A garage at 4419 34th Street was rented for those first services. Within the first year, the Reverend Paul Elbrecht had been installed as the first Pastor, the congregation was chartered with 19 communicant (28 baptized) members, weekly worship and parish activities were moving ahead with full force.

In that same first year, the Mission Board of the Texas District LCMS had purchased 10 acres of land at 50th and Knoxville for a new worship and educational facility. Groundbreaking for the new building in September 1955 was followed by dedication of the new Christ Lutheran Church in March 1956.

In August 1956, Pastor Elbrecht accepted a call to serve at the Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. Pastor George Heinemeier of St. Paul Lutheran in Wilson became out vacancy pastor. The Reverend Harold Kaestner was installed as Christ's second Pastor on October 12th of that same year.

During the first five years, the mission prospered. Local outreach produced relatively steady growth; operating under a unified budget, finances were solid; and support for District and Synod received a high priority. By the fall of 1959, Christ Lutheran Church became fully self-supporting, no longer receiving any funding from the Texas District Mission Board.

In the early 1960's, hard times were experienced. A Pre-School and Kindergarten had been started in 1961 which significantly increased operating costs. Lubbock was in a period of slow growth and development with an accompianying financial slump. Christ congregation soon found itself over-extended financially. Recurring bills were posted on a bulletin board, and some members would remove a bill and pay what they could. The school, which had been enlarged to include Kindergarten through Grade 3, had to be closed in 1965.

Pastor Kaestner accepted a call to Sterling, Colorado in May of 1967. The Reverend William Remmert of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Littlefield became the vacancy pastor for the next 16 months. He skillfully guided the congregation in formulating plans for future development, and it was during this time that the congregation became unable to afford the payments, and the facility and land at 50th & Knoxville were sold in May of 1968.

On October 6, 1968, the Reverend Ronald Jenkins was installed as the third Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church. The congregation vacated the 50th Stree facility in November of that year. Worship services and Sunday School classes were conducted in a gymnasium and missionary cottage of the Assemblies of God at 3800 Avenue H. Offices were housed in the parsonage, and meetings were held in member's homes.

By that time, congregation membership had declined by more than 65% to 70 communicant (117 baptized) members. The congregation once more became a mission congregation of the Texas District - 14 years after beginning, they were starting over.

With support of the Texas District, 3.3 acres of land at 7800 Indiana (then a cotton patch on an unpaved road) was purchased for another new Christ Lutheran Church. A June 29, 1969 groundbreaking for the $140,000 facility was followed by a February 8, 1970 dedication. Membership had again increased to 158 communicant (258 baptized) members.

This would become a "Field of Dreams" facility - if you build it, they will come. In an August 15, 1971 Avalanche-Journal article, Pastor Jenkins was quoted, "We didn't have any foresight in buying so far out (NOTE: 7800 Indiana was far out in 1971) and the purchase of the property in what is now a developing residential area was purely accidental. It was about the only land available." Pastor Jenkins further stated, "A partial solution to regular worship attendance and church budgets paid in full may be the ownership of a key to the sanctuary door. Each family has its key because this is their church. The program is just as good as we make it. If any family fails to take it's turn at cleaning the church -- well, we'll worship in an unkempt church. Our program is built on God's goodness and grace rather than on any man's leadership."

Pastor Jenkins served as the only full-time staff member at that time. He was supported by a 16-hours-per-week secretary and a host of volunteers conducting the business of the church, music, youth counselors, yard work and all other projects. His budget philosophy must have been correct. . .by December 1971, financial conditions had improved to once again become a totally self-supporting congregation with 23 cents of every dollar going into the church's world mission funds. Payments on the facility were made ahead of time and congregation became debt-free on October 27, 1979, a full two years before the due date of the loan. A mortgage-burning ceremony was held in conjunction with the celebration of the 25th anniversary on October 27-28, 1979.

April 17, 1983 was another landmark day when a $273,000 and 4,500 square foot addition and renovation project was dedicated followed only five years later by the purchase of a new Allen organ. Membership had incresed to 415 communicant (530 baptized) members, and by 1988, the total indebtedness had been reduced to slightly over $43,000. On December 31, 1990, the congregation was again debt-free. The adopted budget was exceeded 18 of the 20 years between 1968 and 1988, a feat achieved only through God's abundant grace and faithful stewardship by God's people.

On June 9, 1991, Mr. Donald Widger (now an LCMS pastor in Bountiful, Utah) became the first Minister of Education and the church a Youth for Christ congregation. Under Wider's leadership, youth programs were revitalized and expanded.

On Pastor Jenkin's June 30, 1996 retirement, the congregation was served by the Rev. Dr. Alan Korinek as Interim Pastor. On January 18, 1998, Rev. Mark Paul was installed as the fourth Pastor, and he continues to serve in that capacity. The congregation has also been served by two interns (Becca Geisler and Jason Palisch) from the Director of Christian Education Program at Concordia University in Seward, NE.

On April 16, 2000, a $225,000 renovation and redecorating project was dedicated. Membership in 2004 stands at 401 communicant (432 baptized) members and we have an annual budget of $297,000. Organist, janitorial, and lawn services are now contracted, but members still perform many tasks of their church on a volunteer basis.

A Parent's Day Out program was established in the fall of 2002 to provide children lovin Christian care on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Almost 300 current and former members and friends of the congregation celebrated 50 years of God's grace on October 30th and 31st, 2004. Eight of the original charter members attended the festivities. We look forward to the future with great expectations!