Trinity Lutheran School (Orlando, Florida)

Trinity Lutheran Church in Orlando, Florida aquired land to the west of the sanctuary in the late ‘40s which was used to start a school in 1953 with Kindergarten and first grade, growing to sixth grade before 1960, and to eighth grade in the early ‘70s.  With the acquisition of the little red house to the north of the sanctuary came expansion in the other direction, the Child Development Center serving younger children starting in 1983.

After the death of Pastor Trapp in 1946, Pastor Albert Besalski arrived and served during Trinity's explosive growth during the ‘50s and early 1960s. When Pastor Besalski accepted a call to serve a church in Alabama in 1964, Pastor James Kunze, his assistant and a son of the congregation, served as senior pastor. A number of assistant and associate pastors, and a few vicars, served here during Pastor Besalski and Pastor Kunze's tenures, including Pastors Ed Trinklein, Gerald Seaman, Milan Weerts, and Lloyd Goetz. In 1989 Pastor Ronald Fink arrived, serving here until 1999. He was assisted by Pastor Kunze until his death from cancer in 1994, followed by associate pastors Mark Joeckel and Scott Heitshusen. When Pastor Fink retired, Trinity was served during a three-year vacancy by Pastor Bill Reinhardt. Associate Pastor Jon van Sliedrecht served here from 2004- to 2007. Pastor Jeff Moore served Trinity as Senior Pastor from 2003 through December 2014. Pastor Billy Brath served at Trinity from 2009 through June 2015 as Trinity's Urban Missionary and Associate Pastor. Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder, Rev. Jim Martin, and Rev. Larry Schaefer each served Trinity well as Interim Senior Pastors for select periods of time from January 2015 through September 2017 when a Call was issued to & accepted by Rev. Doug Kallesen.  On October 1, 2017, Rev. Doug Kallesen was installed as Trinity's Senior Pastor.

As time passed and the local community and economy changed, the demand for Trinity's K-8 school program declined while the demand for exceptional Christian child care increased substantially. Trinity was quickly approaching its 100th anniversary, and while reviewing its first century of ministry and seeking wisdom on what opportunities the second century may bring, it became evident that the time had come to retire the K-8 school ministry at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.  Trinity now moves boldly into a second ministry with a fresh perspective, trusting that we are guided by God’s will for Trinity’s future, as we adjust our course and move into Trinity’s second century of ministry.

Today Trinity Lutheran School cares for and educates 300+ children from six weeks old through PreK-4.  The worshiping congregation of Trinity Downtown averages about 300 people per weekend, with many opportunities for Christian witness and service in reaching out to downtown Orlando and the world.  Trinity's 100th anniversary was celebrated in September of 2019. With more than 100 years of history behind us, Trinity is excited to be charging forward into a second century of sharing Jesus with those around us.[2]  

Special Community events such as Touch-a-Truck, the Downtown Orlando Pumpkin Patch, Okotberfest, and Downtown Orlando Christmas Outreach events are held annually.

• Official Website