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, Heart – 2009, etc.)
November 2006

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

Salem Lutheran Church celebrates its 25th anniversary beginning in January 2008 with a visit from Bishop Ed Benoway and concluding with the Silver and Gold Gala.
January 23, 2009

Rev. Wayne Schmidt and Salem Lutheran Church celebrates his 30th anniversary of ordination.
June 6, 2009

Rev. Wayne Schmidt resigns as senior pastor of Salem Lutheran Church for health reasons, effective at the end of July, 2009.
June 30, 2009

Rev. Wayne Schmidt leads worship at his last worship service at Salem Lutheran Church.
July 26, 2009

The Farewell Celebration for Rev. Wayne Schmidt is held at Bravos Restaurant with over 200 in attendance.
August 30, 2009

Rev. Howard Nielsen begins his service as interim senior pastor at Salem Lutheran Church.
September 13, 2009