New Promise

Lutheran Church

New Promise Lutheran Church is a vital Christ-centered witness to all God’s people. We will reach out through the ministries of worship and sacraments, services and education "for building up the body of Christ."

We have a vision to share through our lives, without reservation, the new promise of Christ’s love in worship, prayer, and community service.

The congregation of New Promise Lutheran Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and by the Grace of God, will:

• Provide opportunities for worship, using traditional and non-traditional forms, serving communion to all who seek the presence of Christ, and inviting active and broad participation through worship times that meet varied needs.

• Nurture the community life of the congregation with a broad variety of programs, fellowship opportunities, and effective communication, fostering participation, maintaining openness, and sustaining a close community while expanding its ministries.

• Promote spiritual growth by keeping Christ at the center of our worship, Bible study and prayer, developing disciples equipped to serve in faith and love.

• Maintain and grow its ministries to families of all varieties, but with new focus on families with working adults and young children living at home.

• Continue assistance to the community through current and new outreach programs; introduce and participate in ecumenical services and programs; increase community fellowship; share our new facility for community betterment; and assign members the responsibility for church exposure in the community.

At the request of about two dozen people, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Division of Outreach agreed to start a mission congregation in St. George, Utah. New Promise Lutheran Church began in the fall of 1995 under the guidance of mission developer, Pastor Roger Prois.

Shortly after Pastor Prois started his ministry, worship was held on Sunday mornings in a conference room at The Hampton Inn. Before long, a worshiping community of about thirty-five people rented space in a storage center on North Westridge Drive for worship and office space throughout the week.

Pastor Prois left the St. George community in August 1996. Pastor Morton Talbot, who lived in Las Vegas, NV, then began a four-month term as Interim Pastor.

Luther Anderson began his ministry as mission development Pastor in January 1997 after he and his wife, Laurie, moved to St George from Fergus Falls, MN.

Following significant growth in numbers and financial support from its members, New Promise Lutheran Church was organized as a congregation of the ELCA on June 16, 1999; the organizational worship was held at Grace Episcopal Church. The members of New Promise are grateful for the support and friendship of Grace and other sister congregations in St George.

In August 1999, the New Promise community moved its worship and office spaces to its present location in the Phoenix Plaza in order to accommodate its growing numbers and expanded mission goals.

Then with the approval and support of the ELCA’s Mission Investment Fund, land for a new church was purchased on Valley View Drive in St George. A significant increase in membership and financial contributions enabled New Promise to become a financially self-supporting congregation at the beginning of 2003.

In January 2004, New Promise took title to the property. The membership had a successful capital campaign in 2006 that will enable the church to continue with plans to build a permanent home. The mortgage for the land purchase was paid in full in May 2004.

New Promise applied for funding from the Mission Investment Fund to finance construction. Construction on the new building began October 2007. Our first worship service was held on April 27, 2008. On May 11, 2008, New Promise dedicated the new church building.

At the end of May 2008, New Promise will say good-bye to Pastor Anderson and wife Laurie, upon his retirement. Pastors Joe and Jill Doherty will begin serving as pastors in July 2008. Currently, New Promise has a membership of more than 320 people. It is a dynamic and growing community. This includes associate members who retain membership at a home congregation and also have a voice and vote at New Promise.