History of American Lutheran Church

Our first worship service at Sun Dial Recreation Center with 187 in attendance

Chapel built in what had been the choir room and narthex

The first worship in our brand new Sanctuary at 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd with 632 members

Added Administration building and enlarged Fellowship Hall

Dedication of Columbarium with 288 double niches

Mortgage burned at 25th Anniversary Celebration

Dedication of Cassavant-Freres Pipe Organ

Purchase of new 32 passenger bus; former bus gifted to Martin Luther School

Columbarium enlarged to 432 niches, roof and seating added

“Moving Forward in Faith” Capital Campaign

$4M of renovations and improvements were completed for the entire campus and parking lot, including the sanctuary. The campus was further augmented with a storage building, administration offices, and commercial grade kitchen.

“Sparked by the Spirit” Stewardship Campaign began

Rev. Elmer H. Hjortland

Rev. Grant V. Sorenson

Rev. Lloyd R. Wallace

Rev. Ellis “Bud” Eskritt, Interim

Rev. Mark G. Huggenvik

Rev. Rick Alpers, Interim

Rev. Gary E. Benson

Rev. Lowell D. Nelson

Rev. Paul Campbell, Interim

Rev. Scott Klimke

Rev. Ervin Langholtz

Rev. Maria Valenzuela

Rev. Wendell C. Shiell

Rev. Ellis “Bud’ Eskritt

Rev. Lane L. Knouse

Rev. Gary Ulrich

Rev. Judith Rainforth

Rev. Maria Valenzuela, Interim

Rev. David Sivecz, Interim

Rev. Otto Wedul

Rev. Charles Paulson

Carillon bells installed in the domed tower

Work began to modify the sanctuary for a new pipe organ

Cassavant-Freres Pipe organ delivered from Quebec, Canada

Organ dedication featuring Guest Organist Michael Burkhardt

Gene Hersrud Organist/Music Director

George Zoske, Christo Bells Director

Thomas A. Ohnesorge, Organist/Music Director

Linda Shirck, Interim Organist/Worship Coordinator

Dr. James T. Gerber, Organist/Worship Coordinator

Clyde Parnell

David Quill

Dave Vikturek

Richard Romero

Janet A. MacDonald

ALC expanded their Stephen Ministry outreach that began in 1982 and were encouraged with the efforts of Rev. Otto Wedul when he became Associate Pastor in 1986. Historically, we are one of the top three churches in the world in terms of size of our Stephen minister program.

ALC began an on-going relationship with Pan De Vida Lutheran Church in Surprise, AZ with after-school tutoring, summer Bible camp, and financial and food support.

Wednesday Night Alive program was launched to offer mid-week fellowship opportunity and worship experience

ALC Members Malcolm & Maybelle Estrem gifted the Grand Canyon Synod with the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center

Designated Sun City’s “Best Places to Worship” and received the “Servant of Christ” award from Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

Navajo Mission Walk for Water raised over $50K to help build a new well on the Navajo Nation. We continue to support the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission at Rock Point with clothing, food, and supplies.