Faith Lutheran Church - White Oak, Pennsylvania - Lutheran Churches on Waymarking.com

The parish in White Oak that is known today as Faith Lutheran Church was the result of a merger of three separate Lutheran congregations in October of 1972. These congregations were Tabor and Trinity Lutheran churches of McKeesport and Calvary Lutheran of White Oak.

While the borough of White Oak was being established in the 1950s as a new community adjacent to McKeesport, the third congregation of the merger was formed. Calvary, whose building would eventually house the new Faith Lutheran Church, was constituted as a mission congregation of the United Lutheran Church. When the congregation was organized on August 16, 1953, it had 30 families, including a number who transferred from Trinity, McKeesport, and met in a house on Hemlock Drive in White Oak. The first pastor, William Steiner, was called in November, 1953, and served until November, 1955, when a call was extended to Pastor Glenn Schweitzer.
In September of 1955, the congregation purchased the property at 1656 Lincoln Way. The house on this property was dedicated as a House Chapel April 29, 1956. In May, 1960, the congregation purchased the adjacent property on Lincoln Way which eventually became the site of the new church building. Ground breaking took place on February 25, 1962. On Reformation Sunday, October 28, 1962, the new building was dedicated.

The deaths of clergy at two nearby McKeesport Lutheran Churches, and a vacancy at Calvary, White Oak with the resignation of Pastor Harry Souders led to conversations leading to the merger of the three congregations. A yoked ministry was established under the leadership of Pastor David Jensen in February, 1971. In October 1972, a merger was approved by the members of these three congregations and a charter was issued for the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church of McKeesport. In October, 1973, the new parish called Pastor Arthur Ackerman, who began his pastoral duties in December 1973.
In April 1981 the congregation approved construction of an addition to the small Calvary building. The original home at 1656 Lincoln Way, which had served as a parish house, was demolished, and construction began on an addition to the church building. This addition contains classrooms, a social hall and a lounge. The addition was completed and formerly dedicated to service in May of 1982.

Active Church: Yes School on property: No Date Built: 10/28/1962 Service Times: 10:30 AM Website: [Web Link]

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