A Lutheran Congregation on Jamestowne Boulevard
Faith Lutheran Church sits on Jamestowne Boulevard in the Farragut area of west Knox County, just off Campbell Station Road and a short drive from Turkey Creek. From that location it runs a food pantry that serves thousands of people a year, a free English language program for newcomers, ongoing meal service at the Knox Area Rescue Ministries downtown, and a presence at the Salvation Army. The congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran body in the United States, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation that publicly welcomes people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
Faith Lutheran began in 1977 as a mission outreach of Knoxville-area Lutherans who saw a need for a Lutheran expression of God's grace in the fast-growing western edge of Knox County. The first worship services met at Farragut Primary School before the church building was constructed on Jamestowne Boulevard. The congregation now includes third and fourth generations of founding families worshipping alongside people who have only recently walked through the doors.
Three Sunday Worship Styles
Sunday mornings at Faith Lutheran are built around three services designed for different ways of praying and praising.
The 9 a.m. Traditional Worship Service is a structured Lutheran liturgy centered on Scripture, prayer, and a rich musical experience. The choir leads hymns, the organ fills the sanctuary, and violin and cello are often part of the music. It is a reverent atmosphere that honors the depth of Lutheran tradition.
The 11:11 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service has a more relaxed, modern feel. A praise band leads upbeat music while the service keeps core Lutheran elements such as Scripture readings and prayer. The message is presented in ways that connect to everyday life.
Once a month, on the last Sunday, a 5 p.m. Celtic Worship Service fills the sanctuary with poetry, music, and moments of reflection rooted in ancient Celtic liturgy. It is a quieter, contemplative gathering for those drawn to that tradition.
What to Expect on a Sunday Morning
Visitors are greeted at the door and handed a bulletin to help them follow along. Several people will likely introduce themselves - the church notes that this is offered out of genuine love so no one feels like a stranger. There is no dress code: suits, dresses, jeans, and shorts are all common.
Between services, at 10:15 a.m., the fellowship and education hour takes over. Adults gather in The Cup, the church's dining and social area, for pastries, coffee, and conversation. Sunday School classes meet for all ages at the same hour, and English language classes are also in session. Worship services typically run about 60 minutes.
Plenty of parking is available on site, with easy access to the building. Services are livestreamed on YouTube for those who prefer to worship from home, and Pastor Bob makes a point to welcome online viewers and invite them to participate in prayer and communion alongside the gathered congregation.
FLC Kids: Sunday School from Infants to Seniors
FLC Kids is the church's children's and youth ministry, and it is built around a coordinated plan: the Sunday School teachers align their lessons with Pastor Bob's sermon series so the whole church learns the same material at age-appropriate levels. All leaders and volunteers are trained and background-checked through Safe Gatherings.
Sunday School classes meet at 10:15 a.m. and are organized by age group:
- Ye Littles of Faith for kindergarten and younger, in the East hallway classroom next to the nursery.
- The Might Kids Kingdom for first through fifth grades, in the West hallway classroom.
- Teens for sixth through twelfth graders, meeting in the Youth Room.
- Confirmation Class for eighth through tenth graders, meeting in the Library.
Sunday School is often led by parents, with multiple adults present in each group. Children are also welcome in worship itself; the church describes itself as a community that engages children in worship alongside the rest of the congregation.
Pastor Bob Stelter and a Faith Shaped by Grace
Bob Stelter has served as the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church since 2000, one of the few pastors in Knoxville serving the same congregation over twenty years. He holds degrees from Texas Lutheran College and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, along with advanced doctoral work in theology and ministry. The longevity is presented by the church as a sign of congregational success and support.
Pastor Bob's approach to ministry is shaped by the sense that he did not have everything figured out when he was called. He preaches to help people connect Scripture to everyday life, whether from the pulpit or in one-on-one conversation. The church's mission - Love God, Love Others, Serve - is at the heart of his message. Outside the church, he is a fan of opera who attends performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and he makes a habit of finding roadside barbecue stands, dive bars, and mom and pop soul food joints.
The Staff and the Music
The staff that supports the church's ministry is small and longstanding. Greg Bohlken serves as Ministry Associate, helping people feel welcomed, connected, and encouraged in their faith. Mary Boring has been the Office Manager since 1999, keeping day-to-day operations running; she is a U.S. Marine veteran with a background in administration, finance, and nonprofit management. Gabriel Figueroa is the Communications Director, sharing the church's story through media and design with a background that includes photography work in Rwanda and Puerto Rico.
The music program is led by Lynn Rognsvoog, who serves as organist and pianist and has helped revive the bell choir, and Collin Kasefang, who leads the choir as choirmaster. Both bring backgrounds in music education and a shared conviction that music is a powerful form of worship. Together they support the traditional and contemporary services and the broader musical life of the church.
What It Means to Be Lutheran Here
Faith Lutheran describes itself as a Christian community in the Lutheran tradition whose life and hope are found in Christ. The congregation centers on four core ideas: grace, Jesus, faith, and Scripture. Grace is God's unconditional love and forgiveness, freely given without requiring anything in return. Jesus is recognized as the deliverer of that grace through his sacrifice on the cross. Faith is not about how much one knows or how fervently one believes, but about being open to God's promise of forgiveness and love. Scripture is read as a living source of faith, and the church celebrates the unique gifts every person brings.
The congregation's mission is simple: Love God, Love Others, Serve. Its values are service, worship, prayer, and Scripture. As a Reconciling in Christ congregation, Faith Lutheran publicly welcomes all people and practices what it calls radical hospitality and inclusion.
