Lutherans Around the World
The term Lutheran was deplored by ,
reformer, and was initiated by his detractors as an insult. The church
originally called itself the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession
or simply the Evangelical Church. The church grew rapidly in Germany and
into the Scandinavian countries.
As a result of the missionary movements of the 18th and 19th centuries,
Lutheranism has become a worldwide communion of Christians and the largest
Protestant denomination in the world, with about 63 million members.
Many northern European countries are heavily Lutheran. What may also
surprise you is that there are almost as many Lutherans in Africa as there
are in the United States. All of this growth is due to the missionary work
which is still very important to the Lutheran Church.
There are sizeable Lutheran communities in many other countries including:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Papua New
Guinea, Tanzania, and the United States. Lutheran missions have also been
established in many African countries like Sierra Leona.
Lutherans in Georgia
Lutherans
in Georgia have a rich historical heritage which dates back to the 1700's,
when we were still a colony of England. Georgia was actually named for a
Lutheran, King George II of Britain. Although the King of England, he
was a German speaking Lutheran who had great sympathy for persecuted
Lutherans in Austria near Salzburg. As a result, these religious refugees,
called Salzburgers, became some of the first settlers of the new English
colony. They built a settlement and church in what is today Effingham
County, just north of Savannah - Jerusalem Lutheran Church. This active
congregation is the oldest continuously operating church building in the
State of Georgia.
In the political area, early Lutherans made quite a contribution in Georgia as well. The first governor of Georgia after winning independence from England was John Adam Treutlen. He was a Lutheran of Salzburger heritage. Treutlen County is named for him.
Lutherans came to Atlanta in the late 1800's. There are over 90 Lutheran churches in greater metro Atlanta area. Our presence is growing in numbers and in outreach. We invite you to come grow together with us in God's grace.