History of Immanuel Lutheran OKC
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church began as a Northwest Oklahoma City (OKC) ministry project from a few German Zion Lutheran Church (downtown OKC) members.
In 1926, those members met at a home on West 36th for Sunday School and worship.
“Immanuel Lutheran Mission” was formed in 1929 as a ministry outreach for what was then the outskirts of OKC. Zion Lutheran purchased two narrow lots on West 35th
(later NW 35th) for the new mission program in February of 1930.
By 1931, the Oklahoma District supported the new Immanuel Lutheran Church and assigned a student to lead the now forming congregation. Zion financed the building of a
small white church on the 35th street lots and the next year a new pastor was assigned.
Immanuel served an apparent need, due to the numerical growth, and was formally received into membership in May of 1934.
In October of 1935, the congregation was incorporated as “Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma” as an Immanuel Lutheran Church of Swedish
Lutherans had previously been incorporated (and had folded). Zion gifted the church lots and building to the new congregation on May 11, 1937, and Immanuel bought
two lots in the Military Park Addition of OKC for a move. The church building was transported to and set on North Indiana, just south of NW 36th, later that year.
Later due to size limitations a new church building was planned and constructed with the cornerstone showing a date of September 1953. The new Immanuel Lutheran Church
resided at 1800 NW 36th, where it has remained ever since.
In the early 1960s an education wing with a basement was built to expand rooms and meeting facilities, including a basement kitchen. More parking was acquired by
purchasing partial lots to the south of the building. In 2016, a house on NW 35th was acquired for use for ministry outreach programs; this house was named the
“Lester Hall House” in honor of longtime Pastor Hall.
From 1995 to 2019 Immanuel offered a multi-week summer program to serve area children at no cost, after the Murrah Building bombing. Food and welfare offerings,
community blood drives, hosting precinct voting booths, and community festivals have occurred over the years. All programs have a Gospel focus, even if secular
activities.
Nearing 100 years in existence, Immanuel has been served by only 6 pastors with two staying longer than 20 years. Worship has always remained Lutheran-focused although
a variety has been utilized throughout the years. Still, proclamation of the Word and Gospel as found in the Bible has been required, even as the secular world has
departed from or even become critical of it.
