About the Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church

First and foremost,  we are individuals who have been called by the grace of God to be partakers of the hope of eternal life. We individually have been given grace to believe the forgiveness of our own sins in Jesus' name and blood, and to preach sins forgiven with this same Gospel message. Through the gift of living faith and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we are members of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Several hundred members attend our services each week.  We have attendees of all ages, are especially blessed to have many youth and children in our gatherings.

As a church, we are part of the Laestadian Lutheran Church. The Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC) was organized on June 9, 1973, under the name "Association of American Laestadian Congregations" (AALC). The association changed its name in 1994 in order to better convey its spiritual heritage and the nature of its organization. The teachings of Laestadianism are based on the Holy Bible and the Lutheran Confessions. Centermost among these teachings is the sermon of Jesus' suffering, death, and victorious resurrection. The work of Jesus Christ continues in this world as the work of the Holy Spirit in Christ's congregation. Thus, the Laestadian Lutheran Church teaches of God's kingdom and preaches repentance and the forgiveness of sins. We hold, in accord with the Lutheran Confessions, that the Bible is the highest guide and authority for Christian faith, doctrine and life.

Our Mission

The mission of our central organization, the Laestadian Lutheran Church, and its congregations is: 
 
To preach the gospel of repentance and remission of sins to the people of our communities, our nations, and throughout the world so that they might become partakers with us of the grace that God offers sin-fallen man in His Son Jesus Christ. 
 
To nurture and strengthen the faith of the believing and root our children in Christian faith in God's kingdom. 
 
To awaken and inspire Christian values and ethics, soberness of mind, love of homeland, and responsible citizenship among the people of our nations. 
 
In order to accomplish this mission, the Laestadian Lutheran Church arranges and holds services at home and abroad, teaches and supports the teaching of God's Word among children and youth, publishes literature, newspapers, magazines, and recordings. It also works with its sister organizations around the world. 
 
For further information on how we believe, sermons, articles,  and teachings on our faith please visit: Kingdom of Peace.

Our History

The roots of known living Christianity in the Seattle area can be traced to 1945. In the Fall of that year, Evelyn and Toivo Waltari decided to move west because of Toivo's allergy to farming dust at their home in North Dakota. The brother-in-law and sister of Toivo took over the farm after World War II. 
 
On their initial trip west, Evelyn and Toivo were accompanied by her siblings Reynold and Sevia Carlson. Of the four, only Evelyn was believing at the time. After a short time in Seattle during the Fall of 1945, they had decided to make Seattle their home. All except Sevia returned to North Dakota for their belongings. 
 
After renting a room for a short time in Seattle, Evelyn and Toivo purchased a home in the Greenwood district. In the fall of 1949 on a trip to the East Coast, Toivo was converted in Worchester, Massachusetts at the Timmonen/Kauppinen services. Reynold Carlson also later received the grace of repentance. 
 
By 1950, several other believers had relocated to the West Coast including Evelyn's parents John and Anna Carlson with their daughter Marcella from Sebeka, Minnesota. 
 
During the first few years, services were held in homes. When Antti Koukkari, a visiting Finnish minister, came to Seattle on a 1951 Mission Trip, he encouraged the believers in Seattle to buy a church “for the children”. The believers were somewhat surprised since there were no youngsters at the time. Koukkari told them, “The area is going to grow” and mentioned the presence of the Boeing Airplane Company. Thus, later in 1951 an existing church building was purchased, prompted by Toivo who had also suggested they appropriate a “church for the children”. The building was purchased for $8,000 and was in Ballard, a predominantly Scandinavian neighborhood in the northwestern portion of Seattle. The name used by the association at that time was “Seattle Apostolic Lutheran Society”. The original board of directors included John Carlson, Reynold Carlson, Oscar Wickman, Arthur Soristo, Karl Hendrickson, Evelyn Waltari, and Toivo Waltari. 

The Christians remained at the Ballard church from 1951 until 1975. During the first quarter century, the congregation continued to expand based on family growth and relocation of families and individuals from other areas in North America and Finland. 

1962 The name was changed to the Seattle Apostolic Lutheran Congregation. At that time there were approximately 30 to 35 families plus children, making the total size of the congregation about 100 believers.

1973 Several families departed God's kingdom with a leniency heresy in American Christianity. 

1974 The name was changed to the Laestadian Congregation of Seattle, so as not to identify with those who went into heresy with the name "Apostolic Lutheran". 

1975 The size of the congregation had almost doubled from its size in 1962. The congregation began searching for a larger and more northerly building, since many congregation members had settled in Seattle's northern suburbs. The Ballard church was sold to a Baptist congregation for approximately $22,000. Until a new church was found, a community clubhouse in north Seattle was rented.

1976 The congregation purchased a building for $52,000. It was located on one acre of land in Seattle's Lake City area. In 1979-80, a 1,200 square foot addition was built onto the Lake City church. 

1981 The congregation had outgrown the Lake City building and resolved to purchase a different building or build a new one. Also, by the early 80's, most of the congregation had moved to the Snohomish, Monroe, and Woodinville areas, northeast of Seattle. In January 1982, the congregation sold the Lake City church. During the interim, the Seattle Congregation rented Mariner High School in Everett (where the 1981 AALC Summer Services were held) and the Multi-Purpose facility in Bothell as temporary meeting places until a new church facility could be built. 

1982 In July, the congregation purchased approximately 6 acres of land in the Snohomish (Maltby) area and began construction of a 12,000 square foot church, which would accommodate approximately 500 people for services. 

1983 Construction of the new facility was completed in January and official dedication services were held from March 25-29, 1983. 

1998 The congregation changed its name to the Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church. 
 
Over the years, we had many gatherings and hosted special services, weddings, baptisms, funerals. By 2010 we had recognized that we were outgrowing our church facility. 

2014 A sister congregation was formed by several families living in the North Sound area of Western Washington, meeting at local schools and a Grange building. Due to complications related to COVID, the North Sound group later re-united with Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church. 

2018 Discussions commenced regarding the need to expand the sanctuary, increase parking space, and consider the construction of a multiuse facility on the Maltby property. 

2023 Our church building in Maltby was destroyed by a fire on August 25 at the hand of an arsonist. 

2024 In January the congregation purchased a 35-acre parcel in the Monroe-Snohomish area. Plans for construction of a new church building are currently in progress. ​

Historic Events

• October 1980, the first “LLC Youth and Congregation Days” held on the West Coast were conducted at the Lake City church. 
• July 1981, SLLC hosted the LLC Summer Services at Mariner High School, north of Seattle. 
• August 1982, the first LLC youth camp in North America was held at Sauk River Camp near Darrington, Washington. 
• July 1990, SLLC hosted the LLC Summer Services at Edmonds Community College, north of Seattle. 
• December 1995, First Annual Christmas Choir Recital was hosted at the Maltby church 
• July 1998,  SLLC hosted the LLC Summer Services at Monroe Junior High School in Monroe, Washington. 
• July 2005, SLLC  hosted the LLC Summer Services at Snohomish High School in Snohomish, Washington 
• July 2018 SLLC hosted LLC Summers Services at Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, Washington 
• July 2024, SLLC hosted an international (LLC,SRK) music camp in Leavenworth, Washington