Big things are happening in Kuna. We repeat: Big things are happening in Kuna.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, Kuna Lutheran Church in Kuna, Idaho welcomed visitors from near and far for a special service for the dedication of their new church building. Kuna is the first official church plant in the NOW District in nearly 10 years.
NOW District President Rev. Mike Von Behren preached the sermon that day, offering a powerful reminder from scripture that the Church is called to be on God’s mission to share Christ’s forgiveness and love without walls. A total of 191 people came to witness this powerful moment and share in the celebration together.
“Kuna Lutheran’s beginning is a reminder new church starts don’t begin with buildings; they begin with people who are willing to gather others around the good news of Jesus,” President Von Behren said.
Kuna Lutheran Church was launched by members and leaders at Friendship Celebration Lutheran Church in Meridian, Idaho. (Fun fact: Friendship Celebration also started as a mission plant in 1993.) It all began with a discussion about planting a church in Kuna by Rev. Matt Henry and Rev. Tom Hausch after they attended a “Life Group” workshop. They brought the idea to the congregation, and with that goal in mind, a number of members from Friendship Celebration started a Life Group in the Kuna area in October of 2018. That first group became three within a year and a half, and so on. They had their first worship service one year later on Oct. 6, 2019, at Kuna High School. Kuna Lutheran chartered as a church of the LCMS Jan. 1, 2021. Attendance has grown from 40 in 2020 to an average of 72 in 2023.
With financial assistance from the NOW District through a Catalyst Grant in 2018 and a Faith Community Grant in 2024, a loan from LCEF, and additional financial support from the LWML and other partners – as well as countless volunteer hours – the burgeoning church plant began to take shape. Ultimately, Kuna Lutheran was able to identify and purchase a suitable site. Then came the goal of a building where they could meet. They considered many options, but ultimately, they were able to find, purchase, and move two separate buildings from other locations and join them together on the new property. Again, with countless hours of volunteer work, the new building was fully fitted and prepared for occupancy by November of 2024.
“God’s faithfulness in the start of Kuna Lutheran ought to remind us all that what God calls us to do, he provides the resources for; he simply asks us to step out in faith,” President Von Behren said. “For Kuna Lutheran, God’s resources came in partnership with Friendship Celebration, the LWML, LCEF, the NOW District, and many, many people of God along the way.”
The purpose of this entire effort, which was led by Hausch (who serves as their interim pastor) and a strong group of lay leaders, was to be an outpost for the expanding community of Kuna on the south side of the Boise metro area… which is exactly what they achieved. This new spot is perfectly nestled near the high school, middle school, and elementary school, bringing endless opportunities to serve the families of Kuna.
Part of the 2024 Faith Community Grant from the NOW District included the agreement that a team of Kuna Lutheran leaders would participate in the Ministry Clarity process facilitated by LCEF. The NOW District – with help from Northwest District LCEF VP, Mike Madison, and LCEF’s Ministry Solutions VP for the West, Kris Kunkel – worked together to make sure this process was covered.
Madison visited the site four times over the past 24 months. He worked with Hausch and Kuna’s treasurer to secure loans for the purchase of the land, to buy the modulars for their building, and other funds for improvement to the property (paved parking lot, landscaping, irrigation, and outside lights). He said he really enjoyed working with the Kuna team, and he appreciated their know-how and vision.
“LCEF looks for opportunities to help ministries that are new starts. The District was very involved with starting Kuna Lutheran, and LCEF wanted to help with loans to help them with securing a permanent location,” Madison said. “LCEF was able to help them with three separate loans to secure their property, building, and upgrades to the site to meet the needs for the city of Kuna. We are so thankful to have this opportunity to partner with a ministry and to help them spread the Love of Jesus in Kuna and the surrounding communities.”
And now that Kuna Lutheran Church has officially opened its doors, it will serve as a beacon to the surrounding communities. This effort is a testament to the faithfulness and hard work of the many leaders who collaborated on the project. Kuna invites all workers and congregations to join them in prayer as they work with President Von Behren’s assistance to call a pastor to serve them.
“The people of Kuna Lutheran are grateful for this place the Lord has given them to gather around Word and Sacrament – but more importantly, they understand that people of God are people who ‘go’ (Matthew 28:19) because they are sent to be ‘witnesses’ (Luke 24:48) for Jesus. They are eager to engage the Kuna community in service and love in witness for Christ,” Von Behren said.
