Christiana Lutheran Church has stood along US Highway 52 between Granite Quarry and Rockwell in Rowan County, North Carolina, since 1871, growing from seven charter families who gathered in the home of Nathan Brown into a multigenerational congregation serving Salisbury and the surrounding communities. Today, a 10:30 Sunday morning worship, a 9:15 Sunday school hour, a preschool for two- to four-year-olds, and a calendar of small groups, choirs, and outreach efforts make Christiana a steady presence for families throughout the area. The church's motto - Christ Centered, Spirit Led, Ministry Focused - is repeated in nearly every room of the building.

Seven Families and a Long Winter Ride in 1871

The story of Christiana begins with the practical hardships of nineteenth-century farm families. In the 1870s, members of several Lutheran congregations in Rowan County - Organ, St. Peter's, St. Matthew's, Union, and St. John's - faced long rides by horse and buggy over rough winter roads. A more centralized place of worship was needed, and on January 22, 1871, seven families came together in Nathan Brown's home on Old Highway 80 (now South Main Street in Granite Quarry) to organize Christiana Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Rev. Simeon Scherer, pastor of Union Lutheran Church, presided. The charter members were Nathan Brown, Henry Brown, Daniel Frick, Moses Lingle, Charles Lyerly, Adam Miller, and Milus Miller.

On March 24, 1871, R. L. Brown, a licentiate of the North Carolina Synod, received permission from Synod President Whitson Kimball to supply the congregation, complete its organization, and build a church. Nathan Brown, his wife Jane, and his mother Amy donated five and a half acres of land for the project, a deed still recorded in Deed Book #45, page 673 of the Rowan County Courthouse. The cornerstone was laid on July 25, 1871. The first building - fifty-three feet by thirty-five feet - was finished in 1874. A second, larger sanctuary replaced it in 1898 and was dedicated on New Year's Day 1899 by the Rev. C. A. Brown, with a sermon by Synod President L. E. Busby. In 1904, the North Carolina Synod held its annual meeting at Christiana.

The Brick Sanctuary and the Beacon Center

Transepts containing ten Sunday school classrooms were added in 1925, but on March 11, 1945, the wood-sided sanctuary burned to the ground. A monument in the cemetery on the property still shows where the altar once stood. The congregation rebuilt in a different location on the same land, dedicating a brick structure debt free on April 17, 1949. A fellowship hall was added in 1953, an educational building in 1960, and an elevator in 2003 made the sanctuary and education building handicap accessible.

Since 1871, twenty-five pastors and four seminarians have served Christiana. The current pastor is the Rev. Lucas R. Safrit, who was ordained and installed on September 19, 2026, after serving the congregation as a pastoral intern. He follows the Rev. Carl M. Haynes, who began in January 1992 and retired in 2022 after thirty years of ministry, and the Rev. Keith Less, who served as interim pastor from 2023 until mid-2024. Christiana became a member of the North American Lutheran Church on September 28, 2010, joining what would become its new denominational home.

In the 2010s, the congregation completed the Brighten the Beacon Campaign, a $2.2 million building project that combined an outdoor pavilion and a fellowship hall with kitchen under one roof. Known as the Beacon Center, the facility serves both as the church's fellowship space and as a community outreach hub. The campaign also added more parking and rebuilt the road between the church and cemetery.

Confessing the Lutheran Faith

Christiana belongs to the North American Lutheran Church and is part of the NALC Carolinas Mission Region. The congregation confesses its faith in the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and affirms Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, holding that the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

The congregation's public statement of belief names the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired written Word of God and the authoritative source and norm for faith and life. It affirms the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, and the other writings in the Book of Concord - the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and Treatise, the Small and Large Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord - as further valid interpretations of the Church's faith.

Christiana describes itself with four core values: Christ Centered, Mission Driven, Traditionally Grounded, and Congregationally Focused. The mission statement is short and frequently repeated: We are Christ Centered, Spirit Led, and Ministry Focused.

What Sunday Morning Looks Like

Worship is at the heart of life at Christiana. The congregation gathers every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the brick sanctuary, with Sunday school for all ages beginning at 9:15 a.m. Worship services are also streamed on Facebook Live, and a weekly worship outline is posted online by Wednesday of each week.

