CHURCH HISTORY
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Dawning of Ascension Lutheran Church
Looking Back Eighty Years
Our Story
Early on...
August 1942 – Ascension was founded in a dance studio on West Slauson Avenue with twenty-one charter members. Four years later, the vision for a permanent church building and membership growth came to fruition.
June 1946 – Church membership had grown to 353 and the church building the current site was dedicated.
September 1947 – The elementary school opened serving children and families until 2003.
August 1954 -1961 – The congregation acquired and dedicated the first parsonage and a plan to develop church facilities, build a parish hall and remodel the church were created.
1965 – Ascension had grown from a small mission congregation to an active membership of 599 confirmed members.
During the next twenty years, significant changes took place. The ethnic make-up of the community brought changes in the congregation. Membership went from 95% Euro-American to 85% African American.
We adapted...
1980’s – The vision of Ascension shifted to meet the needs of the larger community, and many outreach ministries were initiated and implemented.
June 1987 – Project Holy Ground, a safe haven with open play options, a full eight-week summer day camp, a volunteer staffed summer hot lunch program, and an academic enrichment center began.
May 1992 – Concerned area pastors formed The New City Parish Coalition after the civil unrest in the City of Los Angeles.
1993 – Received a commendation from the Crenshaw and 28th St. YMCA thanking Ascension for its generous support.
1994 – Had a joint Youth Day with Friendship Baptist Church and Ascension Youth.
1996 – Received the Prophetic Witness Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Association.
1997 – The Gudrun Mueller Playground was dedicated. Future expansions were discussed, property was acquired, and Neighborhood House, an outreach ministry was dedicated and opened (March 1997) to serve the community as a food distribution center.
Continuing on...
An after school tutorial program was implemented in partnership with UCLA, and the Bernice Chillison Library was dedicated.
Ascension Lutheran Church Praise Choir participated in the One Church, One Child “Do Not Pass Me By” Adoption Fair to bring awareness to foster children needing permanent homes.
2000 – Received an award from Lutheran Social Services of Southern California naming Ascension Lutheran as Congregation of the Year.
2011 – Received the Partner Friendship Award from My Friends House, Inc.
Ascension congregation prayerfully looks forward to the challenges and joys the Lord of hope and grace will present to them in the next 75 years of ministry.
The vision of Ascension Lutheran Church continues to shift to meet the needs of the larger community, and many outreach ministries have been initiated and implemented.
