church

Ascension Lutheran Church is a small
group (45 members) of confessional
Lutherans in the South Puget Sound
area. In 2003 we moved into our new
church on Waller Road between
Tacoma and Puyallup, three minutes
from I-5 at the Puyallup River Bridge.
Our church is a member of the
Church of the Lutheran Confession
(CLC).

Our mission was begun in 1991 as an outreach effort of Redemption Lutheran Church
in Lynnwood, Washington. From 1991-1993, Rev. Bertram Naumann conducted
evening services in the homes of various members in Tacoma. On May 23, 1993, Rev.
Wayne Eichstadt was installed as the full-time pastor of the mission. In July of 1995,
current pastor Rev. Paul Naumann took over when Pastor Eichstadt accepted a call to
another parish. After a long search, the Lord led our congregation to purchase a
five-acre property at 46th & Waller Road E. (see map) in May of 1998. It appeared to
be an ideal place to build a church, located as it is on a busy arterial (Waller Road)
and near a major population center (Tacoma). The property also included a beautiful
five-bedroom home, which now serves as the parsonage and houses our pastor's
family.

Beginning in 1999, Ascension got its church building program underway. The planning
and permitting process took a very long time, but we were finally enabled to break
ground on our new church building in the fall of 2002. The foundation was laid in
November. In mid-January our general contractor, Jack Mayhew of Grace/Valentine
NE, arrived and we began construction in earnest. The building was completed in
twelve weeks, with another four weeks required for final inspections, etc. On May
14th, 2003, Ascension Lutheran Church was finally granted a certificate of occupancy
by Pierce County. First services were held on May 18th.