Our History

Our Beginning

Christus Victor Lutheran Church began as the Bonita Springs Mission. In 1975, Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Naples, Florida saw a need: to expand its ministry into the Bonita Springs area. Putting their money into staff ministry instead of a new building, Emmanuel worked together with St. Leo’s Catholic Church to establish what would become Christus Victor Lutheran Church.
Collage of CVLC ground breaking and construction | Christus Victor Lutheran Church Naples & Bonita Springs

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTUS VICTOR LUTHERAN CHURCH

Through The Years

1976

Pastor John Yost accepts call as Missionary of Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 1976.

1977

MARCH 6, 1977

Organizational Sunday was March 6, 1977 with 113 Charter Members.

JUNE 16, 1977

Rev. John Yost accepts call as Pastor to Christus Victor Lutheran Church June 16, 1977.

1980

JUNE 1, 1980

First Groundbreaking for new site was held on June 1, 1980

NOVEMBER 30, 1980

Last Sunday holding services at St. Leo Catholic Church, November 30, 1980.

DECEMBER 7, 1980

First Sunday at Christus Victor, December 7, 1980.

1981

First Building Dedicated, March 8, 1981

PASTORAL CHANGES

Christus Victor continued its mission through two pastoral changes:
Rev. James Edward Dukes began his ministry September 11, 1983 and resigned in 1987, and was succeeded by the Rev. Theodore E. Wendt who was installed November 13, 1988 and retired in 1995.

1996

Rev. Thomas Slater accepted a call to be the pastor in June, 1996.

1997

The Internship Program began in August, 1997.

1998

Second Groundbreaking for new Sanctuary April 5, 1998.

2000

The new Sanctuary was dedicated on February 6, 2000.

2002

Victory Park was established in 2002.

2006

Victory Park dedicated and renamed Rev. Thomas J. Slater Victory Park on February 19, 2006.

2010

Third Groundbreaking for new office and meeting rooms, 2010.

2020

Began taping of Worship Services, March, 2020.

2021

Began Live-streaming of Worship Services, May 9, 2021.
Past Pastoral Interns with Rev. Pastor Tom Slater of Christus Victor Lutheran Church Naples & Bonita Springs

OUR PASTORAL INTERNS

Intern Program

When you walk into our church building for worship, one of the first things to catch your eye will be our Wall of Interns–portraits of the 23 men and women who have served as our pastoral interns! We have been blessed by the unique gifts and talents of each of our interns, and cherish our role as a teaching congregation.

Where Are They Today?

Our interns come to us as third-year Master of Divinity students from an ELCA seminary.  During their year with us, they experience as many aspects of pastoral ministry as they can.  Our interns lead worship, preach, visit our shut-ins, provide hospital visitation, lead Bible studies, and enrich our community life in countless other ways!  We are so proud of our interns!
Here are the name of our interns, and where they are today:

1997

Brian Eiss.  Pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Corry, PA.

1998

A.J. Domines. Pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elizabethtown, PA

1999

Mark Olsen. ELCA – Fund for Leaders.

2000

Kimberly Weitzel Nunberg. Pastor of Zion Evangelical Church in Williamsport, MD.

2001

Andrew Simon. Pastor of St. James Lutheran Church in Barrington, RI.

2002

Kris Brown. Lion Contracting, LLC.
Vickie Sickles Brown. Pastor of Arbogast Lutheran Church & Leininger Lutheran Church, PA.

2004

Zach Labagh. Pastor of St. John’s and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Canajoharie, NY.

2005

Nathan Pile. Pastor and Director of Sequanota Lutheran Camp in Spring Mills, PA.

2006

Lisa Flinn Buchanan. Pastor and Bereavement Coordinator for Essentia Health Itasca Hospice in Grand Rapids, MN.

2007

Josh Semovoski. Pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Middletown, NJ.

2008

Sarah Teichmann. Pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Cjurch, Lancaster, PA.

2009

Johanna (Johnson) Rehbaum. Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and St. Martin Lutheran Church in Rochester, NY.

2010

Joe Murdy. Pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Coreopolois, PA.

2011

Jessie Kingsborough (Maske). Pastor of Southwood Lutheran Church in Lincoln,  NE.

2012

Chad Fair. Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palm City, FL.

2013

Victoria Larson. On leave from call.

2014

Adam Buff. Associate Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Largo, FL.

2015

Justin Lingenfelter. Pastor of United in Christ Lutheran Church, West Milton, PA.

2016

Pamela O’Donnell. On leave from call.

2017

Laura Dunklin Swanson. Associate Pastor of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Roanoke, VA.

2018

Leandra Anderson. Pastor of Read Oak Grove Lutheran Church in Austin, MN.

2019

Joshua Copeland. Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Christiansburg, VA.