Our History
Our Church History
Rather than being a place where people far from God are met with shame, guilt, and condemnation, Jesus leads us to be a family that extends His grace, mercy, and forgiveness to everyone. No matter what you’ve been through or what questions you might have, we want you to be a part of the family. FLC sees ourselves as a “big tent” kind of church, where people of all backgrounds are encouraged to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Faith Lutheran began as an idea in 1976 by a few members of Holy Trinity Church (LCA) in Littleton, Colorado, who had moved out of the suburbs to the “open countryside” of Douglas County and wanted a Lutheran church within a half-hour drive. They began worshipping on Sunday afternoons at St. Philip in the Field Episcopal Church on Perry Park Highway, utilizing Holy Trinity Church interns and supply preachers. Coffee time, joint potlucks, and other activities were shared among the congregations. At this time the group elected to serve Holy Communion weekly and continues to do so to this day.
By 1982 the American Lutheran Church (ALC) felt the need for a Lutheran congregation in Castle Rock, and our congregation felt that joining this venture was appropriate. Rev. Dwight Stensgaard, who was serving at Grace Lutheran in Englewood, Colorado, accepted the call to be the Mission Developer. On September 11, 1983, the first official service of the ALC mission was held at the Senior Center at 3rd and Anderson in Castle Rock.
In 1984, the church received its charter from the ALC. A parsonage was purchased, a building committee formed, and land was purchased to begin plans for building our permanent home. In the meantime, services were held at the senior center, the church offices were in the parsonage basement, confirmation and bible studies were held in members’ homes. God continued to bless FLC with growth, and by 1987 our first building phase was completed. This is the same location that FLC remains today, at 303 Ridge Road, on the eastern ridgeline overlooking the Town of Castle Rock.
In 1984, the church received its charter from the ALC. A parsonage was purchased, a building committee formed, and land was purchased to begin plans for building our permanent home. In the meantime, services were held at the senior center, the church offices were in the parsonage basement, confirmation and bible studies were held in members’ homes. God continued to bless FLC with growth, and by 1987 our first building phase was completed. This is the same location that FLC remains today, at 303 Ridge Road, on the eastern ridgeline overlooking the Town of Castle Rock.
In August of 1988, the Lutheran Church of America (LCA), American Lutheran Church (ALC), and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (ELC) merged, forming the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and making Faith a member of the ELCA.
Growth continued and a new sanctuary addition was completed in 1993.
A preschool program was established in 1996, operating out of a member’s home until 1997, when the area beneath the new sanctuary was finished for educational space. Rev. Stensgaard accepted a call to another congregation in spring of 1995 and Rev. Michael Knauff accepted a call as Senior Pastor in the fall of 1997.
By 2000 the FLC preschool had grown from 15 students to multiple classrooms for 3-, 4-, & 5-year-olds, totaling 120 enrolled students. In 2004 Rev. Joe Hess was called as the first full time Associate Pastor, bringing the total staff members to 8 servants of God. This lasted until the recession of 2008, forcing FLC to restructure to a staff of 5.
In 2009, a long-standing congregational concern regarding the church’s affiliation with the ELCA came to an important crossroads. The congregation grew concerned over the ELCA’s movement away from a traditional interpretation of scripture and the movement of the organization to “Called to Common Mission” agreement with various other faith backgrounds. After a lengthy discernment process where the congregation weighed its options of staying with the denomination that continually erodes the authority of scripture, prioritizes the costs of their headquarters over the costs of supporting mission efforts, and continually casting itself more as a “political action committee” rather than an agency of proclaiming the saving grace that comes through Jesus Christ, the congregation voted to sever ties with the ELCA and join the newly formed Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). This relationship with LCMC continues to flourish today, as FLC can support missions and ministries that make a difference in the lives of people, rather than supporting a top-heavy organization.
By 2011, as giving and membership once again stabilized, FLC decided to replace the vacant youth director position with an Assistant Pastor. In September 2011, Pastor Ebassa Berhanu accepted a call as Assistant Pastor in charge of Youth and Family ministries.
In 2013, Pastor Mickael Knauff resigned, and Pastor Ebassa accepted the call to be the Senior Pastor. He was installed on September 29th, 2013.
Over the next 10 years FLC experienced many of the same things that other churches experienced. There was growth in membership and numbers. There were new ministries started and others that God shut the door on. New international mission work was begun in Guatemala and Ethiopia. The preschool grew to a max capacity of 151 students. Then the world stopped as the pandemic COVID hit. New ways of holding church services and ministering to one another were found. And, like so many other churches, our post-COVID life looks a little bit different. The church staff and size changed. Regardless, we remain steadfast in our mission of Loving God, Loving One Another, and Serving Our Community through everything we do.
In 2022, Pastor Ebassa Berhanu resigned to accept a new call in California. During the call process that spanned almost a year, Pastor David Fisher filled in as our interim Pastor. On June 1, 2023, Pastor Denton L. Bennet, Jr. was called as the next Lead Pastor. FLC began working to rebuild post-COVID and has seen substantial growth once again. In September 2023, Pastor Jennifer Bennet was brought on staff to help with the transitions and rebuilding.
Today, both the church congregation and the preschool remain committed to the mission of God. We exist to bring the promise of Jesus Christ to all, to share the Good News, to see lives changed as people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.