Locations

Bylas

Our Beginnings

The community of Bylas was served by traveling Lutheran missionaries from 1903 to 1920. The church was any of the camps in the area. The parsonage was a newspaper covered cot under a mesquite trees. Later on there was also an office: a barn with a desk in the loft and hay for the missionary's horse underneath. There has been a resident missionary in Bylas since 1920, and it was not uncommon for the missionary to also serve the mining towns of Safford and Morenci. Some, like Missionary Ernst Sprengler (1930-1947), were both pastor and principal of the Christian elementary school that was started at the Lutheran Mission in Bylas. Our Savior's Lutheran Church no longer has an elementary school in operation, but still has a thriving church and ministry in the Bylas community.

Bylas, Arizona

On the Southern most point of the San Carlos Reservation on US HWY 70 at mile marker 295

Mailing Address:
Our Savior's Lutheran
295 US Hwy 70
Box 18
Bylas, AZ 85530-0018

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 8AM & 10AM Sundays
Sunday School: 9:45 AM Sundays Pre-8th(Postponed until further notice)
Bible Doctrine 101 Course: 6:30 PM Wednesday's
Adult "Apache Christian Training School" Bible Courses: 6:30 PM Wednesdays(Postponed until further notice)
Youth Confirmation Classes: 6:30 PM Thursdays(Postponed until further notice)
Garden, Baking & Bible Class: for caregivers and children: 5:30 PM Thursdays(Postponed until further notice)

Current Pastor: Pastor Joseph Dietrich

Canyon Day Lutheran

Our Beginnings

Canyon Day Lutheran Church began in a reconstructed soldiers' reading room brought from Ft. Apache. Instead of being torn down, the building was given to the Lutherans in the area. They took it apart piece by piece, moved it three miles, and put it back together for worship in the Canyon Day community.

For decades, the smaller communities on the Ft Apache Reservation were served by missionaries working together traveling and traveling each week to hold services and visit the various camps. They were assisted by more than a dozen vicars an evangelists. Since 1982, Canyon Day has been served by the missionary at East Fork. They continue to worship on the same site, but in a newer facility constructed next door to the old converted reading room.

Canyon Day, Arizona

Travel onto Highway 73 East stopping at the second Canyon Day entrance: East Street. Turn right into Canyon Day veering to the left onto East Street and follow the road down about 1 mile to 705 East Canyon Day Road.

Mailing Address:
Canyon Day Lutheran
Box 894
Whiteriver, AZ 85926-0872

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 8 AM Sundays (Drive-in Service)
Youth & Adult Confirmation Classes: Call Pastor Bostedt

Current Pastor: Pastor Dave Bostedt

Cedar Creek

Our Beginnings

Shepherd of the Mountain Lutheran Church began almost a century ago when residents of Cedar Creek made bricks on the river bank in the center of the community and carried them up the hill behind it to build a church. The little church on the hillside continues to be open, welcoming the residents of Cedar Creek to worship each Sunday. They are served by the Lutheran pastors of the Fort Apache Reservation.

Cedar Creek, Arizona

Off of Highway 73 in the town of Cedar Creek. Coming from the East - look up to the left to see a rocky staircase ascending to a beautiful Lutheran Church.

Mailing Address:
Shepherd of the Mountain Lutheran Church
Box 80010
Cibecue, AZ 85911-0010

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 8AM Sundays
Youth & Adult Confirmation Classes: talk to the pastor or evangelist to arrange a time

Current Pastor: Pastor Gary Lupe

Peridot Lutheran

Our Beginnings

On October 10, 1893, two WELS seminary graduates, George Adascheck and John Plocher, volunteered to work among the Apache people. They arrive on October 10, 1893 in San Carlos on the San Carlos Apache reservation where they learned their permission to be there had not yet been approved by the military authorities. They left that post and pitched two tents about nine miles away at the fort at Peridot, where they gained permission to stay. Chief Cassadore graciously allowed them to use ten acres where the Peridot Lutheran Mission has been located ever since. Faithful Christians continue to come to the Peridot Lutheran Mission today to hear God's Word every Sunday in church and send their children to learn God's Word in the elementary school.

