Historical September 1995 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Rev. Kurt Lutjens returned to St. Louis in August to become the pastor of Grace and Peace Fellowship, located at Delmar and Clara. Lutjens had lived in Skinker DeBaliviere from 1977 to 1982. At that time, he had a construction business and attended Covenant Seminary.
He had converted a two family dwelling into a single family home.
He had come to St. Louis from his original home in New Jersey in 1977 specifically to be part of Grace and Peace.
In 1982, Lutjens moved to Pittsburgh with his family and started an inner city church there.
They moved to Philadelphia in 1992.
While on vacation in Wyoming last year, he and his family learned of the untimely death of Grace and Peace pastor Egon Middelmann.
He had planned to return to Pittsburgh but received a call from the Grace and Peace Search Committee. Two months later, he formally applied for the position and decided to “let God do His will.” Lutjens, his wife, two teenagers, and a nine year old have moved to a home on 61xx McPherson, a big house with a lot of space. Lutjens really likes living and being involved in the city.
A city church had strong appeal for him.
He also had friends and family here so it was more like coming home.
He knew Grace and Peace and they had supported his church in Pittsburgh.
He has a great appreciation for the history of Grace and Peace and its interest in community. Lutjens is very interested in continuing the women’s shelter at the church and would like to renew Grace and Peace’s historic interest in caring for the poor. Shelter is an expression of that.
He is looking forward to being pastor here.
He is very hopeful about Grace and Peace’s future, the healing process God has accomplished here, and the gifted, caring people here.
The church has had to work through heartache and tragedy in light of the gospel of Christ, a painful but fruitful process.
It is helping to refocus on what life really means. Rev. Lutjens said that he wanted to invite anyone who is wrestling with the meaning of life or tragedy to come and “worship with us and try to answer some of the questions we’re trying to answer.”
Original photograph caption
The Lutjens Family. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September 1995.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1995_09.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
