Faith Lutheran Church

In the fall of 1955, through the support of the American Lutheran Church, Pastor Garland Gotoski arrived in Albuquerque with his family from Duluth Minnesota. His assignment was to start a new congregation. The first worship service was held on November 13, 1955, in a storefront at 5614 Menaul NE with 37 people present. In 1956, eight city lots were purchased on Arizona Street, one block north of Menaul. Under the supervision of a building contractor, the church members built a sanctuary with their own hands which was dedicated on September 16th of that year. The congregation was blessed with growth and by 1959 over 500 people had joined Faith.

In 1973, the congregation voted in favor of relocating to a new site with room for additional growth. The present site on Spain Road NE was purchased with ground breaking activities in September of 1974. The first worship services in the new facility were held on June 29th of 1975 with Russell Lee as pastor.

In 1977, the people of Faith made a significant decision to add another pastor to the staff in order to meet the needs of the growing congregation. At that time, Faith’s membership had grown to over 1,000 people. Orval Moren joined Russell Lee on the pastoral staff and became Faith’s first associate pastor.

In 1987, the American Lutheran Church in which Faith had membership since 1955 united with two other Lutheran denominations to form a new church body called the ELCA. This stands for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America .

In 1990, a new 700-seat sanctuary, centrum, and office wing were added. The first worship service in the new sanctuary was held on May 13th. The former sanctuary is what we now call the “fellowship hall.”

In 1998, Bruce Wilder accepted the call to become Faith’s senior pastor after Russell Lee’s retirement. Bruce was ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament in 1984 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Virginia. Bruce served three congregations in Virginia and Minnesota and as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve prior to coming to Albuquerque.

In 2001 Bruce shared his vision for a new preschool with a Christ-centered mission and curriculum. Nearly forty boys and girls were enrolled when the Children of Faith Preschool opened its doors for the first time. Today, over 200 students are enrolled in this vital ministry to our community which now includes kindergarten. In 2003, Faith’s membership grew to over 2,000 people making it one of the largest Lutheran congregations in the entire nation. That same year, a new 16,000 square foot addition to the facilities was constructed and dedicated to the glory of God.

On July 18, 2004, the people of Faith voted to join an association of Christ-centered, mission-driven and evangelically-minded congregations called Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). LCMC is an association of Lutheran Christians who are rooted in the Scriptures and working together to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. You can learn more about LCMC by visiting the website at: www.lcmc.net

In the fall of 2004, David Breidenbach began his training in preparation for pastoral ministry. He completed his studies at Trinity Southwest University in Albuquerque and now serves as associate pastor for youth ministries and missions at Faith. Mike Easton joined the church staff in 2004 and serves as associate pastor for adult ministries and discipleship. Mike served congregations in Ohio before answering Faith's call to join our life and mission.

On April 10, 2005, the members of Faith voted to end their affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This decision took place after many months of discussions, reflection, Bible studies, open meetings, seminars and prayers. Faith has been and will continue to be a Lutheran congregation. Faith continues to be a Christ centered community with membership in Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, fully committed to the Great Commission given to the church by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20. This is reflected in the congregation’s direct participation in vital ministries and mission work here in Albuquerque, across the border in Mexico and across the ocean in Eastern Europe.

While we are thankful for our great facilities and the faithful pastors who are part of our life and history, we know that the Body of Christ is more than a building and more than the pastors who serve at any given time. All the baptized people of God are the Body of Christ. Every Christian is called to ministry, not just pastors or missionaries in distant lands. The most important growth is that which takes place in the hearts and minds of those who seek to serve God each and every day. The history of Faith is really a history of God working in the lives of each and every member, one person at a time.

Faith Lutheran Church continues to be guided by God's word and driven by our mission to "lead people to Christ, incorporating them into the life of the church and equipping one another for effective Christian living.” We embrace the future with the hope and expectation that God will be with us always, even in the midst of changing and challenging times.

While many Christian denominations and congregations in recent years have experienced significant declines in their number of members, Faith continues to be blessed with first time and repeat visitors each and every week. New member classes are conducted on a regular basis in response to the number of people who have found a welcome place in our midst as followers of Jesus Christ. We invite you to join us and participate in what God is doing through the life and mission of this congregation!

Garland Gotoski, Faith's founding pastor, with Bruce Wilder at the congregation's 50th anniversary on November 13, 2005.