Immanuel’s
origin was a confession of faith by a small group of faithful people. Immanuel was started by a group of
conscientious Christians who had left The Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod due to
unscriptural teachings and practices within that body.
The beginnings of Immanuel Lutheran Church
reveal how the Lord builds His Church.
On July 27, 1952, Pastor Albert M. Schupmann of the Orthodox
Lutheran
Conference began conducting services in the Paul Weis home. By late 1952, services were held in the
American Legion Hall. In 1956, Pastor G.
W. Ficsher, from Mankato, Minnesota, began to hold regular services in
a rented
hall in downtown Winter Haven. In 1957
three lots were secured on 34th St. NW in the growing Inwood
community as a future site for a church.
A church constitution was adopted in the spring of 1958, and
Articles of
Incorporation were adopted on July 16, 1958, and signed on November 19,
1958. The construction of a chapel was
completed in August 1958. The first
service in the new chapel was conducted on August 31, 1958. In September of 1958 the congregation opened
a school for kindergarteners. The school
has since expanded to serve grades K-8.
Immanuel Lutheran Church
and School 1449 34th St. NW
Winter Haven, Florida 33881 -
863-967-5145 - www.winterhavenlutheran.org
"Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo,
I am with you always, even to the end of the age." -Matthew
28:19-20
