About the same time Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldren set foot on the moon,  Trinity also began its journey to set a precedent in our missions history. In 1969, Reverend John Rutland, his wife Mary and their children John Edwards, Jr. and Janice arrived at Trinity. Reverend Rutland introduced a new style of worship to our church, as he set about his vision to get Trinity members to truly enjoy their worship and religion, and to take this love outside the church through missions.

The Rutlands

His unorthodox hand-clapping, fingersnapping, "hallelujah-joy" preaching was punctuated with interpretive dance and drama. The Passion Play was created and performed in the church's back parking lot at Easter, a tradition that lasted a decade. The church developed the reputation of the "Mission Church" when at the peak of his ministry in 1978, Trinity gave an amazing 33% of its budget to missions. As we are led by God, we continue our extensive mission ministries today.

1970: Trinity participated in the Laymen's Overseas Service (LAOS) mission to Bolivia. The church also provided leadership, and helped organize and support a new Single's group, AGORA, which was set up through IMS at an off-campus site on Oakwood Avenue.

1972 : The Interfaith Mission Service Incorporated (IMS) was developed through Trinity's leadership and budget support. Trinity Players, a new drama group, was also founded and produced a series of three Christian plays.

1973: The Trinity Players presented its first outdoor Easter drama, The Passion Play, in the back parking lot. A tradition that continued through 1982. The first interpretive dance was also performed in a church service.

Passion Play

1975: Trinity participated in ,and provided leadership to, the re-settling of the Trang family, one of the boat people refugee families from South Vietnam.

1978: Emphasis on missions increased the missions giving to 33% of the church's budget, the highest percentage giving to missions in Trinity's history.

1980: The Chinese School was started at Trinity, and continued to meet there for the next 25 years.

1981: Six Trinity members chose the Methodist ministry as a vocation: Lowell Zoller, Robert (Buck) Goyer, Andy Wolf and Im Harrison. Dallas Culver and Roger Short completed their theological education.