Faith Lutheran Church, School, and Touching Hearts sits on Adams Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, and has been part of the city's life since 1952. The congregation started in a local beer hall and has grown into a three-part ministry: a church that gathers four times on Sunday, an elementary school that runs from kindergarten through fifth grade, and an early childhood center that takes care of children from 18 months old through age 12. The shared motto around the campus is short and directional: Connect. Equip. Serve. Send.
From a Beer Hall in 1952 to a Multi-Generational Church on Adams Street
The church's self-description is direct: an evangelical, Bible-believing congregation that mixes the Lutheran message of the cross and empty tomb with non-traditional approaches. Leaders describe it as a relaxed church that takes seriously both denominational roots and a come-as-you-are atmosphere. The result is a multi-generational body where you can see grandparents, parents, college students, and infants in the same room, and where people dress however they feel most comfortable.
Faith frames its mission in four words that appear on its materials: connect others to Christ, equip God's people for service, serve Lincoln and beyond, and send new Christians out into the community. New members come in through a six-week class led by a church elder, held on Sunday mornings between services at 9:30 a.m. The class works through short videos on Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and prayer, and is built around conversation with other families.
Four Sunday Services, from Traditional Hymns to Prayer and Praise
Sunday is built around four worship services plus a Sunday school hour:
- 8:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service, built on the heritage of 500 years of Lutheran liturgical tradition.
- 9:30 a.m. Blended Worship Service, drawing on both the Lutheran tradition and a laid-back approach.
- 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service, led by the church's praise team One Accord.
- 5:30 p.m. Prayer and Praise Evening Worship Service, focused on prayer time to close out the weekend.
- 9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Bible Study Hour for all ages.
Worshipers are welcome to text questions or comments to the pastor during the sermon. A private nursery is open during every Sunday service, with a live video feed so parents can stay connected to what is happening in the sanctuary.
A Prayer Chapel Open Before Dawn
Faith's Prayer Chapel is open every day from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Anyone - members, neighbors, visitors - is invited to use the space for quiet reflection or a moment of connection with God. Live worship services, resources, and updates are also carried on the church's YouTube channel.
Children and Youth at Every Stage
Children's and youth ministry is one of the clearest expressions of the congregation's family focus. Sunday morning offerings line up by age:
- Toddlin' to Jesus (age 3 and under): Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the Jungle Room, on the first floor inside Touching Hearts. Infants and toddlers discover God's love through play, exploration, and music.
- Pre-K through 5th Grade Sunday School: Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Old and New Testament stories come to life through skits, music, engaging lessons, and hands-on activities. All children gather in the Music Room and move with their teachers to their classrooms.
- Children's Church (age 3 through 3rd grade): during the 11:00 a.m. service, kids are dismissed by the pastors and head to the Music Room for a worship and learning experience tailored to them.
- 6th-12th Grade Bible Study: Sundays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Middle schoolers meet in the school library, high schoolers in the Youth Shed.
Confirmation is offered for 7th and 8th graders on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., meeting in the Commons and Conference Room. Parents are pulled into the process intentionally, echoing Martin Luther's words that the head of the family should teach the household in a simple way. Monthly youth events are shared through email and the Remind app; René Hodges coordinates the ministry and welcomes new volunteers.
Sunday School check-in happens in the Music Room, and the ministry leans heavily on volunteers - people the church describes as having a passion for teaching and loving kids like their own.
Faith Lutheran School: A K-5 Christian Education
Faith Lutheran School serves families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade, organized around the same four-word mission as the church: connect, equip, serve, send. The school connects children and families to Jesus through the study of God's Word and to the greater community of Lincoln. It equips them with the highest possible standards of education founded in God's Word, instilling a love of learning and helping families make informed decisions about their children's spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. It serves as a joyful response to God's love and grace, and it sends students out to disciple others and live out a Christian vocation.
The school welcomes students of any race, color, or national or ethnic origin to the rights, privileges, programs, and activities available at the school. Families considering enrollment can schedule a personal tour; tuition assistance is available so that cost does not stand in the way of a Christian education. There is a re-enrollment process each year, a $200 enrollment fee, and several scholarships available to enrolled families, including the Faith Member Scholarship, Community Member Scholarship, Sibling Scholarship, and the Raving Fans Scholarship, which rewards current families who refer new K-5 students.
