Transitions! (Part One)

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St. Johns Lutheran Church was founded on July 4, 1865 by a small group of German immigrants living along what at that time was the growing edge of the city of St. Louis.  Though the church, located at the corner of Chippewa and Morganford, had a modest start it grew over time to a congregation of well over 900 members with an average Sunday attendance of over 500.  Early on, it established an elementary school which also thrived.

Today, baptized membership is less than 100 and Sunday attendance is less than 50.  The school is closed. The question is:  Is there any real hope for a declining urban congregation like this?  The answer is “Yes”, and it has everything to do with avalanche of New Americans now living in the City.

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Hopeful signs include the growing number of Nepali speakers at St. Johns who now outnumber in church attendance, those who claim English as their first language.  It is hoped to integrate both congregations, beginning with Nepali elders, leaders in Christian Education and to represent the Nepali speakers in voters meetings.

Indeed, most well-wishers would rejoice that so many Nepali people who arrived in St. Louis as refugees only a few years ago, are now confessing their faith in a Lutheran congregation that features bi-lingual services with communion on a regular basis.  Moreover, two of the leaders of this Nepali faith community are enrolled in Concordia Seminary’s EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) and are serving the Nepali community at St. Johns and beyond as certified Vicars of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.  Additionally, the English language Sunday School is now taught by a Nepali member.

Along with all of these hopeful signs however, there are also deep-seated feelings of uncertainty.  In the next issue of CFNA E-News we will take a look at these, along with some key factors for a successful transition to a better future. 

Editor’s Note: Read part two of this article HERE.

By:  Rev. Michael Tanney, Pastor, St. Johns, with Rev. Al Buckman, CFNA