Get to Know Us
Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Valley, VA
Welcome to our spiritual home here at Faith Lutheran Church. We invite everyone who is looking for a welcoming place of worship to join our Christian family. Many of our members have been born and raised in Fort Valley and we are always excited to meet and greet new people who have moved into our community or are just passing through. We are proud of our Lutheran heritage that invites all children of God to come together to worship the Lord with joy and confidence in the grace that God provides to those who believe. Our communion table is open to all who are baptized and welcomes everyone who is searching for a closer relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The peace of the Lord be with you all,
Pam Kitner
Synod Authorized Minister
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What Lutherans Believe
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At Faith Lutheran Church, we believe in the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — who creates, redeems, and sustains all people and all creation.
As Lutherans, we trust that salvation is God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ. We believe that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God offers forgiveness, hope, and new life to the world.
The Bible is central to our faith and life. Through Scripture, God speaks to us and reveals the good news of Christ’s love and mercy. Worship, prayer, Holy Communion, Baptism, learning, and service are all important parts of our life together.
We believe faith is more than words — it is lived out through love, compassion, service, and care for our neighbors. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we seek to follow Jesus in daily life and share God’s grace with the world.
Faith Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are committed to worshiping God, growing in faith, serving our community, and welcoming all people.
Our Ministry & Worship
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Our Church is full of ministry for all needs and ages. We offer Youth Ministry through our youth group, preschool, and education such as Sunday School. We also offer adult classes on Sunday and Tuesday. We have our Care Ministry, Ladies Aid, and are working on a Men's Club!
Our Committees and Council also lead other ministry and for all that info you can click on the link to the left.
Our Worship is through the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Book (ELW) and the With One Voice Book (WOV). We worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with our worship leader and minister, S.A.M. Pam Kitner.
What is the VA Synod/ELCA
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or ELCA, is a welcoming branch of Lutherans who worship Jesus Christ God's only Son our Lord. The Virginia Synod is a group within the ELCA. The ELCA is divided into synods. The word synod comes from the Greek Root for "together or path".
Some FLC History
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Faith Lutheran Church comes from two Lutheran Churches in Fort Valley, VA, Saint Davids and Mt. Zion. In 1965 the two Churches joined with an active membership of 145. In 1974 first Worship Services were held in our active location at 4260 Fort Valley Road. Today we continue our journey serving God's people in Fort Valley, VA.
What Lutheran's Believe
I’m new here. I have questions about God, church and faith.
All people search for meaning in life, whether through learning, relationships, spirituality, or faith communities. As part of the Christian church, Faith Lutheran Church (FLC) confesses that God’s grace and deep love are given freely to everyone through Jesus Christ. We believe that Christ’s saving work is for all people without exception. God’s invitation is open to everyone, including those who bring questions, doubts, or uncertainty in their faith journey.
Who is God?
God is the Creator of all that exists, the giver of life, and the source of healing, wholeness, and forgiveness. God cares deeply for all people, especially those who are poor, vulnerable, or oppressed, and brings new life through resurrection. Christians know God as the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that every person is created in God’s image and is deeply loved by God. God’s grace is a free gift made known through Jesus Christ and received through faith. It is not something we can earn by our actions, whether good or bad. This message of God’s love and salvation is what Christians call the “good news,” or the gospel.
What do Christians believe?
Christians believe that God entered the world in Jesus Christ, who is fully human and fully divine. Jesus lived among us and showed through his life and teaching that God’s love and salvation are given freely by grace. Through his death on the cross and his resurrection, Jesus brings forgiveness and new life to all people. By God’s grace, received through faith, Christians are made new and are called to love and serve others, reflecting the love God has first shown to us.
What is faith, and why is it important?
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). At FLC, we understand faith as a living and trusting confidence in God’s grace. Faith is more than agreeing with statements of belief; it is trust in God that shapes how we live. Through faith, a person is moved and strengthened to do good for others. At FLC, we believe Scripture teaches that faith is a gift from God. In response to this gift, and empowered by God’s grace, we are called to love and serve our neighbors in everyday life.
I’m thinking about going to church. What can I expect?
At FLC, a congregation is a community of faith that gathers for worship, fellowship, learning, and service. It is a place where people come together to experience, share, and grow in God’s love and grace. FLC is a welcoming community where new people are invited to take part in the life of the church in many different ways, whether through worship, activities, or service.
What can I expect at a worship service?
Worship at FLC, like in many congregations across the church, can take many different forms. Some churches gather in traditional sanctuaries, while others meet in more informal spaces. Music may include organ, piano, choir, or contemporary styles with instruments and singing. At FLC, worship is centered on shared elements that connect Christians everywhere, including reading Scripture, hearing a sermon, and receiving Holy Communion. These gifts of Word and Sacrament help shape and strengthen the faith of the church community. We welcome all who are visiting or seeking a church home to join us in worship and experience the life of the congregation.
