Seaford
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Sola Fide Evangelical Lutheran Church
Mission:
Moving FORWARD IN CHRIST Through Nurture, Outreach and Worship
History:
In 1970, five families gathered in Clayton County and formed the first Wisconsin Synod congregation in Georgia. Five years later, Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone) was in their new sanctuary on Flat Shoals Road in Decatur. In late 1976, it was determined that a second congregation should be established in the Atlanta area. After investigation, it was decided to locate in the Lawrenceville area. A minister was called and on July 17th, 1977, Pastor Larry Zahn, a recent graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin was ordained at Sola Scriptura.
Services began at the Kindercare Center in Lawrenceville with about 25 attending. After careful consideration and discussion, Sola Fide (By Faith Alone) was selected as the name of the congregation. A search for a piece of land began in early 1978. By November, four acres had been purchased on Highway 124 and a sign proclaimed this as the future site of Sola Fide Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The new combined chapel and educational building was dedicated in February 1981. The building contained 2,100 square feet. As the physical structure had grown during 1980, so had the congregation totaling 81 members with an average attendance of 45. The fifth anniversary of Sola Fide was celebrated on July 25th with a potluck and cookout. With 159 members, it was the fastest growing church in the South Central Conference of the South Atlantic District. The incredible growth of Sola Fide was a reflection of the Lord’s blessings.
In the Fall of 1983, the congregation sought Synod’s approval to construct a parsonage. Weather delayed work on the parsonage, but in November 1984, the Zahn family moved out of rental housing and into the new three-bedroom house. Around the same time, Sola Fide received permission to begin planning for a new sanctuary.
The sanctuary was dedicated on March 2nd, 1986. With 120 attending on an average Sunday, two services were begun in the fall of 1985. By the end of 1986, average attendance was 150, but the new worship facility was more than able to accommodate it. Two services each Sunday continued to be held.
Growth continued through 1989 and totaled 272 members by the end of the year. In early November, Pastor Zahn who had been the shepherd of the congregation since its beginning, accepted a call to King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, Florida. For a year, Sola Fide was without a full time pastor, yet continued to grow and flourish. Membership increased and the plans for an education building were completed during the summer and early fall of 1990. The members did a large percentage of the labor and dedication took place on November 18th. On that same date, Pastor Edward Schuppe was installed as the new pastor after serving 13 ½ years at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Florida.
By the end of 1993, there were 417 members on the rolls with an average attendance for the year of 220 each Sunday. Gwinnett County continued to grow rapidly and a long-range planning committee was created late that year to explore new ways to reach out to the many new residents.
In 1994, a group of concerned parents began to work toward the creation of a school as part of the mission of Sola Fide Lutheran Church. Our efforts were rewarded in August 1995 when the elementary school opened with 2 teachers and 19 students. Supported by many members of the church who contributed their time, talent and material, the school not only thrived, but grew. By August of 1996, school enrollment had grown to 31 students. Growth continued during the second and third years of the school peaking at over 40 students. A decision was made to add a third teacher to the staff to provide an even better educational opportunity.
Moving FORWARD IN CHRIST Through Nurture, Outreach and Worship
History:
In 1970, five families gathered in Clayton County and formed the first Wisconsin Synod congregation in Georgia. Five years later, Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone) was in their new sanctuary on Flat Shoals Road in Decatur. In late 1976, it was determined that a second congregation should be established in the Atlanta area. After investigation, it was decided to locate in the Lawrenceville area. A minister was called and on July 17th, 1977, Pastor Larry Zahn, a recent graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin was ordained at Sola Scriptura.
Services began at the Kindercare Center in Lawrenceville with about 25 attending. After careful consideration and discussion, Sola Fide (By Faith Alone) was selected as the name of the congregation. A search for a piece of land began in early 1978. By November, four acres had been purchased on Highway 124 and a sign proclaimed this as the future site of Sola Fide Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The new combined chapel and educational building was dedicated in February 1981. The building contained 2,100 square feet. As the physical structure had grown during 1980, so had the congregation totaling 81 members with an average attendance of 45. The fifth anniversary of Sola Fide was celebrated on July 25th with a potluck and cookout. With 159 members, it was the fastest growing church in the South Central Conference of the South Atlantic District. The incredible growth of Sola Fide was a reflection of the Lord’s blessings.
In the Fall of 1983, the congregation sought Synod’s approval to construct a parsonage. Weather delayed work on the parsonage, but in November 1984, the Zahn family moved out of rental housing and into the new three-bedroom house. Around the same time, Sola Fide received permission to begin planning for a new sanctuary.
The sanctuary was dedicated on March 2nd, 1986. With 120 attending on an average Sunday, two services were begun in the fall of 1985. By the end of 1986, average attendance was 150, but the new worship facility was more than able to accommodate it. Two services each Sunday continued to be held.
Growth continued through 1989 and totaled 272 members by the end of the year. In early November, Pastor Zahn who had been the shepherd of the congregation since its beginning, accepted a call to King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, Florida. For a year, Sola Fide was without a full time pastor, yet continued to grow and flourish. Membership increased and the plans for an education building were completed during the summer and early fall of 1990. The members did a large percentage of the labor and dedication took place on November 18th. On that same date, Pastor Edward Schuppe was installed as the new pastor after serving 13 ½ years at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Florida.
By the end of 1993, there were 417 members on the rolls with an average attendance for the year of 220 each Sunday. Gwinnett County continued to grow rapidly and a long-range planning committee was created late that year to explore new ways to reach out to the many new residents.
In 1994, a group of concerned parents began to work toward the creation of a school as part of the mission of Sola Fide Lutheran Church. Our efforts were rewarded in August 1995 when the elementary school opened with 2 teachers and 19 students. Supported by many members of the church who contributed their time, talent and material, the school not only thrived, but grew. By August of 1996, school enrollment had grown to 31 students. Growth continued during the second and third years of the school peaking at over 40 students. A decision was made to add a third teacher to the staff to provide an even better educational opportunity.