How it all began.......
In June 1995, five people met in rented office space for the first worship service of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Peachtree City, Georgia. It was a modest start for the congregation. But those five people shared a vision of reaching the community around them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, the congregation has over 450 baptized members, operates a pre-school and elementary school with grades K-8, and is housed in a multimillion dollar facility with ample adjacent land for future growth.
Pastor Ron Janssen, our founding pastor, and five other families had a vision for a Christian school in a planned community called Peachtree City. In 1995, Peachtree City had a modest population of 25,000 and was a bedroom community and suburb of Atlanta. Despite having no school-aged children themselves, these five families saw a need in the community, prayed about this incredible opportunity, and took a giant step of faith to begin a Christian School. However, the community had no sites set aside for churches that would be big enough to house both a school and future worship facility. The best church site was a 7-acre plot in the undeveloped, northern portion of Peachtree City, but the congregation was able to purchase an additional 6-acres in an adjacent property.
Instead of putting up a worship facility, they opened a school. The congregation met for services in a subdivision clubhouse and began plans for opening a school. The congregation moved forward by calling a full-time principal, Mr. Gordon Stuckert to oversee the building construction and to recruit an entire teaching staff to a school that hadn’t even been built.
However, due to construction and weather delays, St. Paul opened up in September 1997 with classes being held in temporary buildings until the first phase of a permanent building could be completed. Initial enrollment was 52 students. In December 1997, the permanent building that housed a gymnasium, seven classrooms, and an office was completed. The school used the facility during the week and Sunday worship services were held in the gym. In 2000, the school's enrollment exceeded 200 students. What a blessing that these students have the opportunity to hear about the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, 180 days of the year. We are blessed with a wonderful staff of teachers, volunteers, and leaders who continue to support our ministry with their gifts, talents, abilities, resources, and passion for Jesus.
In August 1999, a second floor was completed on the building. The addition included a cafeteria, five classrooms, media center, computer lab, and small office complex. The congregation began holding worship services in the new cafeteria. Members quickly began calling it their "worshipteria."
As the school continued to grow, the congregation grew closer as a family through all the “growing pains” associated with a new ministry of space, financial demands, vision, direction, and leadership. Mr. Stuckert took a call to serve as an education executive in Ohio and Dan Palisch was called as the new school principal. Pastor Janssen continued to serve the congregation, in spite of severe health problems, but was very instrumental in helping the congregation see it’s role for mission and ministry. In 2004, the congregation called Pastor Dan Schepmann as Sr. Pastor and Pastor Ron Janssen as Associate Pastor. The congregation quickly outgrew the “worshipteria” for Sunday morning services and in October 2005, the congregation made the transition to its current location and worship center, the school gymnasium.
In 2005, the cafeteria kitchen was completed, which gave St. Paul School the opportunity to provide a hot-lunch program and provide opportunities for fellowship events and banquets. In January 2006, Cory Smith, our Director of Youth Ministries, was brought on staff to develop and grow our Youth and Children ministry at St. Paul.
In 2008, after serving eight years as School Principal and leading St. Paul School to new and exciting ventures, Mr. Dan Palisch retired from full-time ministry. Following his retirement, Mr. Jim Richards accepted the position as School Principal and has been and continues to be a great joy and blessing to the entire ministry.
In 2011, the congregation began a capital campaign to finance the building of a worship facility, student wing, adult education, and office complex. God continues to bless the mission and ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School and His providential care and blessing has been evident from the very beginning of our ministry to the present. With a mission and vision of “Bringing Christ to the Home and Transforming Lives with Eternal Values” we praise God as He is developing each of us into “Fully Devoted Followers of Jesus Christ.” We look forward to all the He will do within our ministry as we continue to serve Him and the community of Peachtree City and beyond.
Pastor Ron Janssen, our founding pastor, and five other families had a vision for a Christian school in a planned community called Peachtree City. In 1995, Peachtree City had a modest population of 25,000 and was a bedroom community and suburb of Atlanta. Despite having no school-aged children themselves, these five families saw a need in the community, prayed about this incredible opportunity, and took a giant step of faith to begin a Christian School. However, the community had no sites set aside for churches that would be big enough to house both a school and future worship facility. The best church site was a 7-acre plot in the undeveloped, northern portion of Peachtree City, but the congregation was able to purchase an additional 6-acres in an adjacent property.
Instead of putting up a worship facility, they opened a school. The congregation met for services in a subdivision clubhouse and began plans for opening a school. The congregation moved forward by calling a full-time principal, Mr. Gordon Stuckert to oversee the building construction and to recruit an entire teaching staff to a school that hadn’t even been built.
However, due to construction and weather delays, St. Paul opened up in September 1997 with classes being held in temporary buildings until the first phase of a permanent building could be completed. Initial enrollment was 52 students. In December 1997, the permanent building that housed a gymnasium, seven classrooms, and an office was completed. The school used the facility during the week and Sunday worship services were held in the gym. In 2000, the school's enrollment exceeded 200 students. What a blessing that these students have the opportunity to hear about the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, 180 days of the year. We are blessed with a wonderful staff of teachers, volunteers, and leaders who continue to support our ministry with their gifts, talents, abilities, resources, and passion for Jesus.
In August 1999, a second floor was completed on the building. The addition included a cafeteria, five classrooms, media center, computer lab, and small office complex. The congregation began holding worship services in the new cafeteria. Members quickly began calling it their "worshipteria."
As the school continued to grow, the congregation grew closer as a family through all the “growing pains” associated with a new ministry of space, financial demands, vision, direction, and leadership. Mr. Stuckert took a call to serve as an education executive in Ohio and Dan Palisch was called as the new school principal. Pastor Janssen continued to serve the congregation, in spite of severe health problems, but was very instrumental in helping the congregation see it’s role for mission and ministry. In 2004, the congregation called Pastor Dan Schepmann as Sr. Pastor and Pastor Ron Janssen as Associate Pastor. The congregation quickly outgrew the “worshipteria” for Sunday morning services and in October 2005, the congregation made the transition to its current location and worship center, the school gymnasium.
In 2005, the cafeteria kitchen was completed, which gave St. Paul School the opportunity to provide a hot-lunch program and provide opportunities for fellowship events and banquets. In January 2006, Cory Smith, our Director of Youth Ministries, was brought on staff to develop and grow our Youth and Children ministry at St. Paul.
In 2008, after serving eight years as School Principal and leading St. Paul School to new and exciting ventures, Mr. Dan Palisch retired from full-time ministry. Following his retirement, Mr. Jim Richards accepted the position as School Principal and has been and continues to be a great joy and blessing to the entire ministry.
In 2011, the congregation began a capital campaign to finance the building of a worship facility, student wing, adult education, and office complex. God continues to bless the mission and ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School and His providential care and blessing has been evident from the very beginning of our ministry to the present. With a mission and vision of “Bringing Christ to the Home and Transforming Lives with Eternal Values” we praise God as He is developing each of us into “Fully Devoted Followers of Jesus Christ.” We look forward to all the He will do within our ministry as we continue to serve Him and the community of Peachtree City and beyond.
