Bay Pines Lutheran Church & School
Our History: 39 Years of God's Grace
On August 3, 1958 the first church service was held at Beach Memorial Funeral Chapel. Pastor William Steih, the pastor at Faith, organized this mission outreach in the Bay Pines Seminole area.
In April of 1960 the present site was purchased. In July of 1960 the parsonage was
dedicated. There was the groundbreaking for the church building in November of
1960.
The cornerstone of our church was laid in January of 1961. One year later, the
church was dedicated (at a cost of $30,000).
A Sunday School addition was built two years later.
In 1972 the church carport was closed in and pews were added to the church.
In 1973 the decision was made to open a Christian day school. The west classroom was built. Mr. Mark Boehme was called to open the school. He has been the only principal at Bay Pines, and has faithfully served the last 24 years. School was held in the church with 59 children and 3 teachers until the construction of the west classroom was completed approximately I month later!
In 1974 the teacherage was built, and the outside classrooms were added to accommodate the expanding school. WELS schools in Holiday and Clearwater were still a dream.
Memorial Hall was built mainly through congregational donations in memory of loved ones during 1978.
In 1982 a kitchen was added.
During the summer of 1990 additions were made to the parsonage and the teacherage.
In 1995 a home was purchased next to the parsonage to allow greater flexibility to our sight.
In the fall of 1997, school enrollment is at an all time high, 105 students and 5 teachers. Church souls are also at an all time high with 535 souls and 375 communicants.
In early 2002, two temporary classrooms were rented and demolition began on the old classroom building. Construction began on a new building to house grades k-8. The first of a three phase project was underway.
Purpose and Objective || Our Lutheran Elementary School || Our History || A Family of God
Our Service to Others || Our Christian Education for All || Our Worship || Our Sacred Acts