That same year, the Rev. Ed Ulrich was called to Trinity Lutheran Church, West Sinton, upon his graduation from seminary. Pastor Ulrich began his ministry in Aransas Pass in August 1953, on a part-time basis. The congregation was officially organized on September 16, 1953, with eight member families. Charter members of Faith were: Mrs. Conn Brown, Mr. and Mrs. G.F. Denkeler, Jr., Linda and Ellen Denkeler, Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Sturz, Carol and Charles Sturz, Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Tollett, Sharon Sue Tollett, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Ostrum, Charles Ostrum, Mr. and Mrs. William Wernecke and Shirley Passens.

An 1800 square foot sanctuary was completed in August 1957, and the dedication service was held September 8. A congregation had been established and facilities dedicated to serve the Lord in Aransas Pass and surrounding areas.

The Rev. Reuben Martin became the vacancy pastor of Faith in 1958 while serving Trinity, West Sinton. After Pastor Martin had served about two years, the congregation decided that a full-time ministry was in order and called the Rev. William McCollum, who became Faith’s first full-time pastor in early 1960.

In the early 1960’s Mr. and Mrs. Conn Brown purchased the Presbyterian Church’s Sunday school building and had it moved to Faith’s property, where it served well as a fellowship hall and Sunday School classroom building.

The Rev. Henry Rische was called to Faith upon his graduation from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1961. By 1962, Faith was serving 99 baptized members with 64 communicants in 34 families in Aransas Pass, Ingleside, Rockport, Fulton and Taft. In 1966, the congregation reached a membership peak of 139 baptized, 96 communicants. The same year, Pastor Rische accepted a call to Colorado. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edmund Folkening, who graduated from the Springfield seminary in May 1966.

Peace Lutheran Church in Rockport was established in 1968, following a suggestion from the Texas District Mission Board. As a result, membership at Faith decreased to 63 baptized members with 51 communicants. Faith and Peace shared equally in the time and support of the pastor who served both congregations.

On August 3, 1970 hurricane Celia completely destroyed the Sunday School building and damaged the sanctuary. Immediately after the hurricane, temporary repairs were made so that the sanctuary could be used for worship services. A building committee began working on a plan to add a new parish hall to the original building. In March of 1973, the congregation’s twentieth anniversary, the remodeled sanctuary was rededicated and the new parish hall consecrated.

The Rev. Paul Bohot accepted the call to Faith-Peace and was installed as pastor in June of 1971. By 1975 the membership had increased to 108 members with 77 communicants. The rebuilding process was slow but steady. The congregation was once again growing.

In 1976 the Texas District Mission Board suggested that Faith and Peace terminate their dual parish relationship. Peace, Rockport was realigned with Trinity in Refugio and took Rev. Paul Bohot to serve them. So Faith voted to once again have a full time ministry. In 1977, the Rev. Allen Deinert came to serve Faith until 1980.

Our vacancy pastor from 1980 to 1983 was Rev. Arlyn Russert of St. John Lutheran Church, Corpus Christi. A call was answered by the Rev. David Hill who served Faith from 1983-1987.

In 1987 Faith experienced its first pastoral ordination when Rev. Stephen Rynearson was ordained and installed as pastor. By the time he left, the congregation had grown to 160 baptized members and 117 communicant members. He served until the end of December 1991. For the next few months of 1992, we were served by vacancy pastor, Rev. Michael Birnbaum of Trinity Lutheran Church, Corpus Christi.

In August of 1992 the congregation voted to ask the Rev. William K. Schuster, recently retired from Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Corpus Christi, to serve as our interim pastor. He became pastor in January 1993, and served our congregation faithfully until his death on June 1, 2002.

In January 1994, Faith became self-supporting after being subsidized during most of its history by the Board of Mission Administration of the Texas District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This was possible with a part-time pastor.

In January 2003, the Rev. James Sturgis, Sr. was installed to a dual ministry between Trinity Lutheran Church, West Sinton, and Faith Lutheran Church, Aransas Pass. So fifty years later, we’ve come full circle as partners with Trinity, West Sinton.

As the year 2006 begins, Faith has 92 baptized members and 82 communicant members and 122 affiliated “Winter Texans”. The growth in Aransas Pass and surrounding areas and the increasing number of “Winter Texans” give great hope for the future. But always our hope is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who alone is Head of the Church, who by the Holy Spirit builds His Church through Word and Sacrament.

Faith Lutheran Church remains committed to our mission statement: In accordance with our Lord’s command, the purpose of Faith Lutheran Church is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ both within and outside of our fellowship.