Immanuel Lutheran Church of Killeen has been serving the Killeen/Fort Hood area for over 135 years!

It all began in about 1886 when a group of Lutheran Christians in the Killeen area, led by a traveling missionary, Rev. C. Kreutzenstein, met for worship and sharing the sacraments. In 1887 Pastor Henry F. Daude moved to this area from Germany, purchased land south of Killeen and began conducting worship services in private homes, often using his own home for worship and sharing the sacraments. The Lutheran congregation in the area was officially organized in 1889, and this new organization was named Immanuel Lutheran Church.

We have seen many changes since the first Group of Lutherans formed a congregation. This is a story told through words and images as we follow the progress of the many changes of our houses of worship since the first frame church was erected in 1892.

The first house of worship was a small frame church erected at the site of Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, land donated by Pastor Daude. Although it is now well within the city limits on Old FM 440 Rd, back in 1892 the church was located approximately three miles south of the little town of Killeen. Approximately 75 baptized members constituted the congregation at the time.

The original church was replaced in 1924 with a white frame country church (50 ft. by 28 ft. in size) with a steeple. It served its purpose well at the outskirts of Killeen until the early 1940’s, when many farms and communities in the Killeen area were vacated as the land became a government military reservation now known as Fort Hood. As the military and civilian population in Killeen increased significantly, the church building was physically relocated to the corner of North 4th Street and Rancier Avenue in 1943 to provide the military with a better opportunity for worship. The steeple was removed for the move, and never replaced! And one more time, it was later moved to North 4th Street and Garrison Avenue (3rd location!)

As Immanuel Lutheran increased in membership, it became necessary to build a new and larger sanctuary. The new building is a modified gothic style with block and brick construction. Dedication of the new church was on May 19, 1957. The next building project for the congregation was the construction of a new parsonage in 1966, located on the church property. In 1970 a new educational wing was added to the church sanctuary. This sanctuary, education wing and parsonage is still located at North 4^th Street and East Garrison Ave.

Our fourth and current sanctuary was built at Cunningham Road and East Elms Rd. Our first service was our 125th Anniversary Celebration, April 6, 2014, and the dedication was November 2, 2014.

In 1986, in the Sesquicentennial Year of the State of Texas, Immanuel’s cemetery received a State historical marker. Easter sunrise services are traditionally held at the cemetery site.

We have come a long way since our humble beginnings and rejoice in our ability to grow and spread God’s Word. “The future of Immanuel will be determined by God’s blessing and remembering what is done here, in the name of Jesus. TODAY! We will not be remembered for the number of members on our rolls, but through the Spirit of God within us, the number of souls we befriend and accept and declare in Jesus’ name… We will not be remembered for the land or buildings we develop but for the Word of Hope in Christ we create within the hearts of those who are searching for truth.” (Pulscher)