Mission Lutheran Church

Our History

 

Through the determination and dedication of Dennis Devine, the ministry of Lutheran Mission of Laguna Niguel, later to be named Mission Lutheran Church, began in 1977.

 

Pastor Ray Farness, along with his wife, Kay, of Palo Alto, were invited to meet with prospective members in March of 1977.  On April 16 he accepted the District’s call to be the organizing pastor. The first service was held on September 18, 1977 with 83 persons present.  Pastor Farness shared an office on Crown Valley with an attorney, and early services were held in Niguel Hills Jr. H.S. band and chorus room. Each Sunday all equipment and supplies had to be carried in (after the band instruments were carried out).

 

On Charter Sunday, February 5, 1978, 70 signed the charter. That figure would increase to 124 before the charter was closed that fall.  Mission was officially established as a member congregation of the American Lutheran Church on March 5, and Pastor Farness was installed as its pastor on March 12, 1978.  The first confirmation service was held June 11, 1978.

 

The Yosemite site was purchased and a building project began. The first building was a portable real estate office; it became the church office.  Ground breaking for the first unit was March 16, 1980.  On Sunday, September 21, 1980, the worship service, which began at Niguel Hills, was stopped so that all the supplies and equipment could be moved to the new building, where the service continued.  At the dedication service in November every attendee was given a cross which Alan Carney had made from nails found at the building site.

 

Pastor Farness retired June 1, 1983; Pastor Magnus Anderson served as interim pastor until Pastor Steve Perry accepted a call in March of 1984.   Mission Lutheran Preschool was opened in 1987 in the building completed that year.

 

In 1988 Steve Gilbertson became Associate Pastor. In 1990 the building campaign for the new sanctuary was begun.  Ground breaking was held on July 4, 1993.  After a brief interruption because of whale artifacts being found in the building site, the new sanctuary was dedicated in October 1994.  At that service, the wooden cross handcrafted by Curt Davis, a charter member, was carried from the Founders Hall into the new sanctuary.  In 1995 a new associate pastor, Gary Koutsopoulos, replaced Pastor Gilbertson.  Also in 1995 Pastor Don Fisher joined the pastoral staff on a part-time basis.

 

Pastor Perry resigned in June of 1996, and in June 1997 Pastor Bill Sy began his work at Mission.  In 1999 there were several changes: Pastor Sy and Pastor Koutsopoulos left, Pastor Phil Tryznka served as interim senior pastor, and Daniel Morris became interim associate.  During Lent of 2000, Pastor Bill Snyder began his ministry at Mission Lutheran Church.

 

In 2004, Mission Lutheran answered God’s call to service by embarking on an extensive plan to transform its existing facilities into an entirely new space capable of accommodating its many ministries. Through the Building Our Legacy campaign, the church, through God’s grace, pledged over $3.7 million dollars toward the construction of an entirely new building dedicated to serving Jesus Christ. After abundant prayer, significant labor and endless thanksgiving, the campaign resulted in the beautiful facilities we now enjoy.