We are seeking God’s design together! Thank you to everyone who joined us to hear from our Master Planning Committee. And a BIG THANK YOU to the 203 survey responders! Click below to review the presentations.
Since 1912, the family of Christ in Oviedo Florida has lived out the Gospel. His power has changed the community around us from a small farming community to a thriving metropolis. As we look to the future, we pray that He will continue to use us to bring others to the knowledge of salvation in Jesus. During 2026, we will work together to create a vision of our land and buildings that continue to give glory to God!
Land!
- 1915 – Slavia Company offers 15 acres of land to use as a cemetery and permanent church grounds. 5 acres were selected on (what is now) the corner of Red Bug Lake Road and Citrus Avenue. Sold in 1989 (p 58 in LAMS)
- 1922 – Church finally accepts the 10 acres where the cemetery stands on Church St. (p 59 in LAMS)
- 1934 – purchased 13 acres for the church and parsonage (p 67 in LAMS)
- 1937 – Donated 5 acres to the SELC for establishment of a Haven of Mercy for orphans, aged and retired pastors, and Lutheran teachers. (p 100 in LAMS)
- 1945 – land offer to SELC withdrawn since 40 other acres were donated
- 1953 – purchased 1 acre on the west side of 426 for a Teacherage (p 110 in LAMS)
- 1954 – purchased 2.5 acres for parking
- ??? – Added 4.5 more acres?
- 1989 – Sold 5 acres on the corner of Red Bug Lake Rd/S. Citrus Rd
- 2000 – purchased 8.64 acres of land. Matthews Property (3 parcels)
- 2001 – Swapped property on Electric Lane with Lutheran Haven (~1 acre)
- 2009 – 40 Acre donation for High School, SOLD in 2014
- 2017 – purchased ~2 acres north of church – 1993 & 1997 W SR 426 (Rook/Goad/Barnick)
- 2021 – purchased ~ 0.6 acres north of church – 1987 W SR 426, Oviedo FL from Andrew Jakubcin
- 2023 – purchased ~2.3 acres north of church – 2005 W SR 426, Oviedo FL from Anthony and Patricia Blanchard
- 2025 – purchased ~16.3 acres east of church – 2015, 2017 W SR 426 Oviedo FL
Buildings!
- 1912 – Built church from old railroad turpentine shacks
- 1936 – Parsonage completed
- 1939 – First brick church
- 1947 – Classroom added onto the front of the original church for school
- 1949 – School admin and wing on the left
- 1954 – Wing on the right side of school added
- 1957 – Church north and south transepts added
- 1963 – Back half of left wing of school added
- 1974 – East ‘Jr High’ school building added
- 1979 – Founders’ Hall – Gymnasium, Kitchen and classroom
- 1993 – Church sanctuary – Transepts removed from brick church
- 2001 – Preschool – 8th grade two story building
- 2016 – Family Life Center addition and new gymnasium
Ministry!
- 1912 – Founding Families move to Florida
- 1934 – Pastor Tuhy called
- 1945 – Preschool started
- 1947 – St. Luke’s Christian Day School opens
- 1948 – Lutheran Haven: Home for Children and Old Folks opens
- 1952 – Radio broadcasts begin
- 1973 – Assistant Pastor called
- 1981 – Mission Congregation started in Lake Mary
- 1991 – From Everywhere to Bethlehem begins
- 1993 – Concert Series begins
- 1997 – Second full-time pastor added
- 2000 – Third full-time pastor added
- 2001 – School increase to triple classrooms per grade, Preschool restarts
- 2002 – Shepherd’s Hope Health Center opens
- 2005 – Chuluota Mission opens, Latvia Mission trips begin
- 2007 – Honduras Mission Trips begin, Redeemer Partnership begins
- 2007 – Preschool moves into Slavia Square
- 2009 – Worship begins live broadcasts on the internet
- 2017 – Specific Ministry Pastors called – Lawton Thompson, John Elliott
- 2018 – Two new worship services: Generations and Fuel begin in Founders’ Hall
- 2023 – Goods and Grace
In 2026, our congregation will work through a Master Planning Process. With 50+ acres, new homes in the community, traffic backups on SR 426, a need for improved security, an aging preschool building, a K-8 facility bursting at the seams, a new ministry team in place, and a congregation that continues to grow, we need to know what is possible and what our campus might look like in 20 years! We have hired Land Design to work with us this year to lead us through a process of studying our needs and our campus, working with Seminole County and St. John’s Water Management District, to design a future campus look.
St. Luke’s did this same process in 2008. While the finished project looked very different from the drawings, the planning enabled us to build around the concepts developed.
“Like a Mustard Seed – A Century of Faith”
Purchase this 300+ page history of our first 100 years in the church office. View samples at Central Florida Memory