About Trinity

In 1951, God placed in the hearts of a small group of people the desire to see a Lutheran congregation in New Smyrna Beach. In October of that year, eight Lutherans first gathered for worship at the home of Mary Maier.

Two years later, Pastor Lynn Wilfrid was called to be the mission/developer for this new congregation. The first formal worship service was conducted in the Chamber of Commerce building on Canal Street in September 1953, with sixty-seven persons in attendance.

A two-story house on Riverside Drive at the corner of Downing Street was purchased. On September 26, 1954, members processed from the Chamber of Commerce building to that house, known as “Luther Hall,” for a service of organization and dedication. There were 105 charter members.

The remaining property on the block was purchased, and the first church building was consecrated in October 1961. Rev. Joseph Huntley was pastor. During this time, the two-story house at Riverside Drive and Douglas Street served as the Parish House, with church offices, meeting rooms, and classrooms.

That building became the “Harris House,” part of the Atlantic Center for the Arts. The “Riverside on the Park” condominiums occupy the area where the church building and Luther Hall were located, across from Riverside Park and one block north of the south causeway. Luther Hall was removed to make room for a parking lot when the church was constructed.

Pastor Glen Barger and then Pastor Ronald Smith served Trinity in the following years. In February 1970, Trinity became a self-supporting congregation and made numerous additions and improvements to the property. Rev. William Renn was pastor.

In 1983, the congregation began to feel the need for a new church building. In 1986, the mortgage on the Riverside Drive church was paid off and the Turnbull Bay Road property was purchased.

Groundbreaking for the fellowship hall and offices at the new site followed. On September 2, 1990, the last service was held at the Riverside Drive church. As part of the service, members carried hymnals and altar vessels to the new facility.

The first service in the new fellowship hall on Turnbull Bay Road was held on September 9, with groundbreaking for the worship space the next week. The new worship space was dedicated on February 24, 1991. Rev. Perry Griffith was pastor.

In 1998, the mortgage on the current facility was paid off. The congregation celebrated with a mortgage-burning ceremony on Reformation Sunday. Rev. Louis Trebus was pastor.

Rev. Christine Hunziker, Rev. Don Reiter, Rev. David Rike, and Rev. Timothy Bernard followed as pastors. Rev. Robert Vogl began serving as pastor in 2024.

While a listing of dates and events in the life of the congregation is interesting, the real story of Trinity is the people God has used to minister to the needs of this community. We cannot name everyone who has contributed over the years, but each has added to the richness of our ministry as God’s people: making Christ known to our neighbors and the world through word and deed.

Trinity celebrated its 60th anniversary on September 26, 2014.

• Rev. Lynn Wilfrid: 1953–1955

• Rev. Joseph Huntley: 1955–1963

• Rev. Glen Barger: 1964–1967

• Rev. Ronald Smith: 1968–1969

• Rev. William Renn: 1969–1976

• Rev. Perry Griffith: 1976–1994

• Rev. Louis Trebus: 1994–2001

• Rev. Christine Hunziker: 2003–2005

• Rev. Don Reiter: 2006–2014

• Rev. David Rike: 2015–2018

• Rev. Timothy Bernard: 2020–2023

• Rev. Robert Vogl: 2024–present