Peridot, Arizona

Located on the San Carlos Reservation in the town of Peridot, off of Hwy 70 on the same campus as the Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran School. Take Indian Highway 170 and go 1 mile north. We are on the left or West side.

Mailing Address:
Peridot Lutheran
1 Mile North on Hwy 170
Box 118
Peridot, AZ 85542 -0118

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 8 AM Sundays (limited to 50 people each service)
Women in Christ: 6:30 pm Tuesdays twice a month(TBA)
HS & Adult Bible Class: 9 AM Sundays
Bible Doctrine 101 Course: by appointment with the Pastor
Youth Group: Meets 1X a month for Bible and Activity. Contact Mr. Chris Mundstock to join.

Current Pastor: Pastor Timothy Leistekow

Gethsemane Lutheran

Our Beginning

In 1911, a missionary from the East Fork Lutheran Mission was sent 50 miles west to the community of Cibecue. A small mission chapel was constructed in Lower Cibecue with the missionary also operating a school program. In the 1920's, as local people began moving several miles up the river, a second chapel was built in Upper Cibecue.

The main base of ministry was consolidated in the 1970's on the Upper Cibecue site called Gethsemane Lutheran Church. The school program functioned until the 1990's, and the church today continues to be an active part of the community. The people of Cibecue continue to eagerly hear about Jesus in both the English and Apache languages each week.

The little mission at Lower Cibecue also still stands, serving as a historical marker and used on special occasions.

Cibecue, Arizona

Located on the White Mountain Reservation west of the main State Highway 60 - turn left onto Indian Rt 12 and travel approximately 12 miles, turning onto West Cromwell Rd

Mailing Address:
Gethsemane Lutheran
PO Box 80010
Cibecue, AZ 85911-0010

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 10 AM & 12 Noon Sundays
Sunday School: 9:15 AM Sundays
Bible Class: 6:00 - 7:30 pm Mondays
Street Worship: 6 PM Wednesdays
Adult Bible Instruction: as requested
Youth Confirmation Instruction: as requested

Current Pastor: Pastor Gary Lupe Evangelist Leonard Fall

East Fork Lutheran

Our Beginnings

A twisted cedar tree still stands on the East Fork Mission campus. It's seen many changes in the last 122 years.

In 1896 Missionary Paul Mayerhoff was assigned the Fort Apache Indian Reservation as his field of service. Given friendly passage from Chief Cassadore of Peridot to visit the land of Chief Alchesay in the White Mountains, Mayerhoff set up camp under the old cedar tree on the banks of the East Fork of the White River.

As the years went by, a church was built, a school established, a nursery flourished for a time caring for approximately 6,000 people during its years of operation, and a training school for Native adults to be equipped for ministry began.

Today the tree still stands, but the landscape around it is drastically changed, and incredibly blessed with East Fork Lutheran Church, East Fork Lutheran School, and the Apache Christian Training School all continuing to share Jesus from that campus to the wider community.

East Fork, Arizona

From the South - travel north on Hwy 60 until you reach Hwy 73 which only goes East. Take this until Hwy 46 also called Fort Apache Rd and travel 4.3 miles to turn right into East Fork Mission. The school is on your right, the church to the left.

East Fork Lutheran
4325 Fort Apache Rd
Whiteriver, AZ 85941

Mailing Address:
East Fork Lutheran
Box 894
Fort Apache, AZ 85926

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 6 PM Saturday, 8 AM Sundays (Drive-in Service)
Sunday School: 8:30 - 9:30 am Sundays
Youth & Adult Confirmation Classes: Contact Pastor Bostedt
East Fork Lutheran School - efschool.org

Current Pastor: Pastor Dave Bostedt

Shepherd in the Pines Lutheran

Our Beginning

Shepherd in the Pines initially began missionaries from Whiteriver traveled to serve the logging towns of Maverick and McNary. With its mill, McNary was the home of a thriving lumber industry and many White Mountain Apache Tribal members. A church was constructed and Shepherd in the Pines was served from 1948 until 1986 by missionaries until the lumber mill closed and most people moved out of town.

