HISTORY

This brief look at the history of St. Luke serves as a reminder that God has a plan for this church. With God's purpose as our vision, we can be a light for the community and an agent of healing in a hurting world.

shopping center service

The first worship service of St. Luke was held in September 1976 in Woodhill Shopping Center as St. Luke United Methodist Church. Marion (Woody) W. Church, Jr. was the pastor. The name "St. Luke" was chosen as a reminder that this congregation would be an agent of healing in a hurting world, as Luke was the physician of the New Testament. There were 32 charter members and over 50 members by the end of 1977.

The first building, a multipurpose facility, was constructed on 6.4 acres at 141 Mount Tabor Road (Now 2351 Alumni Drive) in 1979. In 1985, G. Lindsey Davis was appointed senior pastor and in 1986 the new sanctuary was consecrated. Lindsey Davis became the Lexington District Superintendent and was later elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church.

david and sandy holcomb
ground breaking
groundbreaking for first building - 1979
ground breaking for new building
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Debbie Preaching

In 1990, the education building was built.

Rev. Eugene Strange was appointed as senior pastor in 1995.

Dr. Stephen L. Martyn was appointed senior pastor of St. Luke in 1999. Dr. Martyn later went on to become a Professor of Leadership and Spirituality at Asbury Theological Seminary.

In 2004, Rev. Debbie Wallace-Padgett was appointed senior pastor of St. Luke.

The congregation of Aldersgate UMC merged with St. Luke in June 2009.

In October 2010, the Life Center, which would hold several classrooms and a gym was dedicated.

 

In July of 2012, senior pastor Rev. Wallace-Padgett was elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church and was assigned to the North Alabama Annual Conference.

 

In September of 2012, Rev. Mark B. Girard was appointed as the sixth senior pastor of St. Luke.

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Small Groups 2

St. Luke launched a multicultural worship service on February 19, 2012. The service included scripture readings in languages representing Kenya, Senegal, the Congo, Bhutan, Nigeria and Ethiopia. We also launched a Swahili language missional community worship service on March 22, 2015. The purpose of this service is to connect with Swahili speaking diaspora in Lexington.

In 2016, St. Luke celebrated our 40th Anniversary with celebrations all year long culminating in a Unity Service combining all worship services.

During this period, a modern contemporary service was launched in the Fellowship Hall.

In June of 2019, Rev. Dr. Brian Ebel was appointed as the seventh senior pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church.

St Luke Christmas Music Sunday - Dec 2022-55
Easter 2023-2

In 2020-2022, the Multicultural Ministry merged with the Swahili Ministry, the Gym was upgraded with acoustic panels, stage, and state-of-the-art AV, and the Contemporary service began having services there.  

 

In June 2023, St. Luke affirmed the importance of the ancient creeds of the Christian faith, disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church, joined the Global Methodist Church, and changed its name to St. Luke Church.  St. Luke continues thrive and grow as it welcomes everyone and is committed to being a place of hope, healing, and wholeness through a transformed life in Jesus Christ.