Our History

 
As of 2007 (80th anniversary) or 2012 (85th anniversary)....

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod began the work of the Lord in Baytown preaching the Gospel in a field on August 24, 1925, initiating a week of tent services. Three Houston-area pastors (Rev. J. W. Behnken, who later served as synodical president, Rev. Hobart Meyer, and Rev. A. O. Rast) conducted the services. The tent in which the services were held stood in the 300 block on the north side of West Texas Avenue. 

Preliminary work began earlier in 1925 when the Mission Society of Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches in Houston studied the Tri-Cities area with the view of opening a Lutheran mission. The findings were favorable, and steps were soon taken to call a missionary.

The Texas District Mission Board extended a call to Candidate Anton Adolph Froehlich to serve as missionary in the Tri-Cities area. Candidate Froehlich accepted the call and was ordained and installed the next Sunday, August 30, 1925, at 3 p.m. This service was also held in the tent on West   Texas Avenue. Pastor Froehlich served until April 22, 1928.

Redeemer Lutheran Church was formally chartered on August 30, 1927. The congregation had sixteen (16) communicant members of which five (5) were voting members. The names of the charter communicant members were: Mr. & Mrs. William Newhouse, John T. Mgebroff, Emil Harbers, Mr. & Mrs. William Franke, Mr. & Mrs. Henry Lehman, Mrs. G. Augsut Schulz, Mrs. L.A. Sneed, Mrs. Dan Schreck, Mrs. C. H. Leverkuhn, Mrs. F. B. Steirer, Mrs. H. G. Bailey, Mrs. A. Ashwood, and Mrs. A. Froehlich.

Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Mgebroff, and Mr. F.B. Steirer served on the first Board of Elders. Mr. Franke was the first Secretary/Treasurer.

Evening services began on October 4, 1925 and were held in the Baytown Community Building on the first Sunday of the month. The first children’s Christmas service was held in the Oiler Theater the morning of December 27, 1925.

First Baptism – Helen Louis Allen, April 4, 1926

First Baptism in Chapel – Helen Junelle Jenson, October 13, 1929

(Mrs. Junelle Jenson Kubik went to be with Jesus February 16, 2021.)

First Wedding – E.F. Lehde and Miss Alice Holmes, May 21, 1931

First Junior Confirmation Class – Miss Yvonne E. Steirer and Miss Mildred E. Sneed, June 2, 1929 (Mrs. Yvonne Steirer Tapp went to be with Jesus February 2007.)

First Adult Confirmation – C. H. Leverkuhn, March 6, 1932

On August 19, 1928, Candidate Henry Stroebel was installed as the second pastor. Pastor Froehlich was in charge of the installation service which was held upstairs in the Zierlein Building located on the southwest corner at the intersection of West Texas and Pruett Streets. On June  2, 1929, Reverend Stroebel preached his farewell sermon.

The congregation purchased property at the corner of West Sterling and North Pruett and built a modest chapel. The dedicatory service was held on June 2, 1929.

Candidate G. W. Obenhaus was installed on September 9, 1929, as the third pastor. Pastor Obenhaus served faithfully for nearly 19 years. During his ministry the membership grew from 26 to 194. The congregation built a parsonage in 1936, located on the east side of the church and later the church was enlarged in 1944 and more land was acquired in 1946.  Pastor Obenhaus preached his farewell sermon on May 9, 1948.

The Reverend E. F. Lange was installed as the fourth pastor on September 28, 1948, and served faithfully for 12 years. He was installed by Reverend H. Plackemeier of Houston. During his pastorate, the Lord continued to richly bless the congregation. A new parsonage, located in the Pruett Addition on the corner of North Whiting and West Jack, was dedicated on January 8, 1950. This modest seven-room parsonage was occupied thereafter by the pastor and his family. The enlarged church (which included the old parsonage) and additional educational facilities were dedicated on April 22, 1951. Pastor Lange preached his farewell on September 25, 1960.

The congregation purchased the present five-acre site in 1954 for $15,000.00. The old buildings were moved to the site in July 1957.

On September 7, 1958, the congregation dedicated a new church building to the glory of God. The building represented many hours of prayer, planning and giving.

The Reverend Glen C. Kollmeyer was installed as the fifth pastor on February 5, 1961. He served until August 22, 1969.

Pastor Gerald L. Nichols was installed as the sixth pastor on January 11, 1970. He served until August 17, 1980.

Pastor Wayne Schardt was installed as the seventh pastor on November 1, 1981. He served until August 31, 1985.

Pastor Jon Seimsglusz was installed as the eighth pastor on May 4, 1986. He served until July 31, 1991.

Pastor Richard T. Turner, Jr. was installed as the ninth pastor on May 3, 1992. Participants in the installation service were Reverends Walt Harting, who had been serving as Interim Pastor; Herbert Eifert; John Thompson; Harold Heckmann; David Sawhill; Alfred Scholz; James Martin and Eugene Heckmann. Pastor Turner served until August 31, 2002.

