Our History 1964 - Present
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations.” —Psalm 145:13
1964 LCA Board of Missions calls Rev. Joseph Lewandowski to organize a new congregation. The first worship service is held in the basement of Tri-City National Bank.
1965 St. Stephen the Martyr is officially organized with 71 adults and 63 children on Palm Sunday, April 3
1966 Ground is broken for a new church building near 51st & College Avenue.
1967 Church dedication.
1968 New pipe organ dedicated on Reformation Sunday.
1970 St. Stephen the Martyr joins with 6 area congregations to form H.O.L.I.E. (Housing for Low Income Elderly Organization)
1973 St. Stephen the Martyr becomes self-supporting, no longer subsidized by LCA.
1980 “We come together in Word and Sacrament that we might go to Live and serve in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord” approved as Mission Statement
1980 Congregation sponsors Laotian refugee families
1990 St. Stephen the Martyr celebrates 25 years of serving the Lord.
1991 Saturday night service at 5 pm introduced.
1992 Mortgage is paid off 4 years early through special offerings
1994 Pastor Lewandowski retires after 30 years of faithful ministry at St. Stephen the Martyr.
1995 Pastor Charles Brummond accepts the call to become the next pastor.
1996 Congregation votes to proceed with the Church Building proposal.
1998 Church addition and remodeling began in June; Dedication held in November.
2000 Pastor Brummond accepts call to Norway Lutheran Church.
2001 Pastor Gail Brodersen-Heins accepts call to St. Stephen the Martyr.
2005 SSM celebrates 40 years of serving the Lord!
2012 Char Guiliani was hired as the new Shared Ministry Coordinator.
2013 Pastor Gail Brodersen-Heins retires.
2013 Pastor Suellen Myers agrees to be our Interim Pastor (August 2013-2014).
2014 Pastor Brian Hooper accepts call to SSM.
2014 SSM receives a facelift! A new carport/canopy is added.
2015 St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran Church celebrates its 50th Anniversary!
2015 Prayer Garden is completed
2020 SSM begins online worship opportunities using Zoom.
