In
May, 1955, thirteen members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Shreveport began to
establish a second Missouri Synod Lutheran Church to serve residents in the
East Shreveport-Broadmoor area. With the assistance and guidance of the
Southern District (LCMS), the "Shreveport Lutheran Mission" was organized by
the following Charter Members:
Mrs. June Buckner
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Kothe
Mr. & Mrs. Frank McGowan
Mr. & Mrs. Emil Herzog
Mr. & Mrs. Fred Michaelis
Mr. & Mrs. Wendal Sorenson
Services were held in Johnson Hall
at Centenary College and for the most part were conducted by vicars from New
Orleans. On January 13, 1956, the name "Redeemer Lutheran Church" was
chosen. Later in 1956, the Board of Directors of the Southern District
granted unanimous approval for financial support to purchase ground and
construct worship facilities.
In 1957, a site of 2.3 acres of land at
1106 Shreveport-Barksdale Highway was purchased for $23,700. At that
time none of Shreve City and very little of the Anderson Island subdivision
had been developed. On July 14, 1957, the first pastor, Rev. Robert J.
Werberig, was installed in the Brown Memorial Chapel at Centenary College.
Later in 1957, Osborn Funeral Home made its chapel available for the morning
worship services which were conduct3d there for about one year. Lenten
services were held at B'Nai Zion Temple.
Ground breaking ceremonies for the new
church were held May 11, 1958. A cornerstone laying service for the
first unit of Redeemer was held August 24, 1958. Cost of the first unit
was $68,900. The first worship service in the new sanctuary was held
November 2, and the dedication service on November 23, of that year.
District President, Dr. Edgar Homrighausen, was the guest speaker.
In September 1962, a second unit, which
consisted primarily of Sunday School facilities, was added at a cost of
$58,400.
Pastor Werberig accepted a call to
Pensacola, Florida, and preached his last sermon on May 5, 1963. From
then through June, 1964, the vacancy was filled by Dr. Martin W. H. Holls,
Pastor Emeritus.
The Rev. Walter Link was installed
pastor of Redeemer on July 7, 1964, and served until 1969, when the Rev.
Adrian L. Bacarisse accepted the call to Redeemer and was installed on October
12, 1969.
In November, 1972, Redeemer sold a
portion of the property not being used to the United Mercantile Bank for the
sum of $80,000. The sale of this property provided funds to retire the
church mortgage.
Pastor Bacarisse served until August,
1980. The Rev. Lothar Kleinhans, retired, served as interim pastor until
July 12, 1981, when the Rev. Larry E. Stier was installed. Pastor Stier
served until March 4, 1990.
In 1982, a new church worship hymnal was
studied and the congregation began using it early in 1985.
From March 5, 1990, until July 26, 1992,
Pastor Sigfried Kunz of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bossier City, served as
vacancy pastor with the assistance of Pastor Charles R. Lindsey.
On November 3, 1991, Redeemer Lutheran
Church marked the New Beginning and Rebirth of the Congregations with a
Renewal Service. District President, Rev. Orval Mueller, was the guest
speaker.
On July 26, 1992, Rev. Brad Heintz was
installed and served as pastor until 1996. He took a call to be an
Associate Pastor in Houston, TX.
Rev. Bruce Donley took a
call to Shepherd of the Bay, Lillian, Alabama. Pastor Donley served
Redeemer Lutheran Church until December 18, 1999.
Redeemer had several vacancy pastors
that served the Church until a the Church was able to receive permanent
placement. Those serving as vacancy pastors are: Pastor Ted
Andrada from 7-28-96 through 09-15-96; Pastor Rod Loose from 9-15-96 through
12-8-96; and Pastor Thompson from 1-30-99 until 4-30-00.
On June 16, 2003,
Redeemer received Vicar Perry Culver from Concordia Theological Seminary -
Fort Wayne, IN. Vicar Perry Culver is from Texas, living in Houston,
Waco, Austin, and Rowlett, TX before entering the Seminary. He was
ordained into the ministry and installed as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church
on Aug. 1, 2004.