Pastor Mike moved to Greenwood in September 1995 to plant a new church. After knocking on 4,000 doors, and following up on those interested, Pastor Mike placed an ad in the papers to announce the first worship service for Risen Lord Lutheran Church, which took place January 21, 1996.

The church met at Center Grove High School in the cafeteria for three years (1996-1998), during which time the church became chartered, organized, self-supporting, added a second service, and purchased land.

Needing facilities seven days a week, Risen Lord rented the facility of another local church where it continued to grow. During those three years (1998-2002) Risen Lord completed a visioning process, conducted a capital campaign, designed a building and constructed it. Acting as its own general contractor, Risen Lord members literally built the church themselves. Membership, attendance, and programs have consistently grown.


The Risen Lord Vision

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF CELEBRATION

A place of celebration where thousands of people across the Southern Indianapolis suburban area experience and praise God in one of several soul-stirring worship services taking place indoors and out, led by highly committed and talented leaders with wide musical variety.

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF CHRIST-CENTERED HOMES

A place of Christ-centered homes where families receive the relational and programmatic support they need to develop Godly marriages, Christ-seeking children and Spirit-filled youth; and where singles receive support with vocational discernment, relationship building, and learn how to discover their God-given purpose.

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF COMMUNITY

A place of community where people experience authentic and healthy Christian community through small groups of prayer/study/support/service/recreation and through large scale community gatherings.

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF CONVERSION

  A place of conversion where people with an ill-defined spiritual hunger identify their need for God, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and personal confession moving into a lifelong journey of intentional spiritual growth.

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF CONSIDERATION

  A place of consideration where people of all walks of life, backgrounds, education, income, personality, and color find acceptance, warmth, and joy with members of the Risen Lord family, through relevant and engaging programs, and from an attractive and inviting campus and facility.

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF COMMITMENT

  A place of commitment where people learn to live as walking testimonies of God by discovering their God-given purpose, and by pursuing moral purity, personal sacrifice, and spiritual growth while resisting the allure of a morally lax and affluent society, and where hundreds of people enter full-time Christian vocations.

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF CONSECRATION

  A place of consecration where people grow to appreciate the wonderful creation God has made so that they surrender their lives to Christ, and joyfully and generously give of their treasures, prioritize their time in a Christ-honoring manner, and use their talents to further the work of God's Kingdom in the world.

• RISEN LORD WILL BE A PLACE OF COMPASSION

  A place of compassion where people and programs respond quickly and personally to the hurts and hopes of people at the local, national, and global levels demonstrating Christ's saving grace and love through prayer, material and financial help, and physical presence.