Grace Lutheran Church Continues to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we have Since 1867
Grace is for you
By grace, Jesus welcomes you, no matter who you are or where you come from—and so do we. We believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior of all people. By his perfect life, innocent death, and triumphant resurrection, he saves all lost sinners even without our help. Jesus Christ makes us special people, right with God and ready for life! We learn this from the Bible, God’s true Word of grace and guidance for us. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a curious observer with little religious background, we are delighted to share our worship with you.
Grace is a congregation that enjoys having fun. It is a blessing to be able to support each other through daily life – whether that is beginning a career, getting married, starting a family, or seeing our kids off to college or caring for our elderly and poor. Together we gather around God’s word, finding peace in forgiveness and seeing what wisdom he has for us in the different seasons of life. You are invited to join us.
We are a loving and dedicated fellowship of Christian believers. We are a warm and friendly congregation that is Christ centered in all teaching and preaching. For more than 150 years as a historic Lutheran congregation in the city of Mobile, our deepest desire is to grow in our relationship with God by receiving His grace through His gifts and sharing His grace in love to others. Come, see what great gifts God gives to His people!
“This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners; for by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours but Christ’s, and Christ’s righteousness is not Christ’s but ours.”
Martin Luther, German Reformer
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ.
We hold the Holy Bible
to be the only source
of the Christian faith.
We believe that God has called his people together to share his light and love in the world. We are committed to connecting our community with Christ through preaching, teaching, service, and care.
We believe that God has called his people together to share his light and love in the world.
We are committed to connecting our community with Christ through preaching, teaching, service, and care.
For more information on our doctrine and beliefs, please visit the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod at https://www.lcms.org/about/beliefs
OUR HISTORY
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod was formed by German immigrants from Saxony (present day Germany) in the late 1830’s to escape religious persecution by the authorities. Upon arriving in the United States, they traveled up the Mississippi River and settled for the most part in rural Missouri (Perry County). That’s how we get the “Missouri” in the name. Not all these individuals, however, decided to settle in the rural Midwest. Some elected to stay in the southern port cities where they first docked including New Orleans, Louisiana.
Grace Lutheran Church sits in the heart of Mobile, Alabama and has a rich history of Lutheranism in the south. We are the first and oldest Lutheran Congregation in the State of Alabama. On October 6, 1867, Grace held its first service at The Seamen’s Bethel on Church Street which is now located on the campus of the University of South Alabama. On October 20, 1867, Grace was formally organized as the “Free German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Mobile”. Rev. Theodore Heischmann, a Lutheran Minister not yet affiliated with any Lutheran Church, advertised in a local newspaper that a German Lutheran Service will be held October 6, 1867 and more than 150 years later, we’re still here. The congregation voted to join the Missouri Synod in 1897.
Other Lutheran congregations established in Mobile and Baldwin counties have some roots at Grace including St. Mark’s in Elberta (1908), St. Paul’s in Foley (1912), Redeemer in Fairhope (1949), Holy Cross in Mobile (1959), Our Savior in Mobile (1964) and Ascension in Daphne (1980).
Our congregation resides in the Southern District of the LCMS which was organized in 1882. We have been blessed with 2 places of worship in our 150 years: the first at 604 St. Francis Street from 1868 to 1953 and now our current location on Government Street. Though the congregation has moved locations since the 19th century from St. Francis Street to Government Street and has changed its name, Grace Lutheran Church is still committed to bringing the Gospel to the city of Mobile. We are grateful for our involvement with the outdoor ministry program at Camp Dixie in Josephine, our mission involvement to Black Lutherans during the difficult times of segregation and our outreach to this city through our teachers and parishioners. But most of all we are grateful for our Word and Sacrament ministry between Pastor and People in Mobile. As of today, sixteen pastors have served calls to Grace and we thank God for the gift of receiving and sharing God’s grace through 3 centuries. We give thanks to those of the faith who have gone before us in these 150 years. Our long history is placed in the hands of Jesus Christ who directs, guides, and brings us all to an everlasting life in his kingdom. By God’s grace, we are part of “His” story.
Pastor Miller was born in Palos Heights, Illinois to Warren and Linda Miller. After attending St. Paul Lutheran School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, he graduated from Oak Lawn Community High School and Roosevelt University. He then felt called to the ministry within the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod beginning his theological education at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in 2011. He was a vicar at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Elberta, Alabama from 2013-2014 and graduated from Concordia Seminary in May of 2015.
He was ordained at his home congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn on June 21, 2015. He was called to serve Grace Lutheran Church in Mobile, Alabama and was installed on July 12, 2015 where he serves as Grace’s pastor to this day. Pastor Wayne is married to Ashley and lives in Mobile, the city he has grown to love and serve with passion. Pastor Wayne loves life, loves being a husband, loves preaching the Word of God, loves the people of Grace and loves serving the Lord with faithfulness.
Location
You can find Grace on Government Street in Mobile between PNC Bank and Dariy Queen.
251-433-2749
251-433-2749
grace@gracelutheranmobile.com
www.gracelutheranmobile.com