Planting a New LCMS Church in Spartanburg County

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Simply put, church planting is "establishing an organized body of believers in a new location" or, in this case, an old one.

Spartanburg County, South Carolina, the state's fifth largest county by population, was left without a Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod when the Lamb of God congregation closed its doors in Spartanburg in 2019. But since that time, and post-COVID, Spartanburg and the surrounding region have experienced incredible growth as one of the fastest growing regions in the nation.

With the assistance of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, its Southeastern District, and our sister church, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Simpsonville in neighboring Greenville County, we believe God is calling us to establish a new congregation for Lutherans relocating here, for people new to the faith, and for those searching for their faith.

The Resurrection church plant team is comprised of individuals with the heart, and commitment, to follow through on the vision of a new LCMS congregation in Spartanburg County--not by believing that it's their works alone that will establish this new congregation, but by believing that the Holy Spirit is working through them. They're also supported by former members of the former Lamb of God congregation and people relocating to the area.

The in-county team includes:

BRUCE SELIN

 Bruce Selin and his wife Carol are lifelong Lutherans. The Selins have 5 adult children and 7 

grandchildren.

Bruce began in the Holy Ministry over 30 years ago, serving as an Associate Pastor in his 

previous congregation. For 17 years he served as a missionary in the former Soviet Union, 

working in conjunction with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria. He also made multiple mission trips to China, teaching in the seminaries of the “Underground Church”. 

Many years ago, Bruce had the privilege of visiting his great grandfather’s grave on the island of Wormsi in Estonia. On grandfather’s gravestone were inscribed the words of Romans 10:13 & 14:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of 

whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

These words are the inspiration for a lifelong commitment to the work of the ministry. To God be the glory!

NORM ANDERSON

A member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Simpsonville, Norm has been active in LCMS Leadership for 40+ years as Council Executive and as an Elder. His involvement includes Church Planter, Seminarian sponsor, missionary support, and Congregation Committee Member to build God’s Kingdom within and to reach out in three different LCMS Districts.

His calling now is as Church Plant Chair at Immanuel Lutheran Church to start-up and ‘Plant’ Resurrection Lutheran Church in Spartanburg County, SC.

REV. JEFF VANOSDOL

Pastor Jeffrey VanOsdol serves Immanuel Lutheran Church in Simpsonville.    He was born July 30, 1964, in Seymour, Indiana. In 1986 he graduated from Indiana University. He graduated in 1992 with a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He served Immanuel from 1998 through 2008. After a sabbatical he was again called to return and serve Immanuel in 2015. He lives in Simpsonville with his wife, Jennifer. 

With the universal Christian Church, the  Lutheran Church Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan, and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God’s Word and the Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.

Being Lutheran our congregation accepts and teaches the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th Century. The teachings of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Scripture alone, Faith alone.

SOLA GRATIA – Grace Alone
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

SOLA SCRIPTURA – Scripture Alone
The Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

SOLA FIDE – Faith Alone
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

To learn more about what Lutherans believe, please visit the Lutheran Links tab on this website.