The
Easter Season

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Welcome to our new interim pastor
the Rev. Laura Meier

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History Of St. Stephen

Feeling a need to begin a mission in suburban Louisville, the pastor and congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church asked the Synod to develop such a mission in Fern Creek.  When the synod reported that it would be some time before a man could be put in the field, the Rev. Tillman B. Williams and the congregation of Trinity established the “Trinity Chapel” in the Fern Creek Community Center in September 1956.

By 1958 it was quite evident that the congregation was able to get along on their own as a mission, so they applied to the synod for a mission developer.  Robert L. Hauss, was called by the ULCA Board of American Missions as the developer in January 1959.  Also, in 1959, the congregation purchased a seven-acre site on Bardstown Road for $25,000.  The site had a home on it, which was to serve as a temporary parsonage.  In October 1960, St. Stephen Lutheran Church was organized with 73 Charter Members.

There was a rapid turnover in St. Stephen’s leadership in the church’s early years. Robert L. Hauss, the first pastor, served for less then two years.  His successor, the Rev. Albert F. Nyland III, guided the congregation from early 1962 until the autumn of 1964.  The third pastor, Henry Cole Reasin, served for about the same length of time before resigning in October 1967.  In January 1968, the Rev. Ralph A. Kempski began his pastorate.

In this same period, the congregation took some important steps.  Groundbreaking ceremonies for an $80,000 first church unit were held in December 1962, and the dedication of the completed building took place the following July.  Early in 1968, the parish decided to become independent of salary aid from the LCA’s Board of American Missions.  Soon afterwards the parsonage was sold, and a housing allowance was established for the pastor.

Pastor Kempski’s resignation in 1971, led to the call of the Rev. William R. Powlen as pastor.  However, serious illness forced Pastor Powlen to resign after only eight months of service.  In 1973, the Rev. Thomas D. Swasko was called from seminary as the congregation’s sixth pastor in thirteen years.

In 1980, a banquet celebrated the congregation’s 20^th anniversary.  It also began a campaign to retire the remaining $28,000 second mortgage debt on the building.  Successful in one year, the mortgage was burned in February 1981 and a building fund was established.  In 1985 plans were begun for an expanded building.  In July 1986, ground was broken for a $130,000 addition, including an enlarged Narthex and Fellowship Hall, classrooms and offices.  Dedicated in February 1987, the new building was debt free at the end of a three-year pledge period.

In 1992 the congregation purchased the house and ½ acre of property, to the north of the church, for a price of $65,000.  Rental monies from the property are expected to retire the indebtedness in approximately 10 years. 

In 1998 a designated building fund was established with the dream of a new, larger Sanctuary and expanded educational facilities.  Also, in 1998, the congregation celebrated Pastor Swasko’s 25^th year as pastor of St. Stephen. 

In 2000 the congregation celebrated its 40^th anniversary with a special worship service and catered luncheon.