ABOUT US
A brief history of Peace
Peace Lutheran Church began as a mission congregation. A building was constructed at the corner of 20th and Wisconsin Avenue in Joplin, Missouri, where worship began in 1965. An expansion project resulted in an addition to the building in 2001.
On May 22, 2011 an EF5 tornado churned through Joplin, destroying about a third of the city. Sitting in the heart of the destruction zone, Peace was destroyed. After exploring many options, property was purchased on the north side of Joplin and ground was broken for the new church in January, 2013. The first worship took place in it on the day of Pentecost, May 19, 2013, which was also the second anniversary weekend of the tornado.
We are a church that is deeply rooted in Scripture. We are also rooted in the vibrant, diverse communities and rich histories of our congregation. It's through these roots that the Holy Spirit guides and nourishes us so that we can be a church that is resilient, always new, and truly welcoming.
A congregation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Lutherans believe in the Triune God. God created and loves all of creation -- the earth and the seas and all of the world’s inhabitants. We believe that God's Son, Jesus Christ, transforms lives through his death on the cross and his new life, and we trust that God's Spirit is active in the world.
We are part of God’s unfolding plan. When we gather for worship, we connect with believers everywhere. When we study the Bible or hear God’s word in worship, we are drawn more deeply into God’s own saving story.
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“Dignity, compassion and justice – Each person is created in God’s image. We respect this God-given right to dignity and, inspired by the life of Jesus, show love and compassion for all people. Through proclamation of the gospel, through worship and as servants of God working for healing and justice in the world, we uphold and seek to protect the dignity and human rights of all people.
Inclusion and diversity – As Christ’s church, we value the richness of God’s creation and offer a radical welcome to all people, appreciating our common humanity and our differences. We are a church that does not view diversity as a barrier to unity. We recognize and will challenge dynamics of power and privilege that create barriers to participation and equity in this church and society – for women, people of color, minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities, people who are marginalized or living in poverty, and the LGBTQ community.”
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Peace Lutheran is located within the
Central States Synod of the ELCA