St. John Lutheran has many roots to the past. It's amazing to think our church was established prior to the Civil War! Yet, we have reshaped ourself several times, adjusting to the current needs of the communities around. As long as St. John Lutheran continues to reshape, move and adapt, while hanging on to the rock solid foundation of our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and our unwavering grip on the Bible, God's Holy Word, we believe God will use us together to reach hundreds, if not thousands more, with the Good News of Jesus.

1852

Saturday, August 8: A small group of men gathered to sign the constitution of what was to become St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sunday, August 9: The first  worship service was held as the new little congregation way out in the country at "Five Points".

Monday, August 10: The first day of School is held for St. John's Lutheran School.

Present

A log cabin church and a one-room schoolhouse located just south of Raymond St. on Franklin were the humble beginnings of the Christian ministry that includes 1,300 members and 230 students in our school and 40 children in our Little Wings Childcare.

Times have changed. We've gone from a few families who moved from Germany seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity living out in the "boonies" to a church that is situated right on the line between urban and suburban neighborhoods of Indianapolis.  We've grown from a log cabin church - to a white framed church - to a sanctuary full of pipe organ and stained glass windows - to a modern facility with projection screens. The one room school was replaced by a three story school building which gave way to our current structure that serves well. The pastor's house has become Little Wings Childcare. The name changed from St. John's to to St. John and a whole lot of other things have changed too. St. John used to be about core families who had lots of babies and almost everyone was related to everyone else at church. After a couple decades of reaching out to the communities around us, hundreds of people have flooded into the fellowship of this congregation. Being new in the last ten years almost puts you in the majority!