How does someone become Lutheran?
People who identify as Lutherans are those who actively practice their faith in the Lutheran tradition or who have joined a Lutheran congregation through membership. Becoming a member is a way of expressing one’s long-term commitment to the life and work of the church. It also expresses a commitment of resources to sustain the work of the congregation, as well as the national and global church.
Who attends church in the ELCA? Can anyone join?
"All types of people and families are welcome! You are welcome as you are! The ELCA teaches that it doesn’t matter what your experience with religion has been or what kind of doubts or questions you might have about faith. We strive to be a church that celebrates diversity and welcomes all people as they are to worship, learn, serve and grow in faith with others".
What do Lutherans believe?
We believe that all people are imperfect and sinful. We are saved (made right with God) by God’s grace alone, through Christ — not by prayer, mindset, or good deeds. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God became one of us and took on the world’s sin and suffering to show divine love. We receive the gift of grace by faith and know that we are forgiven even as we struggle with sin. We trust that through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we are freed to live with gratitude and love.
Tell me more about Martin Luther.
On October 31, 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther began what is now known as the Protestant Reformation. He emphasized, based on his reading of Scripture, that salvation cannot be earned or purchased, but is given as a gift from God. Luther understood this gift as a sign of God’s enduring grace and love. At FLC, Luther’s writings continue to be a part of our Lutheran heritage, but our faith is grounded first and foremost in Scripture and in the historic Lutheran confessions found in the Book of Concord. We also recognize the importance of living out Christ’s call to love all neighbors and to reject antisemitism and all forms of hatred.
What should I know about the ELCA faith tradition?
"All are welcome here. We are a deeply rooted church that is always being made new. Our roots are in Scripture and a collection of writings called the Book of Concord, as well as in the rich histories of our congregations. We believe that God calls us and equips us through the Holy Spirit to live faithfully in response to the good news-the gospel-and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. God works through individual humans and human institutions to serve in the world with all its complexities, tensions and ambiguities".
What does the Lutheran tradition have in common with other Christian traditions?
At FLC, we believe it is important to build relationships and understanding with other Christian traditions. We value cooperation with other churches in shared mission and service, even as differences in practice and teaching may remain. FLC is committed to respectful dialogue, ongoing learning, and working together with others in ways that serve the common good. We also seek opportunities to collaborate with people of different faiths and backgrounds in order to support our wider community.
What’s important to know about the history of the ELCA?
"The framework for our beliefs began in the 16th century, in what became known as the Protestant Reformation. Lutherans in the United States trace their roots back to the mid-17th century, when Lutherans arrived to the Americas from Europe. The ELCA was formed in 1987 through the merger of three Lutheran churches and is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of Lutheran churches in the Christian tradition".
Am I welcome in the ELCA? In my experience, not all churches are welcoming.
"We strive to be a welcoming church. We recognize that there are groups and communities of people who have been hurt by their experiences with churches. They have been made to feel that they cannot be their God-given selves in church settings. The ELCA is continually working toward reconciliation and to share our fundamental belief that God’s love and grace are limitless and for everyone".
What is sin? Am I judged for my sins?
At FLC, we understand sin as something that affects both individuals and communities. It can be seen in our actions and in our failure to act, and it includes the harm, injustice, brokenness, and evil that people can cause toward one another and toward God’s creation. All people fall short of God’s will. At FLC, we believe that God sees and judges the ways sin damages relationships, people, and the world. Confessing sin—whether personal or shared—is not always easy, but we trust that God’s grace brings forgiveness, healing, and new life. Through this grace, we are freed and empowered to love God, our neighbors, and all of creation.
What would cause someone to not be good enough for God or Jesus?
At FLC, we believe there is no limit to God’s grace or forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ, God promises forgiveness for sin and offers new life to all people. While human actions can cause pain and brokenness, God continually makes healing and transformation possible. When we confess our sins, we are assured of God’s forgiveness. At FLC, we respond to this grace by serving and loving our neighbors. God’s gift of grace flows from infinite love, and the gift of faith enables us to receive and live out this good news in our daily lives.
Where is God in pain and loss?
At FLC, we believe God is always with us. God’s love is constant, unchanging, and without limits. God’s goodness and mercy remain faithful through every circumstance. Through Jesus Christ, God enters into human pain and suffering, and through the resurrection we are given hope and new life. At FLC, we trust that by faith we are never alone—God is present with us even in times of deep grief, struggle, and loss.
How does the ELCA understand heaven and hell?
"You might be surprised to learn that Christians today talk about heaven and hell much more than the Bible does. Naturally we wonder what will happen to us and our loved ones after death. The answer to that question lies in God’s hands, not ours. We are freed to serve one another by following Jesus’ example of abundance, justice and peace".
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ELCA Worship Information & FAQs
Portions of this page contain adapted material inspired by resources from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Original ELCA materials remain the property of the ELCA.