Our Story - 50th Anniversary

Late 1960s:

• Four acres were purchased at 5511 S 27th Street and the name for the new mission church is to be called Southwood Lutheran Church.

September 1970:

• First worship service held with 102 worshipers in the Southwood Neighborhood Clubhouse.
• Sister congregations provided a portable altar, communion trays, Sunday School materials and a piano.

February 1971:

• Southwood Lutheran Church was organized as a congregation with 87 charter members.

June 1972:

• Original Southwood Lutheran Church dedicated at 5511 S 27th Street.

1978:

• Addition made to west side of original Southwood Lutheran Church to provide much needed space for education, fellowship and worship.

1980:

• Music ministry has always been a way Southwood has celebrated and shared God's message. The Mixed Choir, Men's Chorus, small groups and soloists have helped deliver this music ministry.

1985:

• Southwood began partnering with Meals on Wheels to deliver meals.

1986:

• Pastor John Bunge becomes the new Senior Pastor.

1988:

• God continues to bless Southwood’s mission and ministries in Lincoln as church reaches a milestone of 1,000 members.

1990:

• Sunday School and Vacation Bible School have been staples of Southwood's programming since its inception. As our church has grown, these programs have also grown exponentially.

1991/1992:

• In 1991, ground was broken to add a sanctuary to the church. After a slight construction delay, the Southwood Lutheran sanctuary was dedicated on June 14, 1992.

1995:

• Pastor Greg Olson becomes the new Senior Pastor.

2000:

• New pipe organ dedicated. This pipe organ continues to enhance our church services today.
• First mission trip to Honduras is held. Check out this timeline to see how this partnership has grown.
• A third pastor is added to meet the growing needs of the congregation, which reaches another milestone of 2,000 members.

2001:

• A commitment to reach out and serve more prompts Southwood to purchase land on South 40th Street. November 21, 2001 land dedication.

2002:

• Southwood Lutheran establishes a sister church relationship in Tanzania. Check out this timeline to see how this partnership has grown.

2003:

• Southwood began serving at Matt Talbot in November 2003.

2004:

• Southwood hosts its first Small Group study focused on The Purpose Driven Life book.

2005:

• Southwood hosted their first solo medical clinic at Clinic with a Heart on May 17.

2007:

• Southwood Lutheran Church's new facility located at 4301 Wilderness Hills Boulevard is dedicated.
• Southwood began partnering with the Food Bank to prepare weekly backpacks for students at Saratoga Elementary. Southwood volunteers currently prepare 100 backpacks.

2009:

• Southwood Lutheran continues to grow with 3,000 members.
• Southwood Serves is introduced as an annual event. Hundreds of congregational members and guests serve throughout the community on the same date.

2011:

• Southwood sets up a garden on the church property to provide fresh food for distribution through the Food Bank.

2013:

• Southwood introduced quarterly Healing Prayer Services to provide comfort, support and healing for many difficult life situations.

2014:

• Southwood Lutheran membership tops the 4,000 person mark.
• Ten years after its inception, Small Group studies continue to be a vibrant part of Southwood's adult ministry program.
• Southwood achieved the goal to have 25% of all giving go toward Missions.
• Southwood partners with Food Bank to begin monthly food distribution in Palmyra (NE). Southwood volunteers serve between 25-55 families each month.

2016:

• Southwood began partnering with the Food Bank to offer monthly food distributions for students at Northeast High School.

2019:

• After massive flooding in the Midwest, Southwood partnered with Omaha Rapid Response to host a Serve Strong Day. Over 100 adults and youth helped with flood clean-up around King Lake, NE.

2020:

• Began offering online worship opportunities in addition to holding in-person worship services.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Southwood hosted a “Be the Light” drive-thru event featuring lighted displays, a prayer station and communion. This event took the place of the annual Advent Festival and in-person Christmas Eve/Day worship services.

2022:

• Pastor Eric Finsand becomes the Interim Senior Pastor.
• Southwood partnered with the Food Bank to offer a Mobile Food Distribution in the church parking lot twice per month.