Who we are
For more than 45 years, Peace Lutheran has been serving the community of Loves Park and the greater Rockford area by sharing the message of Jesus Christ and offering quality Christian education.
The strength of our church lies in the Word of God, which speaks to our hearts and lives. Our church’s beauty is found in the message it proclaims – that of our Savior’s pardoning love, which has made us members together in the family of God.
We believe that it is by GRACE ALONE that sinful human beings (and that includes all of us) have the forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and eternal life, instead of guilt, fear, and condemnation. Grace is God’s “undeserved love.”
We believe that it is by FAITH ALONE that this absolutely free gift is received to us. Faith is simply a personal trust that God has done all this by the death and resurrection of his only Son, Jesus Christ.
We believe that SCRIPTURE ALONE is the absolute source of truth, an unerring guide to be believed above human reason, experience, or tradition. By “Scriptures,” we mean the Bible, the divinely inspired Word of God.
We believe that salvation is God’s free gift to all who, by the working of the Holy Spirit, believe in Jesus Chris as God’s Son and their personal Savior from sin. This assurance of salvation through faith in Jesus fills us with peace – peace of mind, peace of conscience, and the certainty of peace with God…now and forever!
In August of 2009, our congregation built and moved to a new and larger worship and ministry center from which we continue, with God’s help, to freely share the good news about Jesus the Savior.
Our Mission
Our mission is to make disciples by sharing the gospel which creates and nurtures faith for eternal life.
Our Vision
Coming Soon in 2024!
Our acronym stands for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. We admit, it’s a mouthful. But each word is significant.
Wisconsin is where three pastors serving German immigrants joined together in a common fellowship more than 150 years ago. Today, it is still where more than half of our membership calls home—but now we have congregations spread all across North America and missions spanning the globe.
Our History
1970’s
In October of 1970 a group of Rockford residents who were members of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, a member-congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) located in Belvidere, began exploratory services in the Rockford area. In January of 1972 Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church was officially organized. Membership included 23 communicants and 11 voters.
In the spring of 1974, after worshiping for two years in the Loves Park Boy’s Club, Peace Lutheran, by God’s grace, Peace purchased 2.7 acres of land in Loves Park. Worship was held in a temporary facility for a number of years.
1980-1990’s
Groundbreaking for Peace Lutheran’s first permanent worship facility took place on May 10, 1981. The church was dedicated on the 10th anniversary of congregation on Oct 18th, 1981. At that time Peace had grown to 97 baptized members and 59 communicant members.
In September of 1986 Peace opened a preschool to serve the congregation and surrounding community. Because of the church’s growth, the congregation decided to expand its facility, building a new education wing. This addition was dedicated to the glory of the Lord on Sep 8th, 1991.
2000 – Present
Throughout its history, Peace has experienced growth. This growth has been a gift from God and has led the congregation to assist in the founding of another church, New Life Evangelical Church in Rockford, and to “daughter” another congregation, Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Roscoe/South Beloit.
Growth and increasing ministry needs also led the congregation to purchase a new piece of land and to construct a new building in 2009. Our church is currently located at 502 Orth Road in Loves Park.
