A member of the LUTHERAN CHURCH ~ MISSOURI SYNOD, Trinity has been a part of the Central Oregon community since 1926, over 90 years of bringing the Gospel of Christ to Central Oregon! Bend was a very small logging town in those days so the visiting pastor - a "circuit rider" - began riding around the area looking for German sounding names on mailboxes. If they said "Yes!", he invited them to be a
part of a new ministry here. Finally, in December, of that year, a gathering of saints, selected the name TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH and set about the task of purchasing some property to build a church. The first building still stands to this day, located on Galveston Avenue, the original cost was about $2,000. Bend slowly but steadily grew over the next few years, that by the late 1950's the necessity to relocate/expand became evident to the congregation, so much so that in 1959, property was purchased and a church was built and dedicated to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ, "out in the country" at 11th St. & Greenwood Avenue, where it would continue for the next 50 yrs.! During that time TRINITY LUTHERAN KINDERGARTEN was established. Then, after a total remodel in 1982, TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL (grades 1-2) was opened at that site. Before long ANOTHER remodel enabled the school to expand through 5th grade but the building was bulging with kids! 23 acres of land that had been purchased for future development by TLC, and became the site of the expansion/building to house TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL. With the help of Laborers for Christ and hundreds of volunteer hours, the school building was completed and dedicated to the glory of GOD, in 1994. Before long middle school grades were added. The worship facility, still used at the Greenwood building, was eventually sold and the ENTIRE ministry relocated to one place, when the construction of the gym on the Butler Market campus was completed in 2005. That same year HIGH SCHOOL grades were added to Trinity's school levels and to the TLC& S vision. Expanding the church ministry now includes youth, children's & family ministries, senior outreach/fellowship, Parish Nurse ministry, outdoor recreation & health ministries, Stephens' Ministers, Prayer Chain, Facebook TLCS group site, TLC ~ The Prayer Place & TLCS Page outreach, expanded music ministries, just to name a few! Trinity is blessed with a strong and loving faith-family community, a welcoming atmosphere with many opportunities to share the love of Christ with each other as well as those our Lord directs to our ministry. At God's direction, Trinity has established two "daughter" congregations in Central Oregon: Faith Lutheran Church in LaPine, OR (1966) and Emmaus Lutheran Church in Redmond, OR (1980). Great things HE is doing in this place, at this time!