Reverend Walter A. Dube served as Interim Pastor from September 1, 2002 to August 31, 2003. His value was immeasurable in the year to come as the new Children’s Center was under construction and the church was considering calling a convertible vicar.

Vicar Raymond Van Buskirk came to Redeemer in July 2003. On August 1, 2004 Vicar Raymond Van Buskirk was ordained into the Holy Ministry. Following the ordination, Reverend Van Buskirk was installed as the tenth pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Participating ministers were Reverend Donald G. Black, Vice President of the Texas District; Reverend Richard C. Pfaff, Circuit Counselor; Reverend Walter A. Dube, Vicarage Bishop; Reverend Richard T. Turner, Jr.; Reverend Herbert Eifert; Reverend Jonathan Meyer; Reverend Steve Stutz, Reverend Ronald Lawrenz; Reverend Mel Newman; and Reverend Mark Lasch.

Redeemer has a fine and long history of serving Baytown families. The first confirmed youth member, Yvonne (Steirer) Tapp, and the first child baptized in the chapel, Junelle (Jenson) Kubik are still among Redeemer’s members.

In 2002 Redeemer celebrated 75 years of ministry by breaking ground on a new state-of-the-art Children’s Center. The Children’s Center was dedicated in November 2003. 

The church’s first entry into Christian childcare began in the 1960’s. Junelle Kubik taught the first preschool class.

Following Mrs. Kubik were the first called teachers: Roberta Meyerhoff and then Miss Dorthea File. The school closed in the early 1970’s; however, the dream lived on. We now have Redeemer Lutheran Children’s Center which includes: a gymnasium, 10 classrooms, and separate age-appropriate playgrounds.

The center is fully licensed and recognized for excellence. It has an enrollment of 140 children. We have children from infancy to elementary school age, and an after-school program.

Redeemer is a vital part of the community in Baytown. The faithful are called to worship by the carillons. The striking of the chimes and playing of the hymns offer a spiritual tie of our church to the community. 

The Society of Helping Hands, a part of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is active in Lutheran World Relief projects. We support mission projects though mite box offerings and participate in many local projects and causes in the community.

The Men’s Prayer Breakfast was organized in 1987 by Pastor Jon Siemsglusz and Mr. Gordon Wilson. The breakfast is open to men from other churches in the community and unchurched men.  (As of 2021, approximately 8-12 men attend each Friday.)

The Piecemakers quilting group started in 2006. They have made lap-robes for the shut-ins. Thrivent has an active chapter at the church and participates in the Relay-for-Life Cancer Walk and Alzheimer’s Walk among many other activities.

Redeemer offers a variety of on-going Bible studies for women, couples, and others at the church and in individual homes.

The youth group is composed of energetic teens who are very eager to serve. They are involved in community service and evangelism projects.

The young children play bells monthly and perform Christmas and other programs.

Our goal is to show people God’s saving love expressed in Jesus Christ and to disciple them through God’s Word and Sacraments. Visitors may view the church, read our mission statement and find a link to our Children’s Center at www.rlcbaytown.org. 

Come make history with us! 

PASTORS SERVING REDEEMER LUTHERAN SINCE INCEPTION:

FROEHLICH, Rev. Anton A......................................................................... August 30, 1925 - April 22, 1928

STROEBEL, Rev. Henry................................................................................. August 19, 1928 – June 2, 1929

OBENHAUS, Rev. G. W.................................................................................. September 9, 1929 – May 9, 1948

LANGE, Rev. E. F................................................................................................... September 28, 1948 – September 25, 1960

KOLLMEYER, Rev. Glen C........................................................................... February 5, 1961 – August 22, 1969

NICHOLS, Rev. G. L.......................................................................................... January 11, 1970 – August 17, 1980

SCHARDT, Rev. Wayne................................................................................ November 1, 1981 – August 31, 1985

SIEMSGLUSZ, Rev. Jon............................................................................... May 4, 1986 – July 31, 1991

TURNER, Rev. Richard................................................................................. May 2, 1992 – August 31, 2002

DUBE, Rev. Walter A., Vacancy Pastor....................................... September 1, 2002 – August 1, 2003

VAN BUSKIRK, Vicar Raymond........................................................ August 1, 2003 – approx. June, 2015

SIMMS, Deacon Danny Simms………………………..........................…approx.. June, 2015 - December 13, 2016 NEUMANN, Rev. Paul D. …………………………......................................... December 13, 2016 – July 29, 2021

SIMMS, Deacon Danny……….…………………………................................. July 30, 2021 - August 1, 2023
SCHUETZ, Pastor Dan................................................................................. August 6, 2023 - Present