June 3, 1986
The church Extension Committee, Division for Mission in North America,
Lutheran Church in America, voted to enter St. Simons Island, Georgia
as a new field for Lutheran Church.
July 1, 1987
The Rev. Richard A. Sebastian was called by the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America to develop a congregation on St. Simons Island.
February 14, 1988
Lord of Life held its first worship service in its new church, an historic
building on Frederica Road, formerly occupied by St. William's Catholic
Church.
September 11, 1988
Signing or the Charter for Lord of Life began and was open for six weeks;
275 signatures were received.
November 20, 1988
Lord of Life becomes an official congregation of the ELCA with 275 Charter
Members.
January 29, 1989
An official call was extended to Pastor Sebastian. The congregation celebrated
installation of Pastor Sebastian and the re-dedication of the church building.
May 26-28, 1989
Lord of Life was received into the Southeastern Synod during the Synod
Assembly meeting.
October 8, 1989
Groundbreaking for a multi-purpose fellowship building; laying of the
cornerstone on June 14, 1990; and dedication of the building on November
14, 1990.
May 6, 1991
The congregation voted to sponsor a Montessori Preschool, to he named
Lord of Life Christian Montessori School.
August 1991- August 1992 and August 1992—August 1993
The Congregation participated in the Internship Program or the Southern
Seminary for two years with interns Lois Stavely and Ray Ramsburg.
August 15,1993
Pastor Sebastian resigned to accept a call to the Lutheran Church of the
Ascension in Savannah; the Rev. Ralph Hoffmeyer, retired pastor, served
as interim pastor.
July 10, 1994
The Rev. James C. Scherf installed as pastor; served until April 21,1996
when he resigned to accept a call to Oak Cliff Lutheran Church in Dallas,
Texas. Pastor Hoffmeyer served as interim pastor.
November 24, 1996
The Rev. H. Ray Ramsburg installed as pastor of Lord of Life
November 22, 1998
Members and friends celebrate the 10th anniversary of Lord of Life.
2002
Pastor Laurie Williams accepts the position of transition Pastor.
2003
The congregation of Lord of Life raises the roof installing a new tile
roof on the church.
OF
LORD OF LIFE'S 15th ANNIVERSARY
Lord of Life Lutheran Church is raising its roof in celebration or 15 years at a facility that has, over the last 75 years, housed three mission outreaches established on St. Simons Island. Although the three were of different religious denominations, they have a shared history— that of the building in which their ministries began.
Almost 75 years ago, in 1929, a small Spanish-style mission church was built on the corner of Frederica Road and Menendez, establishing the first presence of the Catholic Church on St. Simons.
Over the years, the small mission church grew as it welcomed new members and visitors to its small, but faithful parish, known as St. Williams Catholic Church. In 1960, renowned architect Francis Abreu designed the addition to accommodate expanding membership. In September of 1986, the growing congregation moved to a new and larger facility just down the road.
That same year Richard Kessler, a prominent Lutheran layman from Atlanta, drove by and saw the "For Sale" sign. His next step was to persuade the Lutheran Church in America that this was an ideal location for a mission church on St. Simons.
Meanwhile, Wesley Methodist Church, also a mission congregation, chose the building for their Alicia place of worship.
Just a little over a year later, yet another mission church was established—that of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Their first worship service, lead by pastor/developer Richard A. Sebastian, was held in the old St. Williams sanctuary on February 14, 1988, with over 270 people attending.
On November 20 of that same year, Lord of Life surpassed its status as a mission congregation to be come an official organized and constituted congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
In 1990, Lord of Life built a new fellowship hall adjacent to the church. Designed in the same Spanish-style architecture, the building houses the church offices, Sunday school classrooms, nursery, kitchen and fellowship area.
Now, 15 years later, the congregation has "raised the roof" in celebration of its 15th anniversary, replacing the old red tile roof with new, maintaining the integrity of the original chapel and expansion.
The initial mission of the congregation of the small chapel built in 1929, the Methodist mission outreach, and Lord of Life Lutheran Church, has basically remained the same throughout the almost 75 years—to provide a welcoming place for those looking for a church home in order that they may in turn reach out to the community in Christian love and service.