The idea for a Lutheran mission church in East Whittier began in 1953, when district pastors and laypeople who witnessed the area’s growing communities appealed to the United Evangelical Lutheran Church mission board for funding. The board purchased the present six-acre site.
Nazareth Lutheran Church of Cedar Falls, Iowa offered to sponsor a home mission pastor’s salary just at the time that the East Whittier "field" was opened. Reverend Verner Carlsen was called to begin a congregation here, and arrived on September 14, 1956, with his wife Mildred, along with their children Judi and Bill. An exploratory meeting of 57 interested people was held at the parsonage on October 14, 1956, and the church began to grow.
Since then, St. Andrew has provided a caring and loving ministry that has impacted people in need both locally and globally.