Church History
The Northwest Mission is Established
In the summer of 1989 four Lutheran couples recently settled in the rapidly expanding NW area of Las Vegas explored the possibility of founding a new LCMS mission congregation there. In January, 1990, after many organizational home meetings, Rev. Ed Zimbrick, Assoc. Pastor of First Good Shepherd Las Vegas, was appointed by the Circuit Pastor to coordinate the efforts of the "Venture in Faith".
After seven months of organization and planning, the first worship service for the NW Lutheran Mission Church, now known as Lamb of God, was held on March 11, 1990 in the Chapel on the Good Shepherd Campus of St. Jude's Ranch in the northwest. Pastor Zimbrick conducted the service attended by 21 people...the original 13 members and 8 guests. By December attendance had increased from 40 to 116, at which time a ten acre site was purchased by LCEF (Lutheran Church Extension Fund) for the mission.
Lamb of God was the first congregation established under the district's new mission philosophy. That included a 5 year limit on receiving subsidy, more active support from local congregations in the circuit, and a responsibility to "Call its own pastor rather than being served by a district - employed missionary - at - large.
Lamb of God Installs Its First "Called" Pastor
In January of 1991 the name was changed to Lamb of God Lutheran Church and became the first Pacific SW mission approved to "Call" its own pastor. On December 1, 1991 Lamb of God installed their first "Called" pastor, Rev. Wayne Koenig.
By 1994 the congregation totaled 208 baptized members.
Little Lambs of God Preschool began holding classes in the church building in September, 1995. These classes were located in the current Nursery and Fellowship Hall, and on January 3, 2005 the preschool moved into the single story building next to the church.
Rev. Ronald G. Folle was installed as Pastor on Sunday, February 13, 2000. He encouraged and guided the congregation to build the elementary school. On Sunday, February, 2004 Lamb of God was blessed once again with the ground breaking of Lamb of God Elementary School, and the school opened its doors in January of 2005. God continues to bless our schools serving over 200+ children in the preschool and 180 in the elementary school. This ministry continues to be a blessing to the community with a concentrated outreach program to spread God's Word to many families who are unchurched. The church was saddened when they received the word that Pastor Folle would be retiring in 2008.
Rev. Gary L. Oehlerts was installed as Associate Pastor on March 12, 2006 to Lamb of God and as the sole Pastor on February 1, 2008, when Pastor Ron Folle retired. Under the leadership of Pastor Oehlerts the church has been refurbished and enhanced, including the enlargement of the sanctuary to handle the growth of our school families and room to grow as a congregation.
In December, 1994 a newspaper publication stated, "Members say the story of Lamb of God is more than just growing numbers. Of greater importance is the growing of people. And, it's about community". That remark is still true today. It is our confidence at Lamb of God that God has called us to be here to provide a spirited and warm Christian experience for people and to proclaim the caring Christ to serve the needs and longings of our contemporary world.
Today Lamb of God is a growing congregation of 500+ members reaching out to the community proclaiming the name of Jesus and bringing the Gospelmessage of forgiveness and salvation to the lost.
