About Messiah

Messiah Lutheran Church was established in 1958 to provide a foundation for ministries that strive to meet the needs of our congregation, community and the world. We are a people called to declare, worship, and serve God who reveals himself in Jesus Christ. Saved by His grace, led by His Spirit, growing with Faith in Him, we are committed to acknowledge and respond to His calling.

The church proper is located at 7211 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815. Our phone number is (260) 485-8716. The building is prominently located on the corner of Lahmeyer and Stellhorn across from the Anchor Room Bookstore. The following is an outline of what we believe, our mission, vision and the values that order our ministry:

Mission, Vision and Values

2) We believe God has created and is sustaining all that exists and his truth is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit;

6) We believe our sin is forgiven through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our eternal life freeing us to love God and others;

9) We believe God comes to us primarily through Baptism, Holy Communion and the Word;

10) We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God from which Christians learn best God’s truths and through which Christians best know God’s love in Jesus Christ;

11) God calls us to grow as disciples through worship, study, prayer, fellowship, service and witness;

The following Mission, Vision and Values statement is the driving force behind our ministry. It helps us decide what we are going to do and how to best utilize our resources.

Mission of Messiah Lutheran Church: To help people grow a faith in Jesus Christ that works in real life.

Vision of Messiah Lutheran Church: “As God’s people called, gathered and sent by Jesus Christ, Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fort Wayne…

2) To enable all persons to experience a worshipful relationship with Jesus Christ;

3) To nurture and empower all persons to be disciples through a small group centered ministry that includes learning, service, fellowship and spiritual growth;

How did you get started?

Messiah is very much a product of the post-war baby boom of the 50s. After the returning GI’s settled down and married, their families began to grow and prosper along with the economy. Northeastern Fort Wayne was a rapidly growing area the fastest in all of Fort Wayne and some say of the entire state. That rapid growth came to the attention of our parent denomination, the United Lutheran Church in America. They sent Pastor John G. Frank, who was at the time developing a mission in Greenwood, Indiana. He arrived to begin his work August, 1957. Some say that his infectious smile was the key to winning people for the new mission. So successful was the new church that by 1960 plans were underway for the construction of the church's first unit. The cornerstone was laid July 9, 1961. In 1963 the church became self-sufficient.

Rev. Franks was followed by the Rev. Carl Satre who arrived August, 1965. During his 34 year tenure the church continued its significant growth beginning its third service in 1965. Messiah's first associate pastor--Rev. Roger Landgrebe--came a year latter with financial assistance from the Board of American Missions. A year latter, May 7, 1967, ground was broken for our second unit--the worship center. With the new building came the opportunity for new ministry most significantly a preschool. In 1969, the Bethel Bible Series was begun and was very popular running for about three years.

Following the three year tenure of Rev. Landgrebe, the Rev. Peper started what came to be a 16 year associate pastorate with Rev. Satre. His very charismatic personality generated many enthusiastic supporters. His focus was Christian Education and Evangelism although he became very popular among the youth as well. During these years, Messiah continue to grow and flourish.

Following Rev. Peper, the congregation called its first female pastor, the Rev. Alice Smith. Hers was another long tenure--14 years leaving the congregation shortly after the retirement of Rev. Satre in April, 2000. Our present Pastor, Rev. Dr. Stan Sneeringer came in August, 2001 from Fairlawn, Ohio. His tenure is now into its third year. He brings much experience in discipleship ministry with a focus on reaching the unchurched. March 2003 we welcomed the Rev. Paul Offhaus as Associate Pastor. He came to us from Michigan where he served as a mission developer and pastor of Community of Hope Lutheran, Mt. Clemens, MI.

In 2007, Messiah called with Grace Lutheran the Rev. Timothy Graham to serve both congregations. Pastor Tim helping to reclaim Grace for the neighborhood it serves even as he assists in a variety of pastoral duties at Messiah.

Tell me about your church’s worship.

Messiah has one service on Wednesday evening and three services each Sunday.

The Wednesday service are devotions that are part of our EPIC midweek ministry. These devotions are supplemented by our midweek Advent and Lenten services.

Our 8:00 AM Service is a formal liturgical service using traditional Christian language, and beautiful classic music from centuries past with a message based on the ecumenical lectionary (pre-appointed Bible lessons used in the Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Roman Catholic, Methodist, etc. churches).

Our second service is at 9:30 AM. This is also a liturgical service but one using more contemporary harmonies and music. It is just as likely to be lead by a piano as the organ. The Sunday Church School also meets during this service.

The third service of the morning is our 11 AM Contemporary service, a spirited praise service with our praise band, Joyful Noise, leading the worship. This service uses contemporary Christian music and features messages that are very practical about today's issues.

Holy communion is celebrated the first and third Sundays at every service but also every Sunday at the contemporary praise service. The services are held in the Worship Center. We use wine and bread as part of our Communion worship. Guests and members either come forward at the liturgical services and kneel at the altar to receive a bread wafer and wine in individual cups. At the contemporary praise service everyone comes forward and receives communion by "intinction" this is dipping the bread into a small cup of wine. We welcome all to receive Communion at any of our services.

What about Learning?

Each Sunday morning we have a graded Sunday Church School from three years to eighth grade plus Adult. It has its own superintendent and curriculum meeting at 9:30 AM. Messiah also owns and operates a five-day a week Christian Preschool for ages 3-5 years. Currently, we have about 90 children. A separate Board, Director and staff of teachers run it. On Wednesday evenings we have a two-year Confirmation ministry for middle school young people. The pastors teach this class. This prepares them for the Rite of Confirmation--the time each year when our young people make their own commitment of faith and thus become adult members of the congregation--each September. During the summer we hold a Vacation Church School for one week. Kid's Camp meets during the summer. In the spring there is also instruction in preparation for a young person’s First Communion. Alternating with our midweek Lenten and Advent service is EPIC which stands for "Every Person in Christ." ALPHA is held as part of EPIC as is the Beth Moore Bible Studies. Other midweek learning events also occur during this time as Men's Bible Studies or leadership development courses. Pastor Sneeringer also teaches new member classes and provides individual instruction on the sacraments and the rites of our faith.

Do you do any Social Outreach?

Messiah is a covenant church with Grace Lutheran Church--an inner-city church in Fort Wayne. We partner with several other churches in the Fort Wayne area to minister to the great needs of those living in downtown Fort Wayne. These programs include literacy, meals, a food pantry, a free clinic, summer Bible school, etc.

We also work with the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts (we sponsor a Cub Pack and Scout Troop), as well as a variety of other needs.

How do you financially support your ministry?

Simply through the freewill offerings of the members. We do not have fish dinners, play bingo or sell stuff to make our budget. Now don’t get us wrong. We like to eat, play and buy stuff but not in competition with others who do not enjoy a tax-exempt status. We ask people to give to the church in proportion to their income. It is a request, a hope. We do not charge dues or levy fines on those who are not able to complete their commitment. We ask, once a year, for people to make pledge to the church, to help us accomplish what our Lord has asked us to do.

What’s with the Flower Pot?

“God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ…We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) Our mission therefore as a people of God is “to help others also grow a faith in Jesus Christ that works in real life.”

[TOP]

1) Tell me about Messiah Lutheran!

2) How did you get started?

3) Tell me about your church's worship.

4) What about Learning?

5) Do you do any social outreach?

6) How do you financially support your ministry?