EF 3204 Divine Peace Ev. Lutheran Church (Garland, TX)

Abstract

This project documents the founding and development of Divine Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dallas, Texas, using oral history interviews and written data to trace its growth from a mission start to an independent congregation. Led by Gary Young, the study employed structured, open-ended interviews with the founding pastor and charter members, focusing on both the preparation and implementation phases of the mission. Questions explored motivations, decision-making, outreach strategies, worship settings, and support from the WELS synod and local churches. The methodology emphasized identifying universal principles that contributed to the mission’s success. Common themes—such as adaptability, community engagement, and strong lay involvement—were distilled from the interviews and prioritized by their impact. The study concludes that these principles, grounded in real-world experience, can serve as a model for future mission efforts in diverse contexts.

—Summary generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)