Trinity Lutheran Church of Logan Ohio (LCMS)
About us
About Us
What We Believe
We are called to be and to make Disciples of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20)
God
We believe in the Triune God revealed in the Bible as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is holy, all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving. (Genesis 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 3:13-17)
Father
We believe that God the Father created the universe from nothing. In love, He sustains His creation and desires an intimate relationship with all people. (Genesis 1:1; John 3:16-17)
Jesus the Son
We believe that because of His love for us, God became a human being, Jesus Christ. Being fully divine and fully human, He lived the life of a servant, and in His death on the cross, Jesus suffered the punishment we deserve for our sin. In His death and bodily resurrection, Jesus won for us victory over death and the power of the devil. Only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ can we experience forgiveness, be made acceptable to our Holy Maker, and enjoy a close relationship with Him. (Romans 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Peter 1:18; 2:24)
Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives and brings them to faith in Jesus Christ. He desires to be so fully active in believers that they are filled to overflowing with His presence and are empowered with His gifts to witness to Jesus and to do the work of the Church. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
How We Read The Bible
We believe Christians should read the Bible in the light of Jesus Christ, through the lens of both Law and Gospel, and by interpreting Scripture with Scripture. God’s Holy Spirit can lead Christians through His written Word to eternal truths which transcend cultural contexts. Living under the whole counsel of God in the Bible, Christians can know God’s will and be led in truth. We believe the entire Bible is divinely inspired and is the inerrant word of God.
Sin
We believe that sin separates us from God. Sin is our rebellion against His will and our brokenness in relationships with God, others, and ourselves. We sin in thought, desire, word, and deeds, actual sin because we are born with original sin and are naturally self-centered. (Isaiah 59:2; Luke 24:46-47; Romans 6:23)
Grace
We believe that we enter into a relationship with God not by anything we do, but solely by what God has done for us through Jesus. Knowing that we are sinners, we trust completely in God’s amazing grace (unearned merit and favor) to save us from condemnation and give us an eternal home with Him. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:19)
Jesus’ Return
We believe that, as He has promised, Jesus is coming back to earth. Although, we don’t know when, we do know why. Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead and to fulfill His promise to give all believers eternal life. We desire to share this hope we have in Jesus with all people. (Acts 1:11; Mark 13:32-37)
Faith at Work
We believe that our primary call from God is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by baptizing and teaching others what He has commanded us. We engage in actions of love and mercy as a demonstration of God’s love, and mercy as a approval, but because we are thankful for eternal life received in Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 John 3:16-18; Ephesians 2:8-10)
The Christian in the World
We believe that as disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to interact with others in the world as salt and light. This means we are to relate in such a way as to induce a thirst for God through lives of love and integrity. As light we are to bring clarity to issues by speaking the truth in love. We do not relate to the world by means of intimidation or manipulation, rather by persistent, loving witness to Jesus Christ. (Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 4:15)
Human Sexuality
We believe that our sexuality is a good gift from God. Sexual intimacy is blessed by Him when expressed according to God’s design, within the context of monogamous heterosexual marriage. Outside of that context, sexual intimacy, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is sin. All who desire to turn from sin, sexual or otherwise, can be forgiven and renewed by the grace of God in Jesus. (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 1:26-32)
Church
We believe that those who honestly rely on Jesus as Lord and Savior are the Church, Christ’s body. Calling us together in local communities, God empowers believers with differing gifts for the purpose of service together. We cherish our unity with all believers, locally and around the world, who preach, teach, and live the Good News of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:3-8)
Baptism
We believe and have experienced that through the sacrament of Baptism, which is commanded by Jesus, God adopts us as His children. Because being part of God’s eternal family is entirely His doing and not our own, and because all are born with a sinful nature, we affirm the practice of baptizing infants as well as adults. (Romans 6:4-6; Matthew 18:1-6; Acts 2:39; Acts 16:30-33)
Communion
