Reverend Raymond LeBlanc was called in June, 1978 to establish a mission congregation in Carson, California whereby the Word would be preached and the Sacraments administered beginning August 1978. There was only a parsonage and a 1.8 acre parcel of land when Pastor and Mrs. LeBlanc arrived. The parsonage would be home for the Pastor and his family for the next 20 years.
On September 1, 1978, Pastor LeBlanc began his full time duties as the pastor and developer of the Carson Mission. The first informal gathering was held in October 1978 in the home of Johnnie and Jackie Corina. There were four persons present in addition to Pastor and Mrs. LeBlanc. At this gathering, the pastor shared his vision and discussed the idea of building a church. Informal gatherings continued for approximately two months and then it was decided to establish worship services.
The church had a humble beginning as the first worship services was held on October 25, 1978 in the garage of Bob And Leslie Wilcox located at 19822 Delfasen in Carson. The inaugural sermon was entitled, “We Have this Ministry Together” taken from Philippians 1:3-10. There were twenty-one faithful followers (ten adults and eleven children). The next week the worship services were moved to the parsonage located at 19803 Leapwood in Carson, where services were held until January 1979. In February 1979, Sunday worship was moved to Curtiss Middle School’s choral room. Membership continued to grow making it necessary to move to the oral arts room. Worship service was conducted once on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., with Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Rev. LeBlanc was called to the office of Dr. Margaret Wold, a representative from the district office of the American Lutheran Church, South Pacific. Dr. Wold shared that Christ Lutheran Church in Long Beach was interested in partnering with a mission congregation. After discussions, a partnership was initiated. A celebration of this partnership was held on February 24, 1980. The Presiding Bishop of the American Lutheran Church, Dr. David W. Preuss served as guest preacher to consecrate the partnership. Over 500 hundred persons were in attendance.
On March 23, 1980, Mr. Roy Bernsten, Assistant to the President of the South Pacific District accepted the constitution of the newly chartered church. The congregation of the new First Lutheran Church of Carson called Reverend Raymond LeBlanc as pastor. Pastor LeBlanc continues in faithful service to First Lutheran to this day.
God blessed the congregation with the appropriate number of members, 47 family units) to qualify for building His edifice. In early 1981, a building committee was formed, members included: Randall foster, Chairperson; Aletha (Betty) Henderson, Denise Shephard, Sandy Livingston, Jackie Corina, Al Starr, Karen LeBlanc, Doris Mims and Ada Foster. The committee was charged with the responsibility of developing a rendering (drawing) of the proposed building, selecting an architect, properly conveying the desired features and requirements to the architect, obtaining a schematic and design drawing and approving the drawings. Additionally, this group was charged with arranging financing for the new building. On January 17, 1982, the congregation voted
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