Daily life at the school includes a hot lunch program aligned with USDA nutritional standards, with a salad bar, whole grains, and water alongside milk. A wellness policy and triennial assessment keep the program accountable to the National School Lunch program.
Faith Lutheran School is one of five Christian schools that make up the Lutheran Schools of Lincoln, a collective that equips students from kindergarten through 12th grade with a Christ-centered education.
Touching Hearts Early Childhood Center: 18 Months Through Age 12
Touching Hearts is the congregation's nationally accredited and fully licensed early childhood program, sharing a building and a phone line with the school. It is open year-round from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and serves children from 18 months to 12 years old, with both full- and part-time options.
Classrooms are organized by age. The Yellow and Red Rooms nurture toddlers through play, projects, and exploration, including circle time that introduces Jesus, music, and literature. The Green Room emphasizes readiness themes - alphabet, math, art, and science - alongside PE, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and faith development through Bible stories, songs, and chapel. The Pink and Purple Rooms are the pre-kindergarten classrooms, where math, science, and language arts are strengthened in preparation for kindergarten, along with music class and weekly chapel.
School-age care, a state-licensed program for children at Faith Lutheran School, provides before- and after-school care from 6:30 a.m. until Faith's school day begins, and again until 5:30 p.m. During the summer, care runs from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and full-day care is offered on Faith's non-school days. Hot lunch, a morning snack, and an afternoon snack are provided. Students have access to board games, gaming systems, iPads, an outdoor playground, and a full-size indoor gym.
Touching Hearts participates in several financial assistance programs, including the Nebraska HHS Child Care Subsidy Program, the Child Care Aware Military Subsidy Program, and the Lincoln Littles Tuition Assistance Program. The building is secured with a buzzer entry system, and indoor and outdoor security cameras are in place. Communication with families runs through the Procare Connect app and the MyProcare platform, where tuition payments, statements, tax forms, photos, messages, and daily sheets are shared.
Ribfest, the Craft Fair, and the Foundation: Serving Lincoln Beyond the Walls
Faith is a visible presence in Lincoln beyond Sunday morning. Ribfest is the church's annual community fundraiser, a rib-cooking competition that has raised tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of pounds of food for local organizations. Recent proceeds have gone to the Center for People and the Food Bank of Lincoln, and the competition is open to two-person teams judged by a panel plus a Fan Favorite vote, with prizes supplied by FireBoard. Meat is provided by the Pork Producers of Nebraska.
The Craft Fair brings dozens of local handmade crafters to the campus each fall, with a coffee truck, a concession stand, a bake sale hosted by the LWML Ladies Group, and a Sip N' Shop featuring wine and Glacial Till Cider. A juried application process keeps the booths handmade-only.
The Faith Lutheran Foundation is a separate giving channel that supports the long-term work of the church and the growing school. It offers scholarships for students pursuing careers in church work - including pastors, teachers, missionaries, and other ministry roles - and accepts contributions through Vanco's online giving platform, as well as through memorials, bequests, securities and real estate, life estate contracts, deferred gift annuities, life insurance, charitable remainders, and short-term trust funds. The Foundation Board includes elected members of Faith Lutheran Church and the Senior Pastor.
What It Means to Be Lutheran at Faith
Faith describes itself as a place where being Lutheran is a great way to be a Christian. Worship blends the rich history of the Lutheran tradition with a relaxed, come-as-you-are approach. The church emphasizes both doctrine and a Christian lifestyle, and offers entry-level studies in Christian belief alongside new member classes. Tithes and offerings can be given through ShelbyGiving online or through the offering envelopes mailed each quarter to members.
From a 1952 gathering in a local beer hall to a campus that now houses a four-service Sunday rhythm, a K-5 school, and an early childhood center, Faith Lutheran has grown into a ministry whose reach - through its classrooms, its chapel, its Ribfest, and its foundation - extends well beyond its doors on Adams Street.