| The following brief history of Redeemer Lutheran Church is a testament to God's awesome power and amazing grace and the faith, dedication, and vision of many Redeemer members over the past 50 years. |
| In June, 1948, the Mission Executive and the Mission Board of the Central Illinois District of "The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod" selected the sight at the corner of Knoxville and Glen on which to begin a fourth LCMS congregation, in Peoria. Four lots were purchased for $30,000. The property included the ten-room home of the Henry Endres family. A call was extended to Rev. Theodore Teyler to organize the congregation, and he was commissioned as pastor on January 23, 1949, and a Sunday school was begun. |
| Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church was officially organized August 3, 1949. There were 11 charter members. Before worship services could be held, the white house was remodeled to include a chapel on the first floor and a parsonage on the second. Beginning on March 5, 1950, large classes of adults were confirmed as members and the church grew rapidly. Early in 1950 the congregation decided to build a parsonage and extend the chapel. The parsonage was dedicated on December 1, 1951, and the chapel work was completed January 27, 1952. Seating capacity was increased from 45 to 115. |
| In January 1953, a Christian Day School was begun with 22 students enrolled in Kindergarten. This was the first unit of the intended eight-room parochial school. On January 11, 1953, it was resolved to build the Chapel-School (it was later turned into the Parish Hall). It was dedicated on November 29, 1953, and seated 160. On September 6, 1955, grades 1-3 were started in Redeemer Lutheran School. When the school opened in September, 201 were enrolled: 29 in grades 1-3, 160 in the Nursery and Kindergarten, and the remainder in the upper grades went to Mt. Calvary Lutheran School. |
| Redeemer became self-supporting in 1955. Beginning on September 4 of that year two worship services were held on Sunday mornings. In 1956, the members had a vision to build a church sanctuary. Two additional lots were purchased and parking facilities were expanded. However, appearing on the horizon was a new vision-the combining of the parochial schools of Redeemer, Mt. Calvary, and Trinity into a consolidated school, Concordia Lutheran School. |
| The chapel was extended by 35 feet in 1958 to expand its seating capacity to 240. By midsummer, plans for a consolidated school were approved and construction was begun on a ten-room school at 2000 West Glen. The name "Concordia" was chosen because it means "harmony". Redeemer's capital investment was $65,000. Concordia Lutheran School was-dedicated on August 23, 1959. Redeemer had 76 students while the last few years there has been over 200 students each year from Redeemer. |
| In 1962, a Long Range Planning Committee recommended the formation of a Building Committee for a new sanctuary. A pledge drive was conducted and a total of $156,000 was pledged toward the total cost of $225,000 plus landscaping and parking lot. Ground breaking was held on June 14, 1964. The cornerstone was laid on October 25 while the day of dedication was May 23, 1965. |
| Plans were approved in 1968 to expand Concordia with six new classrooms. In 1976, a new pipe organ was installed at Redeemer. Concordia was again expanded in 1981 to add a band room and two additional classrooms. |
| God has blessed the congregation of Redeemer through the years as it grew from a tiny congregation whose ministry focused on Word and Sacraments through worship, Christian education classes, and a Christian day school to a truly large body of believers of over 2000 members whose expanded ministries include Care Ministry, Helpmates, Youth and Seniors' Ministries, and more. Now as we approach the 21st century, God is opening many doors of opportunity for exciting ministries. |
| To take advantage of all these opportunities, in 1987, the members of Redeemer began the process of building a new ministry facility. The fund drive fell short of the needed resources but 19 acres on Allen Road were purchased and were paid for. In 1993, efforts were once again begun on building a new ministry facility on Allen Road. After a successful capital fund drive, building plans and a contractor were approved on June 1, 1995. Ground Breaking Worship was held at the site on June 11, 1995. We began our ministry in the new facility at the end of December 1996 with the first worship services being held the weekend of February 8-9, 1997. |
| During the weekend of March 25-26, 2000 Dr. Al Barry, Past President of the LCMS was our guest preacher as we culminated 50 years of God’s grace “With Grateful Hearts”. |
| We thank God for miraculously working through us and for the many faithful members of Redeemer who have served Him and given of themselves through the years. |
