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God’s History at Peace

The history of Peace Lutheran Church, King George, Virginia really begins when God used two devout women to give birth to our congregation in 1963: Mrs. H. V. (Helena Voigt) Wegner, a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), formerly from Sparta, Wisconsin, and Mrs. W. E. (Bobbie) Duerson, a member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) from King George. Local Lutherans had met their worship needs during the 1940’s through worship at Dahlgren Methodist Church with vicars from Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Richmond, VA, and other churches, and later at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Indian Head, MD.

After World War II, when the decision was reached to cease Lutheran services in King George, the Lutherans trekked to Our Savior and to Grace Lutheran Church in La Plata, MD. In 1963, Mrs. Wegner and Mrs. Duerson petitioned Rev. R. P. Sieving of the Southeastern District (SED) of LCMS to begin work in King George. Work was initiated by Rev. Ronald E. Jackson, of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Ashland, VA. The first service, on June 30, 1963, and subsequent services, were held in the Dahlgren home of Mrs. John D. (Anna) Hill, who served as the church’s organist for 21 years and who had an organ in her home. Pastor Jackson served the congregation through a move to the KG Firehouse in September, 1963, and into our first home on Luther Lane. This was built by the members on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Duerson, The first service in this new building was held on August 30, 1964. the dedication was celebrated on May 23, 1965. The congregation numbered fourteen communicant and eight child members.

After Pastor Jackson took a Call, Rev. George Ostergren, a retired pastor from Ashland, served Peace for 8 years. The congregation met with Rev. Richard T. Hinz, Executive Director of Missions for the SED, in December, 1973, and issued its first call to Rev. Dr. Louis Nau, former missionary to the Philippines, serving with the Department of HEW in Washington, DC, to serve part-time. For a year, he organized the parish government, reclaimed delinquent members, and brought in new members. Having placed the congregation on a sound footing, he encouraged the people of Peace to call a full-time pastor. Rev. and Mrs. Richard J. Finck and their son, Christopher, arrived in August, 1975, from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. At this time, and until 1981, the congregation received subsidy from the SED. After the second year of subsidy, the congregation followed a consistent policy with regard to subsidy and Fair Share of reducing subsidy rather than increasing Fair Share because they reasoned that each dollar of subsidy reduction released a dollar to benefit another small mission congregation.

Fellowship has always been an important part of the congregation’s life. Congregational pot-luck dinners were enjoyed every two months before the Voters’ Assembly. This accommodated some of the families who came long distances, sometimes from other counties and as much as 50 miles, to worship at Peace. Because this ministry was so important to the congregation the members, resolved to expand the building to include a Fellowship Hall. The DelMarVa Region of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) secured a grant of $3500 for the construction of the Linda Gillmor Dowdy-LWML Fellowship Hall, named in memory of a member of the first Confirmation Class, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1974. Construction of the Fellowship Hall began in Spring of 1975, and the congregation, true to its history in using member labor, did most of the work needed to construct the addition, which also included an enlarged sanctuary. The expanded facility was dedicated in on October 17, 1982.

Peace’s commitment to ministry to children led the congregation to establish Peace Christian Pre-School in 1976, a ministry which has served several hundred children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 1987, the congregation purchased the Duerson home, expecting that expansion space would be needed at some time. The home was rented to a local family for one year, during which Peace’s Sunday School experienced an explosive growth, outgrowing available classroom space. Since that time the “Duke House” (so-named because it was purchased from Mrs. Irving Duke) has served as an education building.

The commitment to sharing the Gospel from a Lutheran perspective that drove the Dahlgren Lutherans in the 40’s moved the people of Peace to begin Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, in Warsaw, VA, in 1981. The congregation, which met at St. John’s Episcopal Church, in Warsaw, for several years, now has its own house of worship on bequeathed land outside Callao, VA.

In the early 1990’s the need for larger worship, education, and fellowship space, as well as our own parking area, led the members of Peace to initiate another building program with the goal of relocating and building a new worship and education facility. The 18.4 acre tract of land on SR 3 (Kings Highway) west of the courthouse area was purchased in 1996, and planning was begun to relocate to new facilities.

In 2001 Pastor Finck accepted a call to Grace Lutheran Church in Chester, VA, and in 2002 Pastor Terrance (“Terry”) Naumann and his wife Renee, came to us from Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ashland, VA. Since 2002 Peace has conducted two capital funding stewardship campaigns, so that God’s resources could be gathered to erect our new facility. The dedication of the new facility was held on September 16, 2007.

Pastor Naumann retired on Sunday, July 28, 2019 after 17 years at Peace and 43 years of ministry.  Pastoral services will be provided by Pastor Robert Flohrs until the congregation calls an Intentional Iterim pastor.  We are thankful for Pastor Naumann’s years of service.  While we are saddened by Pastor Naumann’s retirement, we are excited for the next chapter in the history of Peace and our continuing service to God.

Pastor John Duran was called to serve as our Intentional Interim Pastor.  He will serve Peace as we work through the process of calling our next pastor.  We are excited to work with Pastor Duran during this time.

God has certainly showered many blessings on our congregation, and we look forward to growing in His love and serving Him as we “Proclaim the Gospel of Christ by ministering to all”.