New Genesis Assembly of God Baptist Church (Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church)

“In 1997, the church building would once again become a center of community life as the home of New Genesis Assembly of God Baptist Church. While serving an Austin community that underwent significant racial change, the new church congregation has anchored the corner for over 25 years.”

“The New Genesis Assembly of God Church building that exists today appears as a unified whole but was actually built in several stages due to financial constraints. The first part to be built included a one-story chapel and parish hall placed at the rear of the lot that had a groundbreaking on October 12, 1924, and was dedicated in February 1925.”

“An important figure in the history of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was Reverend Carl H. Rembold who assumed the pastorate in 1923. Reverend Rembold would lead the church congregation to its new location on N. Laramie Avenue and oversaw the construction of the building seen today over multiple decades, while substantially increasing the size of the congregation, its programming and its community impact.”

“HISTORY OF NEW GENESIS ASSEMBLY OF GOD BAPTIST CHURCH CONGREGATION Similar to many Chicago communities, Austin experienced significant demographic and racial change over the last several decades. This process of neighborhood change would bring a new community of stewards to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church building which had occupied the site for over 70 years.”

“It was primarily built over the period from 1924 -1949 because the original congregation had been restricted by financial issues and exterior events, particularly the Great Depression and World War II and its domestic material shortages from completing the church all at once.”

“It was built in the Austin area of the city to be in the area where the church's German members had already moved to away from the congregation's original building in Noble Square.”

“This congregation had four locations throughout its life. The founding congregation was originally a part of St. Peter's Evangelical Church at Cortez Street and Oakley Boulevard, which is no longer extant.”

“The New Genesis Assembly of God Baptist Church was founded on August 9, 1995, by Pastor C.L. Norman with forty-eight members. Their first place of worship was at 5744 W. North Avenue.”

“The earliest building of his work is likely St. Andrews School for the Catholic Church, which is extant at 1710 W. Addison Street. This is a simply organized, three story tall, brick masonry, school building with classically detailed entrances on three sides.”

“At this time the congregation had 75 members and 14 Sunday school pupils. In 1934 a second section of the church building was built which included the basement to the main church hall which was used temporarily as the sanctuary.”