Pastor Bernard Ansorge has served the congregation at Ascension Lutheran Church for more than 40 years, providing a continuity of service that is unusual in churches today.  Loved by all, he is known by everyone as 'Pastor Bernie'.  He has been with the congregation as it grew, leading spiritual growth and learning for more than one generation of our membership, and led the congregation spiritually through many phases of our growth and challenges.

When asked about his ministry, Pastor Bernie says that his singular objective is to look beyond what is going on today to what God has in store for us.  His personal mission is to prepare our members to inherit eternal life – not by virtue of their good works, but by believing in Jesus Christ and His gift of righteousness to those who believe.

As a 1963 graduate of Concordia Seminary, in St. Louis, Pastor Bernie has had the opportunity to serve one other congregation in Mississippi before coming to the people at Ascension Lutheran Church, in Huntsville.  He has participated in many leadership positions within the Southern District of our Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

Simply put, we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Originally, there was no sin in the world.  But when man sinned, we fell short of God's plan, and faced eternal damnation.  But our God is a loving God, and he promised salvation in spite of our sin, through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is both God (as the son of the Father), and man (born of the virgin Mary).  He led a sin-free life, but even so, suffered the punishment we all deserve, and death on the cross.

Because He was without sin, however, death had no power over Him, and He rose again, whereupon he ascended into heaven, to be with the Father.  God has promised that if we believe in His Son, we will have eternal life with Him, in Heaven.

We follow the teachings and doctrine of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. For more information, to supplement this very brief description, use the link below to go to the LCMS web site…or feel free to call upon us, including Pastor Bernie, with any questions you may have.

Ascension Lutheran Church is situated on 8 acres in north Huntsville (see the contact page). The congregation was established in 1965 with the dedication of the initial church.  Additions to the sanctuary were made in 1967 and in 1984.  These were educational classrooms and a fellowship hall.  A free-standing child development center building was constructed in 1998.