Mission
From the beginning of our ministry in 1985, God gave the congregation a heart for service to others and a love for children and youth. This has guided much of Lord of Life's ministry over the years.
Building on the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we reach out to those in need both locally, nationally, and abroad. Members and friends are invited to find ways to share the love of God so that people's lives are improved and God is glorified. Along the way, we discover that we are blessed more than those we seek to serve!
You may find that worship is noisier at Lord of Life then other places. This is because we encourage families to bring their children into worship so that they can learn and grow with us as we praise God and receive the Word and meal. Staffed nursery care is available on Sunday mornings for kids under 5 if parents feel they need it.
Programming for our kids includes Sunday school, vacation Bible school, confirmation ministry, middle school and high school groups, as well as mission trips for our high school kids. Children and youth are encouraged to share their gifts in worship, outreach, learning, and fellowship activities (like the annual picnic and our day at a Kenosha Kingfish baseball game). We are building disciples for today and tomorrow.
Overall, we seek to be a faith community where people can learn and grow in their relationship to Jesus Christ and where we all can find others to walk the journey of faith with us. Please join us!
Church History
Milestones:
- Founded: 1985
- First Building Opened: 1991
- Building Addition Opened: 2007
Lord of Life began as a mission expansion to the northwest side of Kenosha in 1984. Pastor Jack Ottoson served as the first Pastor/Developer. Under his faithful leadership worship began in 1985 at Bullen Middle School. This warm, family-centered, Christ-focused community grew rapidly. Right from the beginning, Lord of Life answered God’s call to serve those in need in Kenosha and beyond. Outreach was, and continues to be central to the ministry.
In 1991, a church building was completed just east of the corner of Green Bay and Washington roads. This facility has been used to gather people for worship, learning and service. Lord of Life was one of the initial sites for the Shalom Center's INNS (Interfaith Nightly Network Shelter) program. For the full 26 years of the INNS program's existence, Lord of Life hosted homeless individuals on Sunday evenings from October through April each year. This program ended in 2017, when the Shalom Center was successful in creating a permanent homeless shelter to serve the Kenosha area.
Pastor Ottoson moved to Florida to begin a new congregation in 1996 and with the guidance and care of the pastors that have followed, Lord of Life has continued to grow its ministry through programming, staffing, and building expansion.
Youth and children are treasured at Lord of Life, and as the congregation moved ahead with its expansion, this emphasis took shape in the hiring of a youth director and the addition of dedicated youth space. A 12,000 square foot addition was completed in April 2007. The new facility includes a 250 seat worship area, 8 classrooms, and a dedicated youth room. The entire church remains handicapped accessible.
History of the ELCA
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed over 20 years ago. This new church was formed from three separate and well-established North American church bodies:
- The American Lutheran Church
- The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and
- The Lutheran Church in America
Beginning January 1, 1988, these churches, with shared beliefs and missions, officially formed the ELCA. Two decades later, this energized church is composed of 4.8 million members and nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S. and Caribbean. Today, the ELCA reflects the rich and diverse heritage of the people it serves.
But to understand our heritage fully, one must trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs.
About the ELCA
On the Day of Pentecost, people heard the good news in their own language. (Acts 2:1-21)
Regardless of age, race, or status in life, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) welcome you to join this community of faith. If you’re unfamiliar with our church, some of what you learn may surprise you.
The ELCA is an engaged, active body of people who put faith in God into action -- in millions of ways, all over the world. Join us!
This page will give you a brief overview of this church, some quick facts, and guide you around the site. We also invite you to read about ELCA Teachings, found on the main ELCA.org site.