OUR HISTORY

In the fall of 1980 the Kansas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod acted upon an earlier decision to plant a church in Johnson County that would have its roots in Lenexa.  In May, Pastor Ken Sype and his family arrived in Lenexa to begin planting the seeds for this new mission.  By September 7th, the first stages of growth had taken place and a worshiping community of 20 families gathered at the Lenexa Holiday Inn for weekly worship services.

On Super Bowl Sunday, January 25th, 1981, Christ Lutheran Church was chartered with 118 pioneers signing the original charter documents.  By November, Pastor Sype guided a one blade plow pulled by the congregation, through the Kansas soil at 103rd and Quivira as the ground was broken for out first church building.  The tone was set: Everyone must pull TOGETHER under the power of the Holy Spirit to make this mission possible.

The decade of the 1980’s was a time of steady growth.  As the membership grew in numbers it was also a time for additional staff, new and expanding ministries and the need for additional facilities to try to keep pace with the growth God was providing.  The mission of being “Together In Christ That Others May Know Christ” was firmly implanted into the DNA of the congregation and ministry decisions revolved around how an action would help others to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  In 1987, a second phase of construction served as a temporary fix, but the congregation was also quick to step out into the community to use three other rented or donated meeting spaces.  In 1988, Christ Lutheran Early Education Center opened with 25 children enrolled in the first year.

In the 1990’s the growth was addressed by further expansion, but we were constantly out-growing available space.  In 1993 a Long Range Plan was adopted by the congregation that called for relocation to a larger site so that reaching others for Christ could continue to be realized in both the short term and the long term future of the ministry.  In 1998, the next step in the plan was set in motion as we purchased thirty acres, blessed the ground for God to use, and then sold our building at 103rd street.  1999 was a year without a permanent home as we used rented facilities for worship, early education center, discipleship classes, meetings and staff offices.  One of the significant discoveries during this phase was the church is not brick and mortar, but the “church is the people connected to Christ.”

On March 5th, 2000 God opened the doors on a new phase of ministry at our current facilities at 117th and Nieman Road in Overland Park.  This decade has seen the birthing of our elementary school; the expansion of all phases of ministry with children, youth and adults; the increase of our missions outreach within the metro area and to specific areas of the global community – especially to widows and orphans.  Our care ministry speaks volumes through simple acts of concern and kindness.  Families are continually strengthened, equipped and affirmed.  Friendships in Christ develop into Biblical community through our growing small group ministry.  Dynamic and relevant worship is at the heart of our fellowship.

In mid 2006 Pastor Sype and his wife Jane retired from their ministry roles here at Christ Lutheran.  During this time of transition, God has significantly blessed us beyond imagination as every area of ministry has grown and new people have joined our dynamic ministry leadership team.

In 2008 we stand at the threshold of our third building phase at this location.  The “Treasure Him” theme is focused on Christ as out cornerstone.  The mission is firmly in place and our values and Biblical foundation give us steady guidance for the day to day decisions and direction of ministry.  We remain passionate that the church is here to equip people as disciples of Christ, who will do whatever it takes to impact the world by sharing Jesus as Savior.

Sola Dei Gloria – Glory To God Alone