Lead Pastor

MISSION STATEMENT:

Our calling is to love God and love people. We reach them with love, bring them with grace, teach them the truth and send them out to share God’s love with the world.

The history of Trinity Lutheran Church began on August 16, 1908, when a group of Lutherans met at the home of Carl Schneider, Sr., to organize a Lutheran Church in Great Bend. Two weeks later a constitution was adopted, specifying the name: “Die Evangelische Lutherische Dreieinigskeit Gemeinde” or Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

At a meeting on January 3, 1909, the building of a church edifice was discussed. Three men were elected to find a suitable site. They selected the corner of Lakin and Odell as the site of the first church. On July 11, 1909, the congregation decided to erect a church building. Services of dedication were held on July 31, 1910. The original building still exists.

It was twice enlarged and renovated. By 1946, it became apparent that new church facilities were needed as the congregation grew to 875 baptized members.

In 1952, the congregation purchased a new site for a new edifice at 24th and Adams. Mr. Fritz Craig of Lincoln, Nebraska, was engaged as architect for the new church. Preliminary plans were adopted on October 13, 1952. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new church were conducted on July 11, 1954, following the morning worship. The cornerstone was laid on November 14, 1954.

Trinity congregation departed its first church building at Lakin and Odell on December 11, 1955. Services were held in the basement of the new church until February 5 and 12 dedicatory services of the present church building were held. In 1960, affiliation with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod commenced.

In 1977, Trinity congregation ceased its affiliation with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and affiliated with the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, which came into being at that time. While continuing as Senior Pastor at Trinity, Pastor Robert Studtmann became Bishop of the Southwest Synod of the AELC from its inception until 1987, when it merged with the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America, to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Music has always played an important part in our congregation-from updating services to the new hymnals or to creating a more contemporary worship service. Our organ was built by the Reuter Organ Company-installed in 1956. It was updated in 1983 and now is contemporary in design but has great richness and considerable power. In 2004 bells were purchased and with our choir, enhances our services.

Our church building has undergone several renovations, one being the installation of an elevator and an outdoor worship area. The last being done in 1994, at which time the chancel received major improvements with a free-standing altar. Currently our weekend worship attendance averages 115. Weekly worship services include a Saturday evening service and a Sunday morning service, with Wednesday Lenten Services during the season.

TLC has long recognized the importance of investing in its youth and children. Currently, the Wednesday mid-week youth program follows the school-year calendar, beginning in the fall and continuing through the spring, with no regular mid-week programming between the summer months. In addition to this school-year ministry, Vacation Bible School has a rich and meaningful history at TLC, serving as a key summer opportunity for faith formation, fellowship, and outreach to children in the congregation and the wider community.

TLC is a mission focused congregation providing men’s, women’s and youth school bags, quilts, supporting the local Food Bank, Barton County Association of Churches. TLC has also…