We believe that in the sacrament of Holy Communion, God comes to love and forgive us. Through this meal, He brings us His love in a tangible way and renews us in our relationship with Him. As He promised, Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine. Jesus has instructed that we remember Him when we celebrate this meal. As we come to communion, we bring to Jesus our sin with a sincere desire to be forgiven and to be changed to be more like Him. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 6:53-56)
Human Worth
We believe that every human life (born and unborn) is precious, being created in the image of God. Because Jesus Christ chose to die for us, every person is loved by God. Since life is sacred, abortion, suicide and euthanasia are not pleasing to God. Christians are called to value life as God does. Our worth is determined by God’s view of us which is demonstrated in Jesus, not by our own self-estimation. (Genesis 1:27; John 3:16; Psalm 136; Psalm 139:13-16)
Prayer
We believe that the Lord is powerful and desires to be active in our lives. Because Jesus died for our sins, we have the privilege to pray directly to God. He desires that we speak with Him often as part of a growing relationship with Him. More than just speaking, prayer involves listening to God because prayer is two-way communication. Since one way God speaks is through His written Word, regular reading of the Bible is a integral part of daily prayer. (Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 5:33)
mission
Trinity Lutheran Church will encourage and disciple it's members in Word and Sacrament and will share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all others in the community. (Adopted 1992)
vision
Using God's great means, we will live out the Great Mandate, (Matthew 22:37-38) and carry out the Great Mission (Matthew 28:19-20) so as to have a Great Ministry (Acts 2: 42-47) in both Hocking and Athens counties of Ohio. (Adopted 2001)
Core Values
God works through His Word and when it is proclaimed and taught, it brings about transformation in individual lives and in the church. This Word of God when it is written, preached, and communicated through the Sacrament does it’s work in groups and in individuals. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:23-25; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 12:7)
God desires all to be saved, and God has chosen His Church to be His redeeming agent in the world, therefore the church must do all it can to reach the lost. This includes the concepts of mission focus, cultural relevancy and evangelism training. ( 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Luke 5:30-32; Luke 15; Matthew 28:19-20)
A church should operate as a unified community of servants with every member understanding and stewarding their spiritual gifts, financial resources and time for the building of God’s Kingdom. This includes the concepts of unity, servanthood, equipping the saints and stewardship. (Ephesians 4:12-13; 2 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 1:10)
Loving relationships should permeate every aspect of church life. This includes the concepts of love-led ministry, teamwork, conflict resolution, relationship building, and servant groups. (1 Corinthians 13; Nehemiah 3; Luke 10; John 13:34-45; Acts 2:44-47; Matthew 18)
Christ-followers manifest a desire for continued growth toward full devotion to Christ. This includes the concepts of growth in the Word, personal authenticity and character, servanthood and pursuit of Kingdom goals. (Ephesians 4:25-26, 32; Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 1:16, 2:11; 1 Kings 11:4)
Our utmost brings glory to God and inspires people. This includes the concepts of excellence in all things, critical review and evaluation. (Colossians 3:17; Malachi 1:6-14; Proverbs 27:17)
History of Trinity Lutheran Church Logan
Trinity Lutheran Church was organized September 30, 1881 with thirteen voting members under the leadership of Rev. Henry Henkel. The present site of two lots on N. Mulberry Street was purchased for $500. A parsonage was built on one lot. The Church cornerstone was laid on the remaining lot on July 30, 1882. The Church was dedicated to the glory of God in November 1882.
In 1921 the original red brick edifice was remodeled and enlarged. Wing structures were added to give a cruciform appearance and a stone exterior was constructed. Art glass windows were installed and the chancel was enhanced with a painting, “The Crucifixion” by William Matheny of Sugar Grove, Ohio.
Music has always been an important part of the services at Trinity. The first pipe organ was purchased in 1911. In 1969 the present organ was installed as a memorial to Caroline Lutz who was organist and choir director for forty years.
A brick parsonage was erected in 1957. In 1981 the century old Church was renovated and enlarged with more Sunday School rooms, a modern kitchen, and floor coverings. In 1994, a handicap lift and air conditioning were added. Recent additions are a parking lot, and an addition to the building for the new handicapped rest rooms, in 2013.
Nineteen pastors have served Trinity Lutheran Church including our recently retired pastor, Reverend Danny Koch who served from January 1990 until August 2023.
We are presently in the active process of calling a new Pastor to serve at Trinity.