Our Story

A Brief History of Advent Lutheran Church

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Advent Lutheran Church was established in 1987 as a new mission of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).  The Reverend Robert Bremer served as the founding pastor for its 16 charter members.

Advent’s first service was held at Eastowne Office Park in Chapel Hill on November 29, 1987 with 22 people in attendance.  Six months later, worship services were moved to Camelot Village.  On April 29, 1988 Pastor Bremer signed the Constitution of the LCMS at the Southeastern District Convention, and Advent was officially admitted as a congregation of Synod.  In the fall of 1988, Advent began holding services at the American Legion Hall in Chapel Hill while plans were being made for Advent’s permanent building.

On November 20, 1994, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at 230 Erwin Road, the current address of the Church.  The building was dedicated on June 2, 1996.

Pastor Bremer retired on September 30, 2001, and the Reverend James McDaniels served as interim pastor from October 2001 until May 2003.

In April 2003, the Reverend Daniel Brammeier was called to serve as Advent’s second pastor.  He was installed on May 18, 2003 and served until August 2006 when he accepted a call to Immanuel Lutheran in Brandon, Florida.

In September 2006, the Reverend Herbert Walther, a retired Lutheran pastor, became Advent’s vacancy pastor. He served in this capacity until June 1, 2008. In May 2007, John V. Benham III, a seminary student at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, was invited to serve his vicarage at Advent, with Pastor Walther as his vicarage supervisor.  Vicar John began serving Advent June 1, 2007, and was installed as vicar on June 17, 2007.

On June 1, 2008, Vicar John was ordained at Advent and on that date, the Reverend John V. Benham III was installed as Advent’s third pastor.  He served until August 2016 when he accepted a call to Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church in Liberty Township, Ohio.

In September 2016, the Reverend James McDaniels, became Advent’s vacancy pastor.

On January 21, 2018, the Reverend Richard Scott Lohman was installed as Advent’s fourth pastor.

Advent continues to shine the Light of the World – Jesus – to Chapel Hill and wherever He leads us.

God be with you!

"To Grow in the Lord and To Make Him Known"