OUR STORY
Our church fellowship started out with the need to establish a Lutheran community in Peters Creek in October of 1982. It would take nine years before that need evolved into the Peters Creek Lutheran Mission, thanks to the organization and hard work of a few dedicated people with a vision to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
On February 2, 1992, Rev. Joseph Alutius accepted the call to develop a vision for the new congregation. Under his leadership the congregation grew and held regular worship services and Sunday School at the “lady bug rock” strip mall in Peters Creek at the corner of Ski Road and Eastside Drive.
April 24, 1994, Peters Creek Lutheran Mission was officially organized as Saint Luke Lutheran Church. Membership grew to an average worship attendance of 55 by 1996, and in 1997, the congregation began to look for land to purchase and to build a permanent worship facility.
Pastor Joe retired in 1999 and Interim Pastor Jan Richardson provided faithful leadership until Rev. Carol George answered the call in December of 2001. Under Pastor Carol’s leadership, the congregation changed its name to River of Life Lutheran Church in the summer of 2002, and moved the worship site to Mirror Lake Middle School in the Fall of that year.
In the spring of 2005, the congregation broke ground for a new facility, and with the help of volunteers, observed our first service on Christmas Eve 2005 at 21301 Voyles Boulevard in Chugiak.
Pastor Carol resigned in May of 2011, and Pastor Bill Ottum became interim pastor in August. In June 2014, Pastor Bill accepted the call as part-time pastor, and retired on June 1, 2023.
On September 15, 2020, the church was completely destroyed by an early-morning fire and considered a total loss. For two years, the congregation met at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on the Old Glenn Highway in Chugiak until a new facility could be built. We broke ground at our previous location in August 2021.
On September 20, 2022, River of Life opened its new worship facility at its current location, 21301 Voyles Boulevard in Chugiak.
On September 1, 2024 River of Life received a new pastor, Pastor Roger Raddatz. With the help and blessing of a great, capable congregational leadership we move forward into a bright, new future in our small congregation.
We are a proud supporter of Fisher House, Pregnancy Center, Love, Inc., Eagle River Food Bank, Chinook Baseball and Thrivent – https://www.thrivent.com.