In 2002, when the town was reinvigorated by new housing developments, regular services were restarted and continue today.

McNary, Arizona

Travel north from Whiteriver approximately 25 miles following signs to McNary which is 3 miles east of Hon dah. The church is located at 120 Everygreen Rd just off to your right.

Mailing Address:
Shepherd in the Pines Lutheran
B0x 333
McNary, AZ 85930-0333

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 9 AM Sunday
Sunday School: Call Pastor
Adult Bible Instruction: as requested
Youth Confirmation Instruction: as requested

Current Pastor: Pastor Kirk Massey, Jr.

Grace Lutheran

Our Beginnings

Grace Lutheran Church began in September of 1918 when the recently ordained Rev. Alfred Uplegger was sent from Globe to be a missionary in San Carlos, AZ. It wasn't long though, before he was on the move again. The entire town of San Carlos was relocated due to the rising waters behind the newly constructed Coolidge Dam. The tufa-stone chapel in “old” San Carlos was dismantled and moved to Peridot and used in the construction of a Christian elementary school. Missionary Uplegger moved upriver to the new site of San Carlos, located at an old military camp known as Rice. A new tufa-stone church was built in the new downtown San Carlos in 1921, and Missionary Uplegger served there until his retirement in 1977.

While he served as the pastor, he also invited his father, Dr. Francis Uplegger to live and work with him. Dr. Uplegger, called "the Gentleman Missionary" by the Apache people whom he served, lived in San Carlos from 1927 until his death in 1964. He served as the Superintendent of the Apache mission field and was instrumental in transcribing the Apache language.

San Carlos, Arizona

Traveling on Hwy 70 turn north in Peridot onto Indian Hwy 170. Travel approximately 4 miles and turn right into down town San Carlos. Travel about 1.5 miles and just before the end of the road turn left into the church parking lot.

Mailing Address:
Grace Lutheran
Box 27
Bylas, AZ 85550-0027

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 7 PM Saturdays, 10 AM Sundays
Sunday School: 11 AM Sundays(Postponed until further notice)
Adult Bible Instruction: as requested
Women in Christ: 6:30 pm twice a month on Tuesdays

Current Pastor: Pastor: Timothy Leistekow

Lutheran Church of the Open Bible

Our Beginning

In 1910, newly ordained E. Edgar Guenther was assigned to start a school in the East Fork area of the Fort Apache reservation. Arriving in 1911, he worked faithfully, but noticed that the center of reservation activity was quickly moving away from Ft. Apache to the new community of Whiteriver.

With permission he started holding services there.
In 1918, something happened that would change the course of his work. During a flu epidemic, Missionary Guenther and his wife, Minnie, rode to the camps to help. Taking rendered skunk oil, Epson salts, tar paper and gallons of soup, they attempted to treat flu victims as best they could. One day they found Chief Alchesay in a remote camp, close to death. The Lord spared his life, and Missionary Guenther kept returning to give him the Words of life from the Bible.

It was the beginning of a close friendship that led to Missionary Guenther being adopted as a blood member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

In 1919 the Guenther's moved to Whiteriver permanently, eventually living in a home they ordered from the Montgomery Ward catalog. In 1922 the church they were building next door with their members was completed. On the day of the dedication of the Church of the Open Bible, Alchesay himself turned the key, marched to the front of the church and was baptized together with 100 members of his Tribe.

The church stands to this day, still filled with members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe coming to hear the Bible opened and the Word of God preached.

Whiteriver, Arizona

Travel on Hwy 73 straight into Whiteriver, about the middle of downtown, look for 18 W Oak St.

Mailing Address:
Lutheran Church of the Open Bible
Box 519
Whiteriver, AZ 85941-0519

Ministries

In-Service Worship: 6 PM Saturday, 8 AM Sundays (for elders & high risk people), 9:30 AM Sundays (limit of 50 each service)
Sunday School: Call Pastor
Recovery Ministry: 5:30 - 7:00 pm Fridays(Postponed until further notice)
Adult Bible Instruction: as requested
Youth Confirmation Instruction: as requested

Contact Pastor: Kirk Massey, Jr. Evangelist Leonard Fall

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