Holy Cross Lutheran Church Celebrates 75 Years Of Faith, Family And Community - North Miami Congregation Marks its Diamond Anniversary On Sunday, November 8th, 2026, Celebrating Three-Quarters Of A Century Of Worship, Education And Service

On Sunday, November 8th, 2026 Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Holy Cross Lutheran School, located at 650 Northeast 135th Street, North Miami, Florida 33161 will become 75 years-old.

“The theme for our anniversary is: Faithful through Generations,” said Reverend Dennis Bartels, Senior Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran since 1986.

Looking back when Holy Cross Lutheran’s Church and School were officially established three-quarters of a century ago, members gathered and worshipped at 650 Northeast 135th Street, North Miami, Florida 33161.

And during the 1950's, several start-up congregations began their ministries by renting cramped commercial storefronts. But that wasn’t the case with Holy Cross Lutheran. In fact, the flock still gathers at 650 Northeast 135th Street, North Miami, Florida 33161 (the same standalone building where churchgoers met over seven decades ago)!

Moreover, God blessed Holy Cross Lutheran Church with long-lasting leadership. While other churches dealt with a turnover of pastors every 3 to 4 years, only three reverends served Holy Cross Lutheran Church since its inception.

Historically, Holy Cross Lutheran Church was officially formed on March 15, 1951 after it was incorporated by the county; then the church was made up of 39 charter members. Holy Cross Lutheran Church’s very first full-time pastor was the Reverend Benjamin Schumacker who began his ministry on April 15, 1951.

Simultaneously, when Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Holy Cross Lutheran School were created in 1951, the population of what was then the Town of North Miami was estimated at roughly 12,500 residents. And according to David Burney, Chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami in 1951 was growing rapidly after World War II.

“Here in what was then the Town of North Miami, returning Veterans and their families were putting down roots,” Burney said. “New homes, roads, shops and businesses were springing up and by 1951, North Miami was being recognized nationally as one of the fastest-growing towns in the country.”

Digressing to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1951 was also when Holy Cross Lutheran’s Church and School sprung up in North Miami and become a central part of the community.

“Holy Cross was and continues to be a welcoming place for all people,” said Reverend Bartels. “We are a hardworking, blue-collar group of people who make things work with what the Lord supplies.”

Indeed, God blessed Holy Cross Lutheran Church to stand the test of time because it was and still is a community-focused house of worship.

“Times have changed and society today is different and they don’t look at history; they are always looking for something new and different,” Reverend Bartels said. “But Jesus doesn’t change and therefore our message doesn’t change; we are there for the community and work with different agencies when we can.”

Case in point, Holy Cross Lutheran Church is a community-oriented house of God. According to Bartels, the church participates with a group called Heaven Sent and monthly it helps with a feeding program and at a men’s shelter. He also mentioned that over the years Holy Cross has worked with the local high school and provided free meals for the neighborhood during hurricanes.

In the past, Holy Cross worked with Haitian families during the time of the earthquake that impacted their loved ones.

Reverend Bartels explained, “Just because we have been here for 75 years – that doesn’t mean a thing – it’s what are you doing now.”     

Today, Holy Cross represents a very diverse group of people. Pastor Bartels said on any given Sunday the church has more than 19 different birth countries and everyone loves each other.

“There has been a lot of change in the neighborhood and the challenge has been how can we serve those around us and because of the school we have been able to do just that,” he said.

Reemphasizing Holy Cross Lutheran’s past, it’s fair to say that Daneale Gomer was born and raised in the church. Thus, she joined the Lutheran group in 1964 and remarkably, Holy Cross was where she was baptized, confirmed, and married.

Nowadays, Gomer serves on the Praise Team (helps lead the congregation with the music during worship services). Prior to her role with the Praise Team, Gomer was a member of the choir. Since the 1980's, she participated in the music/singing of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and in her late teens, she was a Sunday school teacher.

In regards to Holy Cross Lutheran Church’s relationship with the community, Gomer said, “The church was and still is a family, Holy Cross has always been a light in the community of North Miami and anyone who walks into Holy Cross is welcome.”

As for the anniversary celebration, she continued, “The church will be celebrating being rooted in Christ. It has taken Holy Cross 75 years of planting and growing the roots in our North Miami, and those roots are strong.”

In the early days, Gomer vividly remembers Reverend Karl E. Krueger (then pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church) and how he used to do ‘sword drills’ with the Sunday school kids.

Gomer clarified that sword drills was a friendly competition when he (Reverend Krueger) would call out a Bible Verse and the kids would have to find a verse in their Bible and start reading it out loud.

“It (sword drills) helped me learn all the books in the Bible in order,” she said. “Along with my parents, I credit him (Pastor Krueger) with leading me to Jesus.”

Like Gomer, Connie Jordan is a dedicated member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and joined the congregation in 1982.

Today, she is the secretary of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and is a Lector (reads the Scriptures on Sunday mornings).

Some of Jordan’s previous positions with the church include: financial treasurer, nursery attendant, couples club coordinator, and school board secretary.

Jordan also mentioned that Holy Cross Lutheran is special in that the majority of the members are true Christians who love, accept, and forgive.

Church anniversary wise, she points out, “In November, we will be celebrating our 75th year of serving and worshipping God;

celebrating the fact that through our school we are able to share the love of God to many children who know nothing about Jesus.”

Like Gomer, Jordan was fond of Reverend Karl E. Krueger.

“He (Pastor Karl Krueger) was a humble man with a great sense of humor,” Jordan recalled. “Pastor Krueger helped establish the church and school that continues today with more than 300 students attending at this time.”

Church Chronology:

1986 – 1988: Both Reverend Karl E. Krueger and Reverend Dennis Bartels shepherded the Holy Cross Lutheran flock until Krueger retired in 1988.

September 21, 1986 – Reverend Dennis Bartels, presently the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, was called to serve the congregation.

1961 - Reverend Karl E. Krueger became the second pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran and served the church until 1988. 

1952 – The sanctuary at Holy Cross Lutheran was built.

It was updated and refurbished in 1991.  

April 15, 1951 – Reverend Benjamin Schumacker became Holy Cross Lutheran’s first full-time pastor.

March 15, 1951 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Holy Cross Lutheran School were officially formed and incorporated by the county. Then 39 signatures were on the charter.

January 29, 1950 – Before Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Holy Cross Lutheran School were officially founded, the church’s very first building was erected. This structure was Holy Cross’s first church and assembly hall. Originally, the building was where people attended Sunday school, worshipped, and on weekdays was used as a kindergarten classroom. Today, it’s known as the Guild Room and is used mainly for events (luncheons, meetings, etc.).

Regarding the anniversary celebration, it will be held on Sunday, November 8th, 2026. Anyone interested in attending or needs more information, email: anniversary@holycross-nm.org. Or call: (305) 893 – 0371.