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The story of Trinity Lutheran Church actually begins four miles north of Amherst, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, the mother congregation of Trinity. Immanuel was organized in 1883, originally meeting in a sod schoolhouse. In 1884 a sod church was built, but the congregation soon grew out of that structure. In 1889 it was decided to build a frame church building. The building became a well-recognized landmark in the area with a sixty foot tower that could be seen for miles.

Because the roads from the town of Amherst to Immanuel became impassable for weeks at a time during the winter and spring, it was decided that the Kingdom of God would be served better by having a congregation in town also. On July 7, 1907, Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst was organized. Services were held in a building rented from the Evangelical Church for twenty dollars a year. In 1915 the congregation purchased this building for $900. In 1917, the congregation became a member of the Missouri Synod.

An addition to the church was built in the winter of 1943 and the spring of 1944. Because of war priorities new lumber could not be obtained, so the congregation bought the old "Major's Church," which had not been in use for some time. This was torn down and brought to Amherst and the new and enlarged church was dedicated on February 27, 1944.

In April of 1967, it was voted unanimously to erect a new house of worship. The ground was broken on June 18, and Dedication Services were held December 17, 1967. On June 7, 1970, Immanuel Lutheran Church was moved to Amherst, and the Amherst parsonage was sold and moved to Riverdale.

For nearly 93 years, God has truly blessed the ministry of God's people here in Amherst. We look with gratitude as we remember the blessings of the past, and look with hope to the opportunities of the future.

Jack L. Gillam was born August 21, 1952 in Scottsbluff, NE. He entered Concordia Teacher's College in Seward, NE in 1970, receiving his B.S. in Education. He served as Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministry at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. In 1979 he joined the staff of Concordia Lutheran College of Texas in Austin, where he served as Admissions Counselor, recruiting students to serve as professional workers in the church. While there he developed and directed TEAM (Texans Experiencing Action Ministries). During his years in Texas he served on the district's Youth Ministry Committee and the Deaf Ministry Committee. He co-chaired Texas District's Glory Bound Youth Gatherings. From 1982 - 86 he was part-time youth minister and Christian Educational Consultant for Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cedar Park, TX, where he served until 1989, when he became Director of Christian Education at First Lutheran Church, Birmingham, AL. He entered Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 1995. In 1998 he served as Vicar at Zion Lutheran Church and school in Harvester, MO. In May 1999 he received his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary. Rev. Gillam was installed as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Amherst, NE on June 27, 1999, where he continues to serve that congregation. Jack and his wife Linda are parents of three sons:  Jeremy, Jeff and Jason. Linda is a teacher and author of Christian Education curriculum materials.