About Us
Redeemer Lutheran Church was officially organized
with sixty-five charter members in December of 1962. At the time, they were
holding worship services at Peterson's Barn, located on Janss Road near what
is now Freeway 23. In March of 1963 the Rev. Rodney Lensch was installed
as the first pastor of Redeemer.
In February of 1965, the long-awaited groundbreaking
worship service took place with the help of the Mission Board that granted
a loan of $120,000 to build a chapel and an education building. On October
3, 1965, the new church building and education wing were dedicated to the
glory and honor of God.
The Rev. Lensch and his family left the church
in 1965. The Rev. Ralph Busch served as vacancy pastor until 1968 when the
congregation extended a call to the Rev. James Lareva. Later the congregation
also extended a call to Cheri Strecker to serve as the Director of Christian
Education, working especially with the children, youth and young singles
of Redeemer from 1985 to 1989.
In May of 1985, after having served at Redeemer
for seventeen years, the Rev. James Lareva accepted a call to First Lutheran
Church in Ventura. The Rev. Carl Hiller served as vacancy pastor until a
call was extended to a new pastor. On April 7th, 1986, the Rev. Elroi Reimnitz
was installed as the third pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church after having
served as the senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Island,
Nebraska.
On December 18, 1992, just a few days before
Christmas, the church building was destroyed by a blazing fire, leaving the
congregation in shock and grief. During the next 21 months, the congregation
held worship services in the education building and the last 3 months at
the CLU chapel until the completion of the new church. The newly built sanctuary,
nave and fellowship hall were dedicated to the glory and honor of God on
October 2, 1994.
We invite you to experience our ministry by visiting
with us. You will always be warmly welcomed by the members of our
church. |