Jeff Schultz looked at the church wall covered with photographs, newspaper articles and historical documents. He saw some photographs that confirmed he is the eighth pastor in the history of the Salem Evangelical Free Church.

"Yes, the eighth pastor," Schultz, 43, said. "That's a lot of history."

Salem Evangelical, 2490 Pohlman Road in Florissant, is celebrating that history, marking its 125th anniversary.

"Our congregation definitely has an awareness about our past," Schultz said. "We have a lot of people who have grown up with the church. Their ages run from newborns to 90-years-old. Some members can trace their great-grandparents back to 1885 when it was founded."

However, the church also faces future challenges. From a high of about 800 people attending services, it now has about 100.

Schultz still believes in the church's future.

"How many people do we need to keep it going?" he said. "I don't look at it that way. Our donations have been up and we're seeing an encouraging sign of health."

Salem Evangelical's 2480 Youth Ministry is growing and attracting young people. Run by Brycen and Kacey Marner, the ministry is reaching out to young people who are looking for their own church, perhaps Salem Evangelical.

"We have 65 kids come in weekly," Brycen Marner said. "They're in seventh to 12th grade. We're hoping through the ministry we'll reach people who don't have a church. We're an outreach ministry to the community. About 60 percent of our kids don't go to our church, but more are starting to go."

Salem Evangelical also is seeing younger families joining the congregation.

"I think there's a wonderful spirit growing," Schultz said. "We're seen some conflicts and loss over the years, but we're still here."

Salem Evangelical Church was founded in 1885 by German immigrants near Penrose Park in St. Louis. For 13 years, they met in a small chapel until the church was built in 1898.

The church maintained its German traditions for years. Finally, in 1915, it offered a monthly service spoken in English.

In 1958, it merged with the United Church of Christ. Salem Evangelical UCC then moved out to Florissant in 1960 where the present facility was built.

However, Salem left the UCC in 2002 because of various "theological struggles," said Schultz, who joined the church in 2003. It joined the Evangelical Free Church of America.

Salem Evangelical has come a long way from its German roots.

"It is a very different church now," Pastor Schultz said. "Now, we've got a mix of young and old, traditional and contemporary. Salem has come a long way."