History

The South Atlantic District Mission Board began calling for a mission explorer in 1997 for the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Pastor James Schumann of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, accepted the call in January of 2000, and in June of that year he and his family moved to a rented condominium while the new parsonage was being constructed in Carolina Forest.

The first worship service s were held in the rented condominium on River Oaks Drive. As the group grew larger, serviced were moved to Hunter’s Ridge Child Care on Forestbrook Road. After a year of canvassing and outreach, the official “Kick-Off Service” was on September 9, 2001, in the Wall Auditorium at Coastal Carolina University. The Lord blessed his Word in the Wall Building for the next three years as the mission grew to over 60 souls and for three successive Easter services the worship attendance was over 100. In August of 2004 the church wanted a more permanent place for ministry and moved to a rented storefront at 1701 Hwy 544. Amazing Grace Lutheran Church received official “mission status” from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in April of 2005, and in June of 2006 he group moved to another rented storefront ministry center at 4761 Hwy 501, closer to the target mission field of Carolina Forest. The congregation also owns 5 acres of land on Carolina Forest Boulevard near the Farms Subdivision.

In May of 2006 Pastor Schumann accepted a call to serve Crown of Glory Lutheran Church, in Orlando, Florida. The second resident pastor for Amazing Grace Lutheran Church was seminary graduate Benjamin Zahn, who arrived in Myrtle Beach with his wife Rachel in July 2006.

Under God’s blessing, Amazing Grace dedicated its first church building (worship, education, and fellowship space) on March 23, 2011. A permanent home for the ministry of Amazing Grace is a blessing from our gracious God that will enhance our opportunities to reach the unchurched in our community and bring them into a family of believers.