History of

Faith Lutheran Church

In the 1960’s the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod began to tolerate false teaching in their seminaries, including that which cast doubt on the inerrancy of Scripture. Many members of the synod throughout the country were becoming increasingly disturbed over this. There seemed to be little appetite in the Missouri Synod to correct this. Finally, in 1974, Pastor E.L. Stallings led a small group of us Lutherans out of the Missouri Synod so that we could form a congregation faithfully built on the Scriptures and the historic Lutheran Confessions. By God’s grace, we soon formed Faith Lutheran Church as an independent Lutheran congregation in May of 1974. Faith’s mission: to uphold, teach and spread the name of Jesus Christ, the world’s Savior, to the people of San Antonio.

In our early years we did not own property or have a formal place to worship. Because of this, we searched for a temporary, yet suitable, worship location until we could purchase property of our own. Our first services were held in the Ridgeview Elementary School auditorium. We worshipped there for six months. We used a portable folding altar. We kept what hymnals we had in the homes of various members, along with other worship implements like candles, offering plates and a communion set. Each Sunday would begin with an “unloading and set up party” before our Sunday school or worship service could be held.

After six months in Ridgeview, we found a small warehouse space on Gulfdale. To our portable altar we added folding tables, chairs and even partitions to form makeshift Sunday school rooms. Some of our members put their carpentry skills to good use, building a lectern and pulpit to assist us in worship. Our warehouse space began to look like a church.

In 1975 Pastor Stallings left. During the interim, Pastor Herbert Wiederanders, a retired Lutheran pastor, served us until the Lord provided a permanent pastor. At that time, Pastor Wiederanders had been in the ministry for fifty years and was seventy-five years old.

When Pastor Wiederanders began to serve us we were an independent or unaffiliated Lutheran congregation. This soon changed too. You see, it was important to us that we find a Lutheran church body that still held to the Scripture in all its teachings. We knew the importance of joining together with other like-minded Christians. God provided. We found that the WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD (WELS) and the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD (ELS) continued to be faithful to Scripture in every doctrine. In June 1976, we decided to join the ELS. In June of 1976, we calledPastor Norman Harstad to serve as our first full-time ELS pastor.

The congregation continued to meet on Gulfdale until March of 1977. At that time, we purchased property just south of Thousand Oaks at 14819 Jones-Maltsberger. We renovated the house which stood on the property. We now had a formal sanctuary in which to worship with adjoining classrooms, kitchen, and office space. We dedicated our new sanctuary to God’s glory in 1977. We worship at this address still.

Following Pastor Harstad, Pastor Herbert Larson served us from 1980-1990. Pastor Randall Nepsund followed Pastor Larson, serving us from 1992-1999. In July 2000, Pastor Matthew Crick began the Lord’s work among us, having graduated from our Synod’s seminary in June of that same year. He continues to serve us to this day.

In 2004 we hired an architect to design for us two additions to our original building. Phase I included a new kitchen and 4 large classrooms. Phase II included a new narthex, bathrooms, cry room, and a new sanctuary with a capacity of 170 worshippers. In January of 2011, we dedicated our new sanctuary to God’s service and glory.

We would love to have you join us for worship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The doors are always open to you.

In Christ,

The members of the Faith Lutheran Church