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With two historical markers, six different worship centers and countless renovations over 163 years of history, St. John’s Lutheran Church is an example of how the more things change, the more things stay the same.

St. John’s has weathered many storms both literally and figuratively. Challenges generated by hurricanes, lightning strikes and, most recently, flooding have all been met by the unwavering support of resilient congregation members, senior Pastor David Bahn said.

The first of the six worship centers used by the church was constructed in northwest Harris County in 1853 by German settlers who immigrated to the area in 1848. Settlers began meeting regularly to worship—first in family homes and later in various church buildings—and the St. John’s legacy in Cypress was sparked, according to church officials.

Bahn said the current state of St. John’s would not be possible without those who came before.

“It is because they have gone before us and laid a foundation that we find success,” he said.

Another consistent factor throughout the church’s history has been the resolute support of the congregation.

During the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 that devastated Galveston Island, the church constructed in 1877 was also destroyed. Members were asked to donate $1 each to cover the cost of repairs, according to historical records.

In 1915, after another Galveston hurricane, members of a sister congregation donated to St. John’s for a rebuild effort. However, church members once again raised the funds on their own, leaving St. John’s with a positive balance of $65 in the church treasury. Given its good fortune, the church opted to return the original donation.

Since the second most recent chapel was constructed on St. John’s current property in 1962, the church has added five additional buildings and several acres. This construction makes it possible for St. John’s to serve roughly 800 churchgoers each Sunday.

St. John’s still pays homage to its German roots. Within the newly constructed worship center that was built in 2011 is a display case containing a German hymnal book, which served the church when services were exclusively conducted in German, up until the late 1940s. By then, most of the congregation was fluent in English, and German services were discontinued.

Bells from the 1908 church rebuild hang by the entrance of the chapel. The large bell was used to signify the beginning and end of services, and the small bell to communicate important notices to the community, including the death of residents, Bahn said.

In front of the bells stands one of five historical markers in the Cypress area. St. John’s history has been full of challenges and roadblocks, but Bahn said the church’s commitment to faith has been steadfast throughout.

“What we really do have is a lasting appreciation for the truth of God’s word,” he said. “We believe that the message of Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of all of theology, and that has never changed. That is something that sustains and centers us.”