Mission History

The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Lutheran Reformation established itself in Estonia in 1524, bringing along sermons in the Estonian language.

In May, 1917, the first Estonian Church Congress was held in Tartu, Estonia, with over 300 representatives present from congregations around the country. The people of the Church were brought together “by their common desire to hold and keep their homes, to free themselves from alien power.” This was the voice of the people as the Russian control slipped and Estonian citizens began searching to build their own communities again. As they developed these communities, they also took care to organize their church life as they thought right.

As a result of forming the church together through self-government, the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church became a “free people’s church”, enriched by the striving to improve the life of society and people by proclaiming the Gospel, administering the sacraments, and by sharing love.