roger Theimer was ordained and installed as Associate Pastor on Sunday, August 19, 1984. In February, 1985, the contract was signed for the building of the new pipe organ. The fifth anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in May, 1985. Dan Palisch arrived to assume the duties of Principal of Christ Lutheran School in 1986; the new organ was dedicated on August 10, and the gold cross which hangs over the altar was dedicated to the memories of Rev. Ralph Fessler and Rev. William Bachert on August 24, of that same year.
On June 11, 1989, Pastor Brunette celebrated thirty years of service in the ministry of the Lutheran Church. In March, 1990, the congregation voted to construct two new classrooms and to raise money to construct six more. In May, 1990, the congregation celebrated its tenth anniversary with a number of special services. The anniversary offering was used to help start the Maumelle Mission Congregation.
Rev. Bob Jones was installed as Assistant Pastor, in August, 1990. Brenda Zesch, Director of Christian Education, was installed January 20, 1991. Rev. Glenn Brauer was installed in September, 1992. Kurt Berentsen arrived to take over the Minister of Music duties in November, 1992. The new upper elementary wing (4th through 6th grade classrooms, art room and computer lab) was dedicated along with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of First/Christ Lutheran School on September 12, 1993. Rev. Dr. Russell Hildebrandt was installed November 19, 1995, followed the next year by the installation of Rev. Daniel Schepmann on June 30, 1996.
November 7, 1999, a worship service was held celebrating the burning of the Sanctuary mortgage. On May 21, 2000, Christ Lutheran’s 20th anniversary was celebrated with one morning service held in the Gym, just as worship was conducted before the Sanctuary was built. Also in that year the Sanctuary was repainted, rewired and new light fixtures installed and Rebecca Schmidt joined the staff as School Principal.
2001 and beyond
Jeanne VonDerAhe joined the staff as Minister of Music in January 2003, and additional remodeling was completed in the Sanctuary. In 2004, the congregation committed to making changes in the constitution and its governance. Rev. Donald Porter was installed as interim pastor on July 4, 2004, to lead us through these changes. A Transition Team was assembled to work on the needed documents. Much progress has been made culminating with a new governance structure, constitution, and by-laws which were adopted by the Planning Council and presented to the congregation the end of October.
From our beginning Christ Lutheran has placed great value on Christian education for children and adults. This tradition continues today by providing quality Christian education through Christ Lutheran School, the Lutheran High School, and the varied Bible studies offered on Sunday and during the week. As we move into the future and seek to share God’s Word with those who do not know Him, our priorities will remain to reach out to adults and children. We reach out to adults by offering many and varied opportunities to study God’s Word and grow in their faith so that they will be effective witnesses wherever they go. Just as important is providing a Christian secondary education and age appropriate Bible study to prepare our children to be future Christian leaders.
As you come to him, the living Stone…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2: 4, 5
