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.
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.
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.
