Praise Lutheran Church

From 1992-1994 Pastor James Cotter served as Associate Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.  He and 12 families (30 people) left Holy Cross to begin a contemporary congregation in the northwest corner of Fort Wayne, joined with as many members from Our Hope Lutheran Church of Huntertown. They received a charter from the English District on June 19, 1995, and held worship services at Perry Hill Elementary Public School on Coldwater Road from September 18, 1994 until March 22, 1998.

In July of 1995, 11 acres of land were purchased from the Salomon Farms Estate on Dupont Rd, which was dedicated on January 5, 1996.  Ground was broken for their first structure on June 22, 1997, and was dedicated on May 31, 1998.  The congregation built a large multipurpose room, kitchen, offices, restrooms and meeting rooms. On August 25, 1998, Praise opened its Child care ministry, later named “Little Praisers” on December 25th 1998, utilizing the Fellowship Hall. On March 11, 2001, a ground breaking service was held to build an educational wing, with 10 classrooms and an office complex, which serves the ministries of Little Praisers, Sunday School and other activities.