CHURCH OF THE ABIDING SAVIOR, LUTHERAN IS A CONGREGATION OF THE North Carolina LUTHERAN SYNOD OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
REV. Dr. Julius Carroll, interim Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Julius Carroll
Pastor Carroll’s baptismal journey began on June 5, 1961, among the faithful at Redeemer
Lutheran in Flushing, NY. He is a graduate of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
(UNITED LUTHERAN SEMINARY) – Master of Divinity (1981) /Doctor of Ministry (2007).
Ordained in 1981, Pastor Carroll has served congregations in: Philadelphia PA; Washington,
D.C.; Oakland, CA and Raleigh, NC. In his retirement he has been an Interim pastor in New
Orleans, LA; Greensboro, NC; Liverpool, NY; Clarence Center, NY; Buffalo, NY; Jackson, MS;
Queens, NY – and beginning October 1, 2025, here at Church of the Abiding Savior in Durham.
Dr. Carroll’s synodical/churchwide work has been on: the Southeastern Penna. Synod Staff
(Coalition Director for twenty-eight city congregations); the Multi-Cultural Ministries Unit of the
ELCA (director for African Decent Ministries) and the faculty of Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary (associate professor of Contextual Education).
Pastor Carroll’s expertise as an interim pastor is in pastoral care, assisting congregations in
strategic planning, and reintroducing congregations to their immediate communities.
Pastor and Geneva have six adult children and seventeen grandchildren (two sets of twins
contribute to these blessed numbers!). The Carroll’s children/grandchildren reside across these
United States and (alas) are not close to their Raleigh home.
OUR HISTORY
OUR BEGINNING
• 1963 a call was extended to Pastor Lawrence Hunt to begin a parrish mission in Durham NC
• First organizational meeting held at the home of Paul and Jessie (Claudette) Kelley.
• The Church Of The Abiding Savior, Lutheran was chartered February 7, 1965 with 19 confirmed members and 22 baptized members.
• The current church building was dedicated on March 14, 1965
OUR CHARTER MEMBERS
• Mrs. Helen Battle Mr. Robert Battle
• Mr. Roger Brown & Sr. Mrs. Virginia Brown
• Mrs. Betty Burnette & Mr. Harvey Burnette
• Mrs. Gloria Cardwell & Mr. Roland Cardwell
• Mrs. Carolyn Hunt & Rev. Lawrence Hunt
• Mrs. Claudette Kelly & Mr. Paul Kelly
• Mrs. Mary Pinson & Mr. Thomas Pinson
• Mrs. Lois Turner & Mr. Walter Turner
• Dr. Theodore Speigner
• Mr. James Warren, Sr.
• Mrs. Edwina Williams
PASTORS 1965 – 2020
• Rev. Lawrence Hunt
• Rev. Virgil O. Wittenburg, Dr. Theodore Speigner (Co-Pastor) Rev. Donald Huber (Interim)
• Rev Michael D. Wendt Rev. Hugh Beck (Interim)
• Rev. Paul K. Palumbo Rev. Jack Bernlohr (Interim)
• Rev. Gordon Myers, Rev Ken Schmidt (Interim)
• Rev. Tim Taylor (Re-development)
• Rev. Margret Hertz-Lane (Interim)
Rev. Paul Myers (present)
ABIDING SAVIOR IN ACTION OVER THE YEARS
Early years through the 1990’s
- Abiding Savior Youth “Are You Listening” tour
- Sponsored many youth activities and programs including an active Girl Scout Troop
- Formed Ecumenical alliances with local churches
- Participated on local, synodical and churchwidje organizations, committees and boards
- Organized Lutheran Men in Mission
- Women became active in Women of the ELCA (WELCA)
- Actively supported Campus Ministry at NCCU and DUKE
- Added programs to reach out to surrounding youth including “Saturday Fun Days,” summer day camp and vacation Bible school
- Purchased. renovated, and supported Phoenix House, a model non-profit that served hundreds of men
since 2000
- The congregation was designated as a Horizon Internship Site
- NCCU Outreach was led by interns (Vicar CC Mills, Michael Sewell, Justin Coleman, Linda Norman, Lisa Parker, Ben Krey, Jennifer Moore)
- The youth produced video< “What’s Color Got To Do With It.” which recieved honors by Durham Human Relations Committee
- Youth video was disseminated nationwide and was used for workshops at a national ELCA Multi Cultural Youth Leadership Event
- Youth actively participated in National Youth Gatherings
- Increased Involvement in Campus Ministry as the North Carolina Synod’s site for Campus Ministry at NCCU
- Continuing outreach in the Durham community providing support for programs to address hunger and the needs of children and adults at Urban Ministries of Durham and at local elementary schools
- Continuing participation and support in North Carolina Synod and Churchwidje (ELCA) ministries
- Actively participated in Durham Congregations in Action (DCIA)
- Used the church grounds to reach out to surrounding neighborhood with fun activities designed for your and adults with fall and spring carnivals
- Supporting a community garden to help develop food sustainablilty
- Continuing prison advocacy through “Solidarity Beyond the Walls”
ABIDING SAVIOR – A HEART FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
- Interfaith Food Shuttle Backpack Buddies program and adoption of a local elementary school
- McDougald Terrace outreach
- Urban Ministry Homeless shelter
- Evangelism Laboratory 2009-2015
- Prison outreach