Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis

Towering proudly above the freeway commotion, Central Lutheran Church stands as a stone sentinel welcoming all who enter downtown Minneapolis. Its roots trace back to a group of Norwegian-American laymen who, fresh off the turmoil of World War I, envisioned a new kind of church. This wasn’t just any congregation—it was a bold leap into “American Lutheranism,” where services were conducted entirely in English. Back in 1919, when Norwegian was still the norm, this shift was nothing short of revolutionary.

Under the leadership of their first pastor, J.A.O. Stub, the church’s original twelve families blossomed into more than 200 in just one year. Outgrowing their rented digs at the old Central Baptist Church, they broke ground on their current home in 1926, dedicating it two years later. Membership kept climbing, hitting 5,000 by the 1950s and soaring past 6,000 in the late ’60s.

But Central wasn’t just about big numbers or eye-catching architecture. They quickly turned their focus outward, becoming pioneers in religious radio broadcasts as early as 1922 and eventually earning national recognition for their creative advertising campaigns aimed at kids. Partnering with the Urban Communities Association, they lent a hand to refugees and low-income residents, helping them become proud, self-reliant members of the community. Through it all, Central Lutheran made sure they weren’t just a landmark you could see from the highway—they were a meaningful presence in the heart of the city.