Redeemer Lutheran Church, DeRidder, LA

+ Many missions were conducted in Southwest Louisiana in the early 1900's by the Lutheran Church. Foremost among these missions were those pastored by the Reverends William Wedig, Theodore Wegener, and Louis Helfrich. Services were conducted at Broadlands, Pujo, Oretha, Pickering and DeRidder. Only in DeRidder, however, was a permanent Lutheran Church established.
+ 1918 saw the beginning of the Lutheran mission to DeRidder. On January 26, 1928, Southern District purchased the property at 114 Wilson Street from Fitzhugh Alford for the sum of $1,989. The original site for the permanent church measured 100 feet by 170 feet.
+ April 10, 1932, was the most important day in the life of the Lutheran Church in DeRidder. It was on this day that a group of faithful Christians met to decide if they would continue to meet as a worshiping, confessing congregation of Christian Lutherans. Among those in attendance at this most important meeting were Adolph Bunge, Henry Weick, August Meyer, Arthur Weick, L. M. Schuetz, Ed Meyer, Otto Meyer, A. W. Froemming, August L. Froemming, Herman Froemming, Rudolph Lang, Ed Riffel, J. W. Schmidt and Rev. H. W. Niewald. These men would become the charter members of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
+ With the guidance of our Lord the decision was made to continue as worshiping and confessing Lutherans. A constitution was drawn up and signed and tentative building plans were prepared. By May of 1932 plans were finalized to build a house of worship, 28 feet by 48 feet. A loan in the amount of $750 was requested from the Southern District Church Extension Fund. The loan was granted and work was begun on the building. After many hours of loving labor by members, the desire to continue as a Lutheran congregation was fulfilled.
+ Prior to the completion of the house of worship, services had been held in various places throughout the community. Also in 1932, the congregation was incorporated as Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, to serve God and the community.
+ The church was dedicated to the glory of