Redeemer, Good Shepherd become one family

“Redeemer Lutheran Church is now closed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

And with that, a story that began 141 years ago has reached its end – though in some respects, it also came full circle.

The beginning

It started as First St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1883 with five families, who took turns hosting worship services in their homes.

In 1891, the group leased a small Adventist church in Owatonna; three years later, the original five families built a church of their own on State Avenue. As the congregation grew, the building was raised to add a full basement, and additions were built.

By 1952, there were more than 700 “baptized souls” who attended First St. John’s. Finding room for them all was a problem, and a “building investigating committee” was formed.

After much discussion over four years, 16 lots were purchased between Murray Street and Havana Road, west of Truman. The land cost $14,400.

The plans for a new church, estimated to cost $250,000, were accepted in 1958. The congregation changed its name to Redeemer Lutheran Church in deference to another St. John’s Lutheran Church that had formed.

The middle

A groundbreaking was held in June 1959, and construction began immediately.

The church on State Avenue was sold to the Assemblies of God Church for $16,000 in April 1960, though construction on Redeemer Lutheran wasn’t yet finished.

The farewell service on State Avenue was held in July 1960; the dedication and opening of the new church was held in September 1960.

The final cost was $251,991.75.

By 1967, the congregation had grown to more than 1,000 members.

In 1971 – after just 12 years – the final mortgage payment was made.

Redeemer Lutheran continued to grow and prosper, bringing the need for an assistant pastor in 1975.

But perhaps the biggest development occurred in 1981.

“Back then, our church was growing large enough, and the north side of Owatonna was starting to develop,” said Dallas Ketchum, treasurer of Redeemer and a member for the last 35 years.

“Our members felt we should open a little mission congregation on that side of town, so we started Good Shepherd” Lutheran Church, he said.

“Our daughter congregation came to life in the fall of 1983,” said Steve Schmidt, president of the congregation, who was baptized at Redeemer in 1967.

Several members of Redeemer began to attend Good Shepherd, to help build the congregation.

The end

Forty years later, things have changed – drastically – at both churches.

The congregation at Redeemer Lutheran was aging, “without many young ones to fill in and keep it going,” Ketchum said.

When the Rev. Kirk Griebel left in April 2023, “we started to see the writing on the wall,” Ketchum said. “We either needed to try and merge with another church, or figure something else out.”

But many other churches in the area – and across the nation – are also looking for ministers, so a dual parish wasn’t going to form either, he said.

The Missouri Synod’s South Minnesota District laid out the options, and in March, the congregation voted to pursue closing the church and merging with another.

Meanwhile, Good Shepherd had grown to about 1,000 members.

“We were able to work out a merger agreement,” Ketchum said. “Basically, what we offer them was, of course, the building and any facilities we had, if they could use it or work with it. They would take over operating the building and any expenses that come along with that.”

The leadership at Good Shepherd does not have a need for the building, which will be sold. The proceeds will go into the coffers of Good Shepherd.

“The people in our church are going through something like a death,” Ketchum said. “Many of them were baptized, confirmed, married and expected to be buried out of here, so it’s a change. What their church home has been for 30, 40, 50 years is no longer going to be there.”

That day came Sunday, with the closing of Redeemer Lutheran Church and the disposition of the church building.

“There are some heads hanging low today, but it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve this church,” Schmidt told the congregation. “There’s some meaning to that for me, also, but we can also be happy and excited.”

The continuation

The fact that Redeemer Lutheran is a parent, of sorts, to Good Shepherd is not lost on anyone.

In fact, it’s been somewhat helpful.

“The analogy I use is that it’s like when parents have a child,” Ketchum said. “They take care of them, nurture them” and watch them grow.

And often, those children grow up to then take care of their parents.

“We took care of them until they were old enough,” Ketchum said, “and now it’s flip-flopped around.”

That’s exactly how the congregation of Good Shepherd sees it, said Tom Kuntz, a leader of that congregation.

“Redeemer is like the grandparent, almost,” he said. “They’re tired, so they want to transfer everything back over” to the next generation.

Kuntz said his congregation felt “more than a little bit” of responsibility to embrace the merger.

“We are a product of Redeemer,” he said, “so we need to do whatever we can to please their congregation and make them feel welcome.”

He said it was a unanimous vote, though acknowledged there was some concern about a long-term commitment to the now-vacated church.

But there was some divine intervention in that situation, as well.

Not long ago, Rev. Greg Schlicker, of Good Shepherd, found himself sitting next to Judson Bartels, of Sound Church, at an Owatonna Ministerial Association meeting.

Schlicker suggested Bartels, whose congregation is growing, look at Redeemer Lutheran Church, “because it’s coming available.”

That night, Bartels led the prayer prior to the Owatonna City Council meeting, where Kuntz presides as mayor.

“I said, ‘Judson, I’ve got a deal for you. Why don’t you look at Redeemer Lutheran Church?’ And he said, ‘this must be a message from God; I’ve had two people in the same day talk to me about it,’” Kuntz said.

“They just started their second service,” he said of Sound. “They continue to grow and were running out of space in the facility they have now, so this seems like the good Lord made a perfect fit for them.”

While nothing has been finalized, it appears a deal is in the works.

Or, Kuntz agreed, a match – made in heaven.