Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded under the leadership of Pastor W.G. Biel of Shady Brook, Kansas.  Already in October 1926, scattered members of the faith resolved to organize a Christian congregation in Herington and to call a resident pastor into their midst.  The first meeting for this was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Otte, 19 South Twelfth Street in Herington in October, 1926.  Those present were Charles & Anna Otte, Alex & Renatta Weber, Adam & Mary Snyder, H.S. & Anna Lindert, Albert & Alice Fick, Elizabeth Kimble and J.J. Kiser.  Charter voting members were H.S. Lindert, Albert Fick, Charles Otte, Clarence Krause, Elmer Roehrman, Henry Rosenbrock, Adam Snyder, Alex Weber and J.J. Kiser.

Pastor Biel and William Miessler, with help from others, conducted services in Herington while waiting for a resident minister.  The group first met in the German Baptist Church, South Tenth Street, and then in the disbanded United Brethren Church, North B Street.  Services were conducted in English.

In the spring of 1927, a call was extended to candidate O.W. Meyer of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.  He accepted the call and was ordained and installed at Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church on July 31, 1927, by Pastor Biel.  Regular services were conducted each Sunday morning at the vacated United Brethren Church for $8 a month. Membership consisted of 44 baptized souls, 22 communicant members and 9 voters.

In October of 1927 the United Brethren Church building, its contents and adjacent lots to the north were purchased for the sum of $3,000.  A dedication service was held on November 13, 1927.  At the dedication the church received gifts of communion vessels, a baptismal bowl, crucifix and candle holders from the Alta Vista congregation.

In February 1928, the congregation created its first permanent constitution and by-laws and filed for membership in the Kansas District at Topeka.  The first baptism was Wayne Harris Weber.  The first marriage was Russell Ewing and Hildegard Rohloff.  The first funeral was for Elvern Peters.

The congregation formed a Ladies Aid in 1926.  Six ladies were present at the home of Mrs. Alex (Renata) Weber, who was elected the first president.  Later, in 1944 the group, presently known as the Tabitha Society, joined the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

Sunday School was started in August 1927 with 20 children participating.  A Young People’s Society was organized in 1933 which later (1940) joined forces with the International Walther League.  Presently, the group is known as the Lutheran Youth Fellowship.

In March of 1935, Pastor Meyer accepted a call to Marysville, Kansas and on November 10, 1935, Pastor E.H. Wilms was installed as our second pastor.

In 1936, the congregation began excavation of a church basement.  Following that project, in June, 1938, members bought a house at 402 North Broadway from M. Gross.  With members help, this house was remodeled by October 1, 1938, at a cost of $1,850 and the congregation now had a parsonage.

Pastor Wilms accepted a call to Newton in April 1941.

Pastor Otto H. Mueller of Downs then came to Herington in September of that year.  When he was installed, the congregation was redecorating the church.  Also by the end of the year, an upstairs bedroom was added to the parsonage.

Under Pastor Mueller’s leadership, ground was broken for a Christian Day School in September 1944.  With the war, it was hard to get building materials so government allotments and used lumber were utilized.  Total cost of the school and equipment was $3,900.  The school opened September, 1945 with 30 students enrolled.  In two years a second teacher was added.

Teachers included W.O. Buss, 1945-49; Phyllis Miller (Mrs. Erwin Albrecht), 1949-50; Alice Repschlaeger (Mrs. Karl Kandt), 1950-53; J.W. Einspahr, 1953-58; Oscar Albrecht, 1958-60; Wesley Klein, 1960-61.  In the primary grades, teachers were LaVada Vahsholtz (Mrs. Richard Traskowsky), 1947-49; Dorothea Cowling, 1949-53; Julia Zumallen, 1953-55; Pauline Schott (Mrs. Werner Monnich), 1955-58; and Mabel John, 1958-61.  The school closed in the summer of 1961.

April 28, 1948, members gathered to form Our Redeemer Married Couples Club.  In March 1965, the group joined the Lutheran Layman’s League.

On January 15, 1951 the final payment was made to the Kansas District Church Extension Fund with a Mortgage Burning Service held January 21, 1951.  In October 1951, the church celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Pastor Mueller accepted a call to Girard in July of 1955.  A long vacancy followed.

Pastor James Ackerman was ordained and installed at Our Redeemer in March, 1957.  Although there was talk of building a new church, this did not occur until after he departed in July 1961.

The Reverend Delmar Brack came to Our Redeemer in September of 1962.  He was instrumental in starting mid-week school for catechism instruction that fall.

By the end of 1962, the congregation had accepted plans for a new parsonage.  The former parsonage was sold after Pastor Ackerman accepted his call to Michigan.  The present parsonage, located at East Trapp and H Streets, was dedicated to the glory of God in August, 1963.

Under Pastor Brack’s leadership, plans moved forward for the building of a church.  A ground breaking service was held October 27, 1963, with construction beginning the summer of 1964.  The cornerstone was laid July 12, 1964, with Pastor Ackerman as guest speaker for the event.  The new church was dedicated May 2, 1965.  At this time the congregation numbered 460 souls of which 320 were communicant members and 52 voting members.

The chancel of the church has a background of Texas limestone.  The altar, communion rail, pulpit and lectern are constructed of the same material.  A large wooden cross hangs on the limestone field, pointing to the heavens.

Pastor Brack accepted a call to Denison, Texas in 1969.

The Reverend Phillip Otten and his family then came to Our Redeemer in August of 1970, staying here until 1975.  During this time a second Mortgage Burning Service was held on April 7, 1974, when the indebtedness on the new church and parsonage was paid off.

Due to the absence of a pastor in the 50th anniversary year, no large celebration was held.  The Tabitha Society however had a special program at its meeting and 50th anniversary plates were made.

Pastor G.G. Press accepted a call to Our Redeemer in December of 1976.  During this time the congregation saw many members transfer away, since there was a decline in work that was carried on by the railroad in Herington and the poor farm economy.  Pastor Press made known his retirement plans early in the year of 1986 and we started the process of calling another pastor.  Pastor Press officially retired in October of 1986 and remained in Herington for some time.

Pastor Roy Southard, Ed.D. was installed the first Sunday in November of 1986.  Pastor Southard remained as Pastor until July of 1992 when he accepted a call to Concordia Lutheran Church in Houston.  We remained vacant until Pastor Clinton McMullen accepted a call in December of 1992.  He was installed on January 17, 1993 and was our pastor until January, 1998 when he accepted a call to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

We were vacant until the fall of that year when Pastor K.C. Dehning was installed on October 18, 1998 who served our congregation until October, 2002 when he accepted a call to serve Redeemer Lutheran Church of Warsaw, Indiana.

In April of 2003, Candidate Troy Slater of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis accepted the call to serve as pastor of Our Redeemer and was installed at Our Redeemer on July 20, 2003.  Pastor Slater continues to serve Our Redeemer to the present. 

In August of 1995 a Preschool was started and Christy Hester was named Director.  In July of 1996 Mary Weber was named Director.  In 1999 Terri Dehning was hired as Co-Director along with Mary Weber.  Following the resignation of Mrs. Weber in 2000, Mrs. Dehning was named Director of the Preschool and continued in that position until October of 2002 when her husband, Rev. K.C. Dehning, accepted a call to Indiana.  Mrs. Tamara Blake was then hired and has faithfully served as Director from October, 2002 to the present.

We pray that the Lord will continue to bless our congregation and guide us to use our energies in service to Him in this time and place.

“Lift High the Cross, the Love of Christ Proclaim”

A Brief History of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS)