Faith Lutheran Church

“Did two churches really become one to create this place?” someone in your group might ask. You are standing now before Faith Lutheran Church in Clive, Iowa, a testament to the merging of not one, but two congregations. The tale of Faith Lutheran Church begins in the 1970s with Advent and Messiah Lutheran Churches. Advent, established in 1976, started as a mission of the American Lutheran Church, holding its first Christmas service at Living History Farms. They eventually settled into a building at 104th Street and University Avenue, a space that now serves as the Commons of the present Faith Lutheran Church. Messiah Lutheran Church emerged during a turbulent time for Lutheran churches in Des Moines. When Trinity Lutheran narrowly voted to stay with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, 35 families left to form Messiah, affiliated with the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches. In 1984, leaders from Advent and Messiah met at a Village Inn on University Avenue. It was an informal breakfast that planted the seeds for a union. By August of that year, both congregations overwhelmingly voted to merge. The name “Faith” was chosen through a contest, a testament to the shared hopes of the two congregations. And so, Faith Lutheran Church was born. March 19, 1987, marked a pivotal moment as members formed the outline of the new sanctuary, signifying the beginning of their shared future. This sanctuary, with its upstairs St. Michael’s Hall and downstairs Hannah Hall, stands as a symbol of unity and shared faith. Faith Lutheran Church’s story is a reminder that even in divisions, faith can bring people together to create something new and lasting.