Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession
A lot can change in a short time. Since I arrived at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Winter Haven in February 2023, the Lord has graciously guided our small congregation both spiritually and physically. With steady worship attendance, a thriving school ministry, renewed efforts in outreach, and significant property improvements, we’ve had much reason to rejoice.
Worship Life
We give thanks for consistency in worship, with weekly attendance holding steady around forty souls. These are faithful gatherings centered upon Christ’s Word and Sacrament, where the Lord continues to feed and strengthen His flock. We also maintain a twice-monthly preaching station in Orlando, holding services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Though small in number, this group gathers eagerly around the means of grace and remains an important part of our ministry.
A Growing School with a Gospel Focus
Our K-8 day school continues to be a key outreach arm of the congregation. Enrollment has remained in the twenties over the past few years, with twenty-three students this past school year. What stands out is that the vast majority of these students come from non-member families, opening doors for Gospel conversations and connections. We’re grateful for the opportunity to minister to these children and their parents through chapel devotions, school events, and personal relationships.
Teacher Kathleen Naumann and students.
Campus Improvements
One of the more visible areas of change in the last few years has been our property. While our facility has always been functional, we’ve made a concerted effort to beautify and modernize our space to reflect the value we place on God’s house and the importance of Christian education. In December 2023, we completed the installation of a new roof. That major project was soon followed by a full exterior repaint, soffit and fascia repairs, new sanctuary doors, upgraded security cameras, and ongoing landscaping work.
Our school and community families have especially appreciated the new playground equipment, which includes new slides. All of these improvements—except for the roofing—were completed by congregational volunteers, whose dedication has been humbling and inspiring.
Members assembling new playground equipment.
Outreach and Evangelism
Our congregation has embraced the opportunities the digital world provides for outreach. We post Facebook devotions, send a weekly email newsletter, and have upgraded our livestreaming capabilities for worship and Bible class, improving both video and audio quality. We’ve also launched a weekly blog and committed to ongoing Facebook advertising, which has helped drive traffic to our website.
In terms of local outreach, we’ve hosted a wiffle-ball tournament and school open house, and we even took part in our city’s Christmas parade (because we have those in Florida)—handing out hundreds of flyers and invitations to our church and school. Each July, we host a vacation Bible school, offering a fun and faith-filled week of learning about Jesus for children of all ages.
One of the most exciting new ventures has been our Learning with Littles program, which launched in September 2024. This free educational playgroup meets on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, offering a fun, structured hour for parents and their little ones (ages 0–6) to learn and play together. (See the article in the December 2024 issue of the Lutheran Spokesman for more information.) What began modestly has grown beyond expectations. Our largest session welcomed forty-six children! It’s been a joyful way to build relationships with young families and introduce them to our church and school.
Looking Ahead
We thank the Lord for every opportunity He gives us to share His Word and build His kingdom here in Central Florida. Whether through worship, education, digital outreach, or hands-on volunteer work, we are learning again and again that “your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Please keep us in your prayers, asking that Christ would continue to bless our ministry and draw more souls to Himself through the Word we proclaim.
is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Winter Haven, Florida, and a member of the CLC Board of Missions.