The service follows a historic Lutheran liturgy. It opens with a welcome from the pastor, followed by announcements, prayer concerns, and a prelude during which the congregation prepares its heart for worship. The service continues with a Prayer of Confession, an opening hymn, the Prayer of the Day, and two Scripture lessons read by lay members. After the Gospel reading and a children's sermon, the pastor preaches a Christ-centered sermon tied to the church's liturgical calendar. Following the sermon, the children return to the sanctuary and the congregation joins in a song of praise. Together they recite the Apostles' Creed, hear the offertory, share in additional music and prayers, and pray the Lord's Prayer. The service concludes with a benediction, a closing song, and the dismissal. Holy Communion is celebrated every other Sunday and on holy days. A typical service lasts about one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes.

The current liturgical season at Christiana follows a customized setting influenced by Evangelical Lutheran Worship Setting 10, with green as the liturgical color of the long Time After Pentecost, the season from Pentecost in late May until the beginning of Advent in late November.

A Warm Welcome for Visitors and Returning Christians

Christiana's frequently asked worship questions make clear that newcomers are expected to feel at home. Visitors are not singled out, but church members are known for warmly introducing themselves and inviting guests to sit with them. Dress is described as come as you are - some people wear Sunday best, others wear jeans, and both are equally welcome.

Children are always welcome in worship. The congregation quotes Matthew 19:14 directly: Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. A nursery is available; families can ask an usher for assistance. Children's Church takes place after the children's sermon during the service for those who prefer it.

Holy Communion is offered to all who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and who believe that the true body and blood of Christ are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine. Those who do not wish to receive - including children - are warmly invited to come forward for a blessing from the pastor. Baptism is available for anyone interested in joining the family of God.

Visitors do not need to be members to attend worship or church-wide events, and visitors are not expected to give an offering. The pastor is available for home, hospital, and nursing home visits; to talk with him, contact the church office Tuesday through Friday, or speak with him before or after Sunday worship.

Sunday School and Adult Bible Studies

Sunday school for all ages begins at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings. A member of the Nehemiah Team greets visitors and guides them to their classrooms on the church campus.

Several adult Bible studies meet during the week. An online pericope study, where participants discuss the Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday, is offered weekly at both 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. A weekly study of The Chosen meets at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Smith Assembly Hall. A Coffee, Scripture, and Life group gathers on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. at French Express in Granite Quarry. Other studies, including one through the Book of Judges, are scheduled throughout the year in the Smith Assembly Hall. The congregation also maintains a growing archive of devotionals written by members, drawing on passages from Genesis through Revelation.

C3: Christiana Christ Club

Christiana's youth ministry, called C3 (Christiana Christ Club), is built around the mission of helping young people find their way to Jesus Christ. The program emphasizes a safe and nurturing space for faith, action, and fellowship, addressing spiritual, emotional, and social needs together. Young people at C3 explore their faith through worship and conversation and serve the community through mission work and service projects.

C3 meets at least monthly in a wide variety of formats. All youth are invited to be at the church on Sunday mornings for the 9:15 Sunday school hour and the 10:30 worship service. Monthly youth events sponsored by area NALC churches are scheduled for the fourth Sunday of each month from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

LCW, Men's Fellowship, and the Rowdy Seniors

Women at Christiana gather through the Lutheran Church Women (LCW) ministry, organized into two circles. The Miss Katherine Lyerly circle meets at 10:00 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, and members take orders throughout the year for home-baked goods. The Sister Lucille circle meets at 6:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month in the Smith Assembly Hall. The LCW's stated mission: As sisters in Christ, led by the Holy Spirit, we dedicate ourselves to serve God by coming together for prayer, study, support and action for ministries at Christiana and beyond our own church by using the gifts we have received to reach out to others. Each year, the women take on projects to serve and help fund many programs and needs in the community.

The Christiana Men's Fellowship gathers on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. for a meal and devotions. The group supports the ministries of the church and reaches out to both congregation and community through service projects and outings. Each fall the men take an annual fishing trip to the coast.

The Christiana Rowdy Seniors - sometimes abbreviated CRS - is the church's senior citizens' group, meeting monthly for good food and fellowship. Outings have taken the group to favorite spots around Lexington and the surrounding area.

