A History of Advent Lutheran Church
Advent Lutheran Church was officially organized on March 13, 1965 with 39 families signing the charter (126 baptized and 74 confirmed members).
Advent's
first worship space was the Orange Park Town Hall from July, 1964 until January
31, 1965 when the first worship service was conducted in the first permanent
home on Kingsley Avenue. Pastor David Winter was installed on February 10,
1974. In 1977, property on Loch Rane Boulevard was donated to the
congregation by Dr. Francis McGahee. Construction on the Fellowship Hall
and Sanctuary were completed in 1978. On August 6, 1978 the first worship
service was held at our present location on Loch Rane Boulevard in our
Fellowship Hall. The first worship service in the Sanctuary was held on
December 3, 1978 under the leadership of Pastor Winter.
1982 saw the completion of the Education Wing. Advent sponsored two mission congregations in 1986: Mandarin and Lord of Life. Pastor Clark McPhail was called in 1988 and in 1989, the Stephen Ministry program began at Advent. We celebrated our 25 anniversary in 1990 with the dedication of an annex building which provided additional office and clasroom space. Pastor Jim Graeser was installed in 1995 and later went on to start Cross+Road Lutheran, another mission congregation sponsored by Advent. Pastor Louis R. Fawcett, III was installed in 2000. Pastor Clark McPhail retired in December of 2000.
Pastor Fawcett accepted another call in 2002. Pastor Robert Hale was called as the associate pastor in 2002. Pastor David Winter retired in 2004 and Pastor Hale was called as the senior pastor in 2005.