Mission/History
Mission Statement
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Trinity Lutheran Church serves God by proclaiming the Gospel message of the Bible, which leads people to receive and grow closer to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Through prayer, worship, fellowship and education, members share the caring Christ by reaching out to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of all people.
Historical Highlights of Trinity Lutheran Church
1872 Traveling missionary commissioned to serve 17 counties, including Sterns & Benton
1881 Rev. von Brandt called to serve Sauk Rapids and 26 other preaching stations in 8 counties
1886 Disastrous tornado nearly wiped out Sauk Rapids
1887 Rebuilt community resolved to organize Die Evangelisch-Lutherische Dreieinigkeits-meinde
1888 The Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church built and dedicated, the first Lutheran church in Sauk Rapids
1888 Christian Day School begun
1895 Trinity Lutheran congregation joined the Missouri Synod
1899 St. John's Polish Lutheran merged with this German Lutheran congregation
1902 Ground broken for a new $7000 church building to accommodate increasing membership
1915 Dedication of pipe organ to replace the reed organ
1924 New Christian Day School built
1925 English-speaking service added
1937 44-foot addition with current altar and chancel stained glass built, due to continued growth
1937 50th Anniversary celebrated in 3 languages
1949 Services in Polish discontinued, but fund-raisers with Bouja, a Polish stew, continued
1952 German services discontinued after 65 years
1957 Trinity assisted in establishment of Faith Lutheran, a mission congregation
1963 Congregation involved with building and operating Good Shepherd Lutheran Home
1973 School addition of classrooms, gymasium and kitchen dedicated
1980 Constitutional change allowed women the right to become voting members, Trinityinvolved in establishment of Messiah Lutheran in Sartell
1983 Two-story church addition provided offices, classrooms and a elevator to improve access
1987 Trinity's Centennial celebrated
1989 Trinity involved in development of Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church in Rice
2000 Lutheran School Ass'n formed with other congregations to build new Chirstian school
2003 Generation to Generation campaign led to groud-breaking new church building
2004 Sale of church/school properties on 2nd Ave. N. to Harvest Fellowship
2005 Dedication of Trinity Lutheran Church and Child Development Center (CDC) on Mayhew Lake Road Prince of Peace Lutheran School dedicated
2008 Increasing space needs led to addtions of church classroom & meeting rooms and school lunchroom & kitchen