Shepherd of Hope Food Pantry
Shepherd of Hope Food Pantry is one of the largest community ministries run from the church building, though it is supported by a coalition rather than by Faith Lutheran alone. The pantry is sustained by five faith-based organizations - Concord United Methodist, Farragut Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Concord, Grassy Valley Baptist, and Faith Lutheran Church - along with more than 100 volunteers and the generosity of local businesses and church members.
Shepherd of Hope provides nourishing food to anyone in need, with no one turned away. In 2025, the pantry served more than 5,000 individuals and logged over 2,400 volunteer hours. The pantry operates on the first and third Mondays of each month from 3 to 6 p.m. at 225 Jamestowne Blvd. Volunteers and food donations are welcomed; the contact for volunteering is Reneé Stone at shephopepantry@gmail.com or 865-966-9626.
English Language Learning
The English Language Learning program is one of the church's most distinctive offerings, and one of the most visible signs of its welcome to newcomers. Classes are open to learners of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced speakers, and are taught by Mildred Fenske, Bob Moore, Melissa Horning, and Dawn Ellis, who bring years of classroom experience to the program.
Classes meet on Sundays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. in the church's conference room. The program is ideal for English language learners, international residents, and community members in the Knoxville area who want to practice and improve their skills in a supportive, inclusive environment. Volunteers are also welcomed, whether they have teaching experience or simply a warm, encouraging presence to offer. Contact Mildred Fenske at gomer2@hotmail.com or 865-693-9258 to enroll or to help.
Adult Sunday School, Tuesday Bible Study, and WELCA
For adults who want to dig deeper into Scripture, the church runs two ongoing groups. Adult Sunday School meets at 10:15 a.m. in The Cup Fellowship Hall each Sunday for study, discussion, and faith topics. Tuesday Bible Study gathers at 1:30 p.m. in The Cup for guided study and open conversation about how God's Word applies to everyday life. Contact John Woods for more information about the Tuesday group.
The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) Anna Esther Circle meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. in The Cup. Open to women of all ages and backgrounds, the group gathers for Bible study, fellowship, and conversation centered on Scripture. While WELCA spans local, regional, and national levels, the ministry is carried out primarily by volunteers at the congregational level.
Reaching Beyond Knox County
Faith Lutheran describes itself as an outwardly turned suburban church, and its global and local outreach is a defining part of its identity. The congregation partners with ministries and organizations around the world, including Senegal Field Service and RAISE Jamaica, while sponsoring missionaries in Mexico City. Other supported efforts include a school in Guatemala, Mercy Ships in Africa, mission trips to Jamaica, Mexico, Mississippi, and Southside Chicago, and local human trafficking prevention work. The congregation also planted a Lutheran church in Loudon County.
Closer to home, the Deacon Visitation Ministry is dedicated to caring for members who are homebound. Deacons regularly visit individuals and families, with a primary role of bringing communion to those who cannot attend worship in person. This ensures that no one in the congregation is spiritually or relationally isolated. The ministry welcomes those who feel called to serve through personal presence and connection.
Meals at KARM and Visits to the Salvation Army
Members serve lunch on scheduled Saturdays at the Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), at 418 N Broadway in Knoxville, partnering with other local churches to provide meals when KARM is not staffed. Volunteers can help by cooking and freezing casseroles and brownies ahead of time, or by joining the team to serve meals on the day. The Salvation Army Visit ministry complements this work; on the last Tuesday of each month, members meet at the church at 5 p.m. for prayer, then travel to the Salvation Army to distribute socks, underwear, hygiene products, snacks, fellowship, and prayer to individuals and families in transition.
The Cookie Walk and Craft Fair
Every December, Faith Lutheran hosts the Cookie Walk and Craft Fair, a long-standing annual event that brings the community together. The church sells nearly 20,000 homemade cookies and welcomes art vendors offering ornaments, wreaths, pottery, stationery, jewelry, and other handcrafted items. The event has become a fan favorite, and one that is highly anticipated throughout the year. The cookie walk and craft fair are organized by Evan Griswold and Dawn Ellis, and vendor registration is handled through the church's website.
Via de Cristo, Narcotics Anonymous, and the Knox Area Youth Gathering
Faith Lutheran hosts several other ministries that draw people in from beyond the congregation. Via de Cristo, which means "Way of Christ," is a three-day Spirit-filled retreat that begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening. Led by laypeople and supported by clergy, the retreat helps participants deepen their relationship with Christ, and many continue in reunion groups afterward. Retreats are typically held in April and October.
The church also hosts a Narcotics Anonymous group, providing a supportive, judgment-free space for individuals facing or recovering from struggles with addiction. The Knox Area Youth Gathering brings middle and high schoolers together from Faith Lutheran and other local churches for connection and engagement with students their own age.
Faithful Forks, the church's social dinner group, gathers members in small groups for fellowship over meals - one more way the congregation lives out its mission of loving God, loving others, and serving.
Media: Livestreams, Podcasts, and Sermon Manuscripts
Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, and a sermon archive is maintained on the same channel. Sermons are also released as a podcast called Faith Lutheran Church Knoxville Sermons, available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Sermon manuscripts are posted regularly, and weekly bulletins for both the traditional and contemporary services are available online, as is a weekly email newsletter. The church's website hosts a calendar of upcoming events and gatherings, and giving is available online through a secure portal.