Calvary Lutheran Church (Federal Way, Wash.)

Calvary Lutheran was organized on November 28, 1954 with 113 charter members. Edward Flatness served as lay pastor. The congregation rented the chapel at Lutherland Bible Camp as a meeting place and called L. William Youndahl as the first pastor. By the end of 1955 the congregation had purchased a parsonage and a 10-acre plot adjacent to the proposed freeway on Peasley Canyon Road (now 320th Street). The first unit was built and dedicated in September of 1956. An office and Sunday Church School addition was dedicated in 1957. In June of 1967 the present sanctuary and adult education unit was dedicated. Calvary sold the back portion of the property to the State of Washington in 1979. That year, their 25th anniversary, they were able to pay off and burn the mortgage on the property. In 1981 the education wing was remodeled, the narthex enlarged to connect the two buildings, and a pipe organ was installed. The congregation steadily grew over the years to a high in 1969 of 631 confirmed and 1,068 baptized members. Membership has leveled off, and in 1983 there were 938 baptized and 639 confirmed members, showing an older congregation with fewer children.