Our Church History

 

Our Redeemer Lutheran congregation came into being in October of 1964 as a result of the mission-mindedness of the members of St. John’s Lutheran Church and of the Indiana District Mission Board. Thirty families felt that, due to expansion in the northeastern section of Lexington and due to the number of Lutherans in the Winchester and Berea areas, a mission congregation should be established on the northeastern edge of Lexington. These families worshiped at Deep Springs Elementary School. The first service in the school was October 25, 1964. Deep Springs Elementary School is not more than a mile from our present location on Eastland Parkway.

 

Charter members of Our Redeemer were: the Bagley, Carter, Chiles, Froehlich, Gruber, Henkel, Hornback, Katzenmaier, Kiblinger, Kohnle, Meyer, Monthie, Reynolds, Roder, Ruehling, Schow, Villoz, and Vogel families.

 

The Reverend Rolland R. Bentrup, pastor of St. John’s and vacancy pastor of the new congregation, officiated at our first service in the school. Prayers of the congregation were answered for our first minister, Pastor Arthur E. Otto was installed on August 8, 1965. Pastor Otto and his family moved into the new parsonage at 625 Hi-Crest Drive.

 

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. The firm of Johnson-Romanowitz was contracted as architects, plans were drawn up and approved, bids were let, and groundbreaking took place on November 19, 1967. The hexagonal motif is carried out in the shape of the central altar, communion rail, skylight, and baptismal font. The altar area, raised about six inches was carpeted in gold tweed. The altar and communion rail are constructed of red oak, and the top of the altar is polished travertine marble. Doing double duty, the Honduras mahogany and silver processional cross slipped into a holder at the rear of the altar, becoming the altar cross. The Cornerstone Laying Service was held on May 12, 1968. Dedication of the completed structure was celebrated on September 22, 1968.

 

In April 1985, ground was broken for our Education/Fellowship building. Many members did much of the interior and utility work. This helped us to complete and occupy the entire building in the spring of 1986. The building housed a fellowship hall, classrooms, a kitchen and a new Pastor’s office along with a working secretary’s office. A double classroom across from the Pastor’s office could double as a staff or meeting room.

 

We thank God for the many blessings which He has bestowed on Our Redeemer and may our sanctuary always be filled with praise, prayer and worship. Ministers of Our Redeemer:

 

The Reverend Arthur E. Otto 1965 - 1971
The Reverend Gerald L. Wittmaier 1971 - 1973
The Reverend Emmet C. Rogness 1974 - 1976
The Reverend Raymond C. Huddle 1976 - 1987
The Reverend Patrick J. Bayens 1988 - 2002
The Reverend Dr. Richard P. Bucher 2003-2006
The Reverend Matthew W. Vesey 2008-2012
The Reverend Michael W. Huebner 2013-

 

Updated October 2024