While Louisville has grown and expanded in cultural diversity, Christian denominations remain in majority. Many congregations in these faiths have seen a wide spread of attendance, forcing some to have multiple service times as well as creating new satellite campuses to help reach those in different locations throughout the city.
Highview Baptist Church averages 2,800 people each weekend on six different locations: East, Fegenbush, Indiana, Spencer Co, Valley Station, and a Hispanic location in the Ministry Center Gym. When comparing their attendance from April 2008 to April 2009, James Wright of Highview says, "it's up 10 percent."
Southeast Christian Church, the sixth largest church in the nation, is also expanding its campuses. The church just opened its first satellite campus location in Southern Indiana on Easter Sunday and had an attendance of 3,000 people with a second location to follow in Oldham County.
As the population for these churches expands, so do the ministries. Many area churches now have a service designed for the Hispanic population. These churches not only have a special church service completely in Spanish, but they also have a special ministry to help the Hispanic population with getting acquainted with this city.
While Christianity remains a major focus for many, it is estimated that 8,300 people in Louisville are of the Jewish Faith. "There are five different congregations in Louisville representing three different streams of Judaism," said Shiela Steinman Wallace, the community communications director of the Jewish Community Federation. The outreach just recently had a wine and cheese tasting to welcome newcomers to Louisville, and their website includes a calendar of events in addition to a list of Louisville synagogues and temples.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built the Louisville Kentucky Temple in 2000, when the state had 23,000 members of the congregation—enough to have a Mormon temple built. Additionally, there are several church locations scattered throughout the city.
The Greek Orthodox Church is also represented in Louisville with two local congregations, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church and St. Michaels Orthodox Church. The first provides a course study of the basics of Orthodox Christianity—Orthodoxy 101 is offered each fall and spring. They also host a Greek Festival every summer to introduce individuals to the Greek culture with traditional food, dances and practices, along with Greek items available for purchase.
People of the Islamic faith are also a strong part of the community, with several mosques throughout the city. The Muslim Community Center, a project that has been in the works for eight years, is near completion. Currently a mosque and elementary school, the building will eventually provide Louisville with a middle and high school, as well as a recreation center. According to the website, part of the vision for the center is "to be an Islamic establishment based on Islamic principles," and to be "comprehensive in its service to the Muslim Community of Greater Louisville."
The Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Louisville has been located in the Beechmont neighborhood since 1996. The large statue of the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin and sign in Vietnamese announces the Temple's location. Sunday services begin at noon and include a sutra reading in Vietnamese and prayers. Services conclude with a meal. Striving to preserve their heritage, Vietnamese Buddhists provide their children with programs to teach them about the cultures of both the United States and Vietnam, preparing their children to become teachers to the next generation. One of the temple's many activities is the annual Chinese New Year Celebration in either late January or early February.
So whether you are considered a minority or a part of the majority when it comes to your spiritual beliefs, Louisville has a little bit of everything to offer.
