Development Timeline Of Salem Lutheran Church

Significant events to the fulfilling our upward calling in Christ:

Rev. Dr. John Eckhardt called as Mission Development Pastor -
February 1981
Called as First Pastor-
Fall 1983

Chartered as a Congregation -
January 24th, 1982

Organized as a Congregation -
January 30th, 1983

Rental Worship sites:

Chapel of the Good Samaritan
8323 Sand Lake Road -
September 1981

A storefront space in The Marketplace Shopping Center -
January 1984

Current Facility site:

7900 Apopka-Vineland purchased -
January 1984

First Unit dedicated -
January 1985
Second Unit dedicated -
January 1989

Rev. Dr. John Eckhardt Retires due to health -
Easter 1989

Rev Wayne F Schmidt begins pastoral ministry at Salem -
November 1st, 1989

Expand to two worship services -
September 1990

Christmas Eve Children’s Service added -
December 1990

“Summer Fest,” an Eight Week Thematic Worship Series, initiated -
July 1991

“Search” Bible Study begins, lead by Rev Dr “Paz” Erlandson -
September 1991

Educational modules added -
1993

Consensus Task Force formed, congregation affirms being “mission oriented” -
1995

Statement of Mission identified as the anagram: ACT
Accept God’s Love
Chose Christ’s Ways
Touch Others’ Lives
1997

Community Day Camp ministry started -
July 1997

Mortgage Task Force successfully negotiates with ELCA Mission Investment Fund
to change interest/principle payment policy -
September 20th, 1998

Stephen Ministry Program adopted -
January 2000

First of our Missionary Trips to Haiti -
Spring 2000

Minister of Youth and Christian Education (MYCE) made full-time staff position.
Wayne Theurer hired -
March 2001

Project C.H.E.E.R. created a “hands on” congregational ministry to the victims of 9/11 -
November 2001

Challenge presented to make the developmental transition from a “pastoral-centered congregation” to a “program-centered congregation” -
December 2002

Fourth Easter Sunday service offered -
Sunday Contemporary Worship offered -
Fourth Christmas Eve service -
2003

Rev. Jefferson Cox contracted to perform pastoral ministries and duties -
March 2005

DASh Strategic Plan adopted by congregation emphasizing:
• Discipleship
• Assimilation
• Service
• h (home – 2007, hospitality – 2008, etc.)
November 2006

Rev. Jefferson Cox called as Associate Pastor for Congregational Life
April 1st, 2007