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| Our Mission |
In response to the overflowing love of God, Redeemer Lutheran Church is a community of God's people gathered to worship, learn, and minister to the needs of those in and beyond the congregation. Working toward these purposes, we are called to share His love and invite others to Christ. |
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Church History |
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Pastor James Wilber Addy brought the Lutheran mission in Greer to life when he began serving the community on June 1, 1970. Responding to the call from the Board of American Missions of the Lutheran Church in America during his senior year in seminary, Pastor Addy accepted the challenge to develop a congregation in Greer. Hoyt Hammond, Robert Kraemer, Barry Schultheiss, Robert Waddell and James Yost formed the planning committee to steer the congregation through its developing year. Twenty-seven people gathered in Greer High School for an interest meeting on September 27, 1970. This small gathering chose the name “Redeemer” for the proposed congregation. On October 4, 1970, the first worship service glorified God in the Greer High School auditorium with twenty worshipers participating. On Christmas Eve, 1970, we had the first worship service in the renovated house on the present church property. This house chapel served the congregation for over five years. The Charter roll was opened on February 14, 1971. One week prior to our official organizational service the congregation held a business meting on March 19, 1972, to adopt a constitution and elect a Church Council. Elected to that first council were Robert Kraemer, Barry Schultheiss, Gail Septon, Wade Tate, Robert Waddell, and James Yost. | | |
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Through the next several years the congregation grew slowly but steadily in size. Growth was present in terms of ministry to the community, opportunity for nourishing members, and supporting the synod and LCA., The desire to build a worshipful and functional building resulted in drafting a Church Building Proposal on March 17, 1974. On June 17, 1974, the architectural firm of Freeman, Wells, and Major of Greenville, SC was hired. Their plan calling for 3,700 square feet of space including a worship area to seat 120 people, a Pastor’s study, seven teaching areas and service rooms at a cost of $108,550 including the remaining debt on the site ($9,500) was adopted on May 11, 1975. | |
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Over 100 people worshipped together on the hot, sunny afternoon of May 25, 1975 when the service of Blessing of the Church-site and Groundbreaking was held. As construction progressed, a cornerstone was laid in place on September 14, 1975. Behind the cornerstone in a sealed stainless steel vault were placed a Bible, a Service Book and Hymnal and a number of items from our brief history. The first opportunity for the congregation to worship in this beautiful facility was March 14, 1976. Over 130 persons—our largest attendance to that date—were present for the joyous occasion. In 1977, parish records included 128 baptized members, 90 confirmed and 86 communicants. |
Original Sanctuary | |
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Rev. Withrock |
Pastor Addy submitted his resignation on October 31, 1976 to accept a call to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC. Interim pastors after Pastor Addy resigned were Pastor Frank L. Roof of Greenwood and Pastor Day B. Werts of Spartanburg. Prior to calling a new pastor, the original parsonage on Pine Street was sold and the new parsonage on Brookwood Drive was purchased. Pastor John William Withrock, Jr. was called from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC on January 30, 1977. Pastor Withrock served until he submitted his resignation on January 31, 1980. | |
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Pastor George B. Shealy was called from St. John’s Lutheran Church of Walhalla, SC on March 2, 1980. Pastor Shealy submitted his resignation effective May 1, 1982 due to an incapacitating heart attack. During Pastor Shealy’s illness, Redeemer was fortunate to have Pastor Robert A. Bremer of Spartanburg as supply pastor. |
Rev. and Mrs. Shealy | |
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Rev. Camlin |
The people of Redeemer called The Rev. William Camlin to become their fourth pastor. He moved to Greer from Ohio in 1983, to start his ministry, and he served until April 16, 1985. Pastor Paul Nordsiek then served as interim pastor until the Rev. Jeffrey K. Lageman accepted the call to begin serving Redeemer on June 16, 1986. Subsequent years brought increased worship and Sunday School attendance, a Live Nativity presentation every year since 1989, and satisfaction of the parsonage and church mortgages. An overflowing crowd of friends, former members, and present members celebrated the 25th anniversary of the congregation on Palm Sunday, March 23, 1997. | |
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Following a congregational self-assessment, Redeemer began looking forward to expanding the facilities. Leaders initiated a Building Fund on Palm Sunday, 1996, and began a capital funds campaign in May, 1997. The Brookwood Drive parsonage was sold in September, 1996, with proceeds going toward the new sanctuary. |
Rev. Addy and Lageman at 25th Anniversary | |
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Groundbreaking prior to
Construction of New Building |
Groundbreaking for the new sanctuary was held on the front lawn on October 21, 1998. The people turning golden shovels of soil were Pastor Lageman, Rev. Kathleen Chartier, assistant to the Bishop, SC Synod, Mr. Craig Ticknor, contractor, Mr. Dan Leach, architect, Roger Wiren, council president, and Gerri Washeleski, building committee representative. Worshipers sang their praises during the first worship service in the new sanctuary on June 20, 1999, as the contractor began renovating the original sanctuary into administrative space. Later that summer, August 29, the congregation gathered on the front lawn as council members set the cornerstone in place. Three months later the congregation unlocked the front doors and processed into church to dedicate it on November 7, 1999. South Carolina Bishop David Donges presided over the dedication of the new sanctuary and renovations. | |  | 
Construction of New Sanctuary | |
| | | Site maintained by: Sharon Wirnsberger srswirnsberger@charter.net 300 Oneal Rd P.O. Box 1054 Greer South Carolina 29651 United States of America Phone: 864-877-5876 Fax: 864-877-5876 |
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