Music Across Three Choirs

Music ministry is led by Becky Morris, who serves as organist and music director. The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., with summer dates announced in advance. The Handbell Choir, directed by Marsha Beaver, meets on announced dates, and a Youth Puppet Team, also under Morris's direction, is currently on break.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School is a regular part of Christiana's summer ministry. The program is open to children from age two through fifth grade and includes music, crafts, games, and snacks. A Friday night supper with a water slide closes out the week. Older youth help church members run the program, and parents are included through an adult devotions class led by the pastor.

Christiana Creative Preschool

Christiana Creative Preschool is now a direct ministry of the congregation, after many years operating as an independent school that leased space in the church building. When the previous preschool director retired at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, the school came under church management.

The preschool is directed by Laurie Ritchie, a member of Christiana Lutheran Church for over forty years, with associate's and bachelor's degrees in early childhood education and medical administration. The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with classes for two-, three-, and four-year-olds. Stories-To-Go with the Rowan Public Library and Music and Movement round out the program. All children must have received the CDC-required childhood vaccines.

The two-year-old class meets Tuesday and Thursday at $125 per month. The three-year-old class meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at $150 per month. The four-year-old class has two meeting options: three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) at $150 per month, or five days a week (Monday through Friday) at $200 per month. Four-year-olds must be potty trained. To reach the preschool, call 704-223-2621 or email lrritchie22@twc.com.

Outreach Across Rowan County

Christiana supports a number of community organizations financially and through volunteer service. These include Rowan Helping Ministries, the Pregnancy Support Center, Nazareth Children's Home, Rowan One Church One Child, the Family Crisis Council, Angel Tree, Sole Hope, and the American Red Cross.

The Beacon Center, completed as part of the Brighten the Beacon Campaign, is used primarily as a community outreach facility. Annual events like the Fall Trunk-or-Treat and Car Show draw hundreds from the surrounding area to the campus.

Five Scholarships Through the Benevolent Foundation

The Christiana Benevolent Foundation Committee awards five scholarships each year. Four are open to members of Christiana Lutheran Church only: the Crawford and Eva Sloop Memorial Scholarship ($5,000), the Hubert and Blanche Ritchie Scholarship for High School Seniors ($1,000), the Hubert and Blanche Ritchie Scholarship for College Students ($1,000), and the Lena Bangle Lyerly Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), which is for students working toward a degree in health or Christian education. The fifth scholarship, the Brad Patrick Memorial Scholarship ($3,000), is open to all Rowan County public high school seniors enrolling in a two- or four-year college or university and is based on merit and financial need. Applications are submitted to office@christianalutheran.org with the subject line Scholarship Committee.

The Pastor and His Family

The Rev. Lucas R. Safrit was born on October 16, 1995, and was baptized at Christiana in January 1996, making him a member of the congregation from his first months of life. A graduate of Jesse C. Carson High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in history from Catawba College in 2018 and a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest School of Divinity in 2021. Before entering pastoral ministry full-time, he taught American History and AP US History in the Rowan-Salisbury School System at North Rowan and West Rowan High Schools.

He is married to Megan Safrit; together they have a daughter, Reagan, born in April 2023, with another child expected in early 2027. An Eagle Scout, he enjoys camping, hiking, and waterfall-hunting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with hobbies that include railroad history, presidential history, and model railroading. His grandfather, the Rev. Don R. Safrit, served as Christiana's pastor from 1978 to 1991.

After serving the congregation of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in China Grove, North Carolina, as a Synod Authorized Minister from October 2021 until September 2024, Pastor Lucas transitioned from the ELCA to the NALC in the fall of 2024 and began serving Christiana as a pastoral intern. He completed his internship and academic requirements through the NALS and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and installed as Christiana's pastor in 2026.

Visiting Christiana

Christiana Lutheran Church is located at 6190 US Highway 52 in Salisbury, North Carolina, between Granite Quarry and Rockwell. Nearby landmarks include Erwin Middle School and East Rowan High School. The church sits at the intersection of Old Highway 80 (South Main Street in Granite Quarry) and Highway 52.

Sunday worship begins at 10:30 a.m., with Sunday school for all ages at 9:15 a.m. The church office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and can be reached at 704-279-4655 or office@christianalutheran.org.