Our Redeemer Lutheran Church history

By 1916, everything was conducted in English and this change was brought about because of WWI. Nevertheless, as the congregation grew, the need for a larger church building became apparent.

1918 Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer was organized on February 4 with a membership of 14 voting members, 80 baptized, and 48 communicant members.

In the fall of 1919 the congregation began construction of a new church.

The recession of 1921 brought financial difficulties to the congregation, and in September of that year they asked the Mission Board to take over the work in Overland to assure creditors of good faith.

The congregation called the Rev William F. Dietze, who was installed on October 19, 1922.

A. J. Stiemke became the first resident Pastor in August and served until 1924.

Reverend Carl Ahlbrand was "Called" April 26, 1936. It was during the ministry of Reverend Walter J. Lobeck that a second church building was erected in 1925.

The depression years, beginning in late 1929, produced another serious financial crisis for the congregation.

By 1934, however, the congregation was once more self-supporting.

Reverend Lobeck served until April, 1935.

Early in 1940 one of the members of St John's Lutheran Church in LaCrosse, IN asked whether it would be possible to hold Lenten services in Knox to find out how many Lutheran living in or near Knox would be interested in establishing a Lutheran congregation.

In 1943 the congregation purchased more property for the purpose of expansion.

Our Redeemer’s has been a part of the Ballard community since 1944, when a small group of mostly Scandinavian immigrants began gathering to worship at Loyal Heights Elementary School.

In July 1946 the Reverend Norman Berning was installed as the first resident pastor of the congregation.

In 1952 Pastor Dietze resigned after thirty years of service.

In 1954, the congregation hired an organist-choir director, beginning an emphasis on the music of worship that continues to this day.

Early in 1956 the Board of Elders requested the Building Committee to make a study of the building needs of the congregation.

In 1958 the congregation purchased land situated on US-35 in Knox for a future building.

The offer was accepted, and on January 1, 1959 Our Redeemer’s acquired its first building!

It was during his ministry at Our Redeemer that the present church at 705 Southway Blvd. , was built, with the Cornerstone Laying Service being conducted on October 11, 1964.

Plans for a permanent church building, began in May 1965 with the purchase of 2.8 acres in the Dixie Plantation.

A Building Committee was formed and a full report was presented to the congregation in September 1966.

Pastor Ritz served until March 10, 1967.

Dedication of the completed structure was celebrated on September 22, 1968.

In 1969, the women of Redeemer Lutheran received the right to vote in the congregation’s meetings.

At first the congregation rented the Seventh Day Adventist building in Minot, but in 1970 the congregation broke ground for a new sanctuary seating 360 people.

The new building was ready in 1971, and the congregation moved in.

In 1976 the church turned its focus to education and began a kindergarten program.

1977 Plans for starting a daughter congregation are brought to fruition with ground-breaking services on the west side of Kokomo on June 19, 1977.

1978 The Missouri Synod Church has grown from a congregation of 80 baptized and 48 communicant members to 1164 baptized and 828 communicant members.

1979 New westside mission is dedicated and named Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

That in turn led to the opening of Our Redeemer’s Christian School in 1982 with fifteen students.

In November 1983 Pastor Joseph Townsend presented a plan to start a Preschool for 3-4 year olds.

1984 On July 15th Kim Klemz is installed as first teacher of Kokomo Lutheran School.

Little Lambs Preschool opened on February 5, 1985 with 11 students.

In September of 1986 our current Preschool Director, Mrs.

In 1988, the congregation authorized a modern addition to that facility costing $1,300,000. and containing classrooms, meeting places, offices and an elevator.

Prior to enrolling in the Seminary in 1995, Pastor Wise practiced law for 15 years, serving 8 years as a staff attorney for the Illinois State Legislature.

Rodney Wise was called as Associate Pastor in 1999.

In 2000, Pastor Popp resigned his call to Our Redeemer because of a severe back injury which forced him on to disability.

In August 2001 he moved to St Louis where he studied at Concordia Seminary.

In 2002 the congregation started a day care program for toddlers which has met with great success.

He graduated Concordia Seminary in May of 2006.

On April 27, 2007 he was ordained and installed as part-time Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran church in Pilot Knob, MO.

The following text was gathered and prepared by Ned Root who presented it at the closing service for Redeemer Lutheran Church Sunday, June 26, 2011.

In 2014, Our Redeemer’s developed a strategic plan focused on three main goals: