True Light Lutheran Church – History

75  years of True Light Lutheran Church history

1904 – Miss Mary E Banta starts missionary work at New York Chinatown May 19, 1904

1935 – Miss Banta founds the True Light Mission and Sunday School

1935 – True Light Mission organized December 31, 1935

1936 – First True Light Mission meeting

1936 - First Baptism - Easter 1936 (photo)

1936 – Rev. Louis T. Buchheimer installed as pastor of True Light

1936 - True Light Mission on 173 Canal Street (photo)

1937 - Baptism (photo)

1939 - Men's club (photo)

1940 – Rev. Ernest J. Kunsch – pastor

1942 – First confirmation class graduated

1943 – Rev. Ernest Kunsch installed as assistant pastor of True Light

1944 – True Light Mission relocated to 199 Canal Street, second floor

1946 - Building at 195 Worth acquired for True Light Lutheran Church December 23, 1946 (photo)

1946 – True Light congregation temporarily housed at Mariner’s Temple

1947 - True Light children in the late 1940's (photo)

1948 - Demolition of old building September 19, 1948 (photo)

1948 - Cornerstone laid December 22, 1948 (photo)

1949 - 45th Anniversary of Miss Mary E. Banta's missionary work in Chinatown (photo)

1949 - Dedication of the church September 25, 1949 (photo) (photo)

1950 - 1950 Choir

1951 - 1951 Choir

1951 – Rev. Tober installed as assistant pastor of True Light

1953 – Rev. Paul Chang installed as pastor

1965 – Rev. Yang installed as pastor

1967 – True Light Mission becomes True Light Lutheran Church

1967 – Rev. Henry C. Lubben – associate pastor

1970 – Rev. John D. Peterson – vicar

1975 – Miss Mary E Banta passes away

1982 – Rev. james Barrand – vicar

1995 – Rev. Tich Luu – pastor

2001 – Rev. Lenny Szeto – pastor

2008 – Rev Raymond Wong – pastor

2009 – Rev. Leong wa Chu – pastor

2011 – True Light Lutheran Church 75th Anniversary