Mission & History
The First Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on April 21, 1901, when twelve persons met with the Rev. F. V. Viereke to establish the "Zion Evangelisch Lutherische Kirche." Incorporating in February 1902, the services were changed from German to English and our sign now reads "First Evangelical Lutheran Church."
In 1904, lots were purchased at the corner of Olive Avenue and Myrtle Street and thus began the Church's first building program. The mortgage was burned four years later. A succession of pastors filled the pulpit over the years, each adding to our history.
The Rev. John D. Foerster of Stoystown, PA, accepted the call to Redlands in 1950. Feeling the need for more room, property next to the church was purchased in 1954. It became our Parish House with room for offices and the Sunday Church School.
The congregation rapidly outgrew the church facilities and a building committee was formed in 1959. In 1960, the congregation purchased the site at Cypress and San Mateo. Ground was broken in July 1964 and a new church was dedicated in September 1966. Construction work was begun on a new educational facility and fellowship hall in January 1973.
Following Pastor Foerster's retirement in 1981, the Rev. Frank Gearhart, who was servicing a parish in Encinitas, CA, accepted the call to be our pastor. Under his leadership the congregation continued to grow and reach out into the Redlands community. In 1986, the Rev. Barbara Chapman was called as Associate Pastor.
The mortgage on our present sanctuary was burned in 1984 and cleared the way for another phase in our continuing expansion. On March 5, 1989, ground was broken an a $1,300,000 building and remodeling program was begun. A new office complex, complete with library and workroom was built adjoining the church, along with a beautiful new Chapel and Music Room.
The dream of having a children's center and new Sunday Church School rooms became a reality when the First Lutheran Children's Center opened its doors to the community on April 24, 1990. Also at this time the Fellowship Hall and Kitchen were completely remodeled. The original Luther Rose window from the old church at Edwards Mansion was purchased back for our new chapel. After construction was completed, landscaping, including a beautiful rose garden, was added, as was a new lighted sign in front of the church. An addition to the pipe organ was completed in 1988, and the carillon was updated and improved in 1994.
In 1993, Pastors Gearhart and Chapman accepted calls to other congregations. The Rev. Richard Hites came to us in 1993 from a parish in Victorville, CA, and the Rev. Jonathan Doolittle followed in 1994 as Associate Pastor. Pastor Doolittle accepted a call to a parish in San Diego in 1998. The search for a new Associate found the Rev. Greg Wallace in July of 1999 right out of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Under their leadership the congregation continued to grow with its involvement in such projects as Habitat for Humanity and Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino.
In 2003, Pastor Wallace accepted a call to another parish and the search for a new Associate was culminated with the Rev. Anton (Tony) Scheer later that year coming to us from Mount Vernon, IL. Together, these two pastors minister to not only First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redlands, but to many others in the wider community and many other areas of the Inland Empire.
Loving hearts and hands are at work each day at First Lutheran continuing the task started so many years ago by that tiny band of believers.
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