History of American Lutheran Church

We are grateful for the faithful efforts of our predecessors and of future members to be good stewards of our beautiful sanctuary.

ALC Church History

1975

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

1976

Chapel built in what had been the choir room and narthex

1977

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

1982

Added Administration building and enlarged Fellowship Hall

1994

Dedication of Columbarium with 288 double niches

2000

Mortgage burned at 25th Anniversary Celebration

2002

Dedication of Cassavant-Freres Pipe Organ

2007

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

2011

Columbarium enlarged to 432 niches, roof and seating added

2015

“Moving Forward in Faith” Capital Campaign

2017

$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.

2020

“Sparked by the Spirit” Stewardship Campaign began

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

Pastor History

1975-1979

Rev. Elmer H. Hjortland

1979-1982

Rev. Grant V. Sorenson

1982-1998

Rev. Lloyd R. Wallace

1998-1999

Rev. Ellis “Bud” Eskritt, Interim

1999-2007

Rev. Mark G. Huggenvik

2007-2008

Rev. Rick Alpers, Interim

2008-2018

Rev. Gary E. Benson

2018-2022

Rev. Lowell D. Nelson

2022-2023

Rev. Paul Campbell, Interim

2023-Present

Rev. Scott Klimke

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

Associate Pastors of Care Ministry

1996-2011

Rev. Ervin Langholtz

2002-2007

Rev. Maria Valenzuela

2002-2013

Rev. Wendell C. Shiell

2008-2018

Rev. Ellis “Bud’ Eskritt

2011-2016

Rev. Lane L. Knouse

2011- 2021

Rev. Gary Ulrich

2019-2021

Rev. Judith Rainforth

2021-2022

Rev. Maria Valenzuela, Interim

2021-2023

Rev. David Sivecz, Interim

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

Associate Pastors of Outreach

1986-1999

Rev. Otto Wedul

1999-2019

Rev. Charles Paulson

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

Music Ministry

1999

Carillon bells installed in the domed tower

2000

Work began to modify the sanctuary for a new pipe organ

2001

Cassavant-Freres Pipe organ delivered from Quebec, Canada

2002

Organ dedication featuring Guest Organist Michael Burkhardt

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

Organist/Music Directors

1985-2007

Gene Hersrud Organist/Music Director

1999-present

George Zoske, Christo Bells Director

2007-2019

Thomas A. Ohnesorge, Organist/Music Director

2019-2020

Linda Shirck, Interim Organist/Worship Coordinator

2020-present

Dr. James T. Gerber, Organist/Worship Coordinator

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

Choir Directors

1975-1979

Clyde Parnell

1979-1980

David Quill

1980-1983

Dave Vikturek

1983-1994

Richard Romero

2019-present

Janet A. MacDonald

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

BE A BLESSING TO ALL IN WORD AND DEED

1986

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.

Late 1980’s

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.

1992

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

1992

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

2016

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

2019

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.

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]