History of Saved by Grace Lutheran Church
Introduction
Saved by Grace Lutheran Church was started in March 1998. Initially, meetings were held in the founding member’s homes. Beginning in January of 1999, church services were held in the evening at the Episcopalian Church in Pahrump. In the beginning, the church did not have an assigned pastor. One of the founding members, a pastor himself, found us a pastor for each Sunday service.
At this time, our congregation was as little as 8 and as many as 40 (the church only held 40). The members looked into different places to worship to accommodate our growing congregation. On Reformation Sunday in 1999, we had our first service in the multi-purpose room of Mt. Charleston Elementary School. We had our first Affirmation of Faith service in March of 2000 with approximately 50 people joining. From there we blossomed to over 100 names on the Charter. On November 11, 2001, we celebrated our Charter Sunday.
Groundbreaking for our new church on Hawkins Way was held on Aug 1, 2009. First services were held in December of that year. After several temporary pastors, we now have our first full-time permanent pastor, Pastor John Biggs.
We are proud to be part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). We have much work to do yet, but God has truly blessed us and we will continue to pray for his guidance in all that we do.
A Historical Timeline of Saved By Grace Lutheran Church
Mar. 1998: First meeting held at the house of Pr. Thomas MacAdam to discuss planting a new ELCA church in Pahrump.
Sept. 1998: First worship service & potluck held at the house of Earl and Fran Benz.
Jan. 3, 1999: Worship services moved to the building of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. The name “Saved By Grace Lutheran Church” chosen and voted upon.
Oct. 31, 1999: Worship services of Saved By Grace moved to Mt. Charleston Elementary School on Reformation Sunday.
Nov. 11, 2001: CHARTER SUNDAY— Saved By Grace becomes an officially established congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
May 30, 2002: Saved By Grace is publically recognized and received as an established ELCA congregation at the Grand Canyon Synod Assembly.
Dec. 13, 2009: Saved By Grace holds first service in its very own building at 6341 S. Hawkins Way.
Sept. 8, 2013: Saved By Grace calls its first full-time pastor.
Past and Present Pastors of Saved By Grace Lutheran Church
Rev. Thomas L. MacAdam (Sept. 1998 ~ Aug. 2006)
Rev. Lois Ann Shuart (Sept. 2006 ~ Aug. 2011)
Rev. Carol Jeanne Reed (Sept. 2011 ~ Sept. 2013)
Rev. John A. Biggs (Oct. 2013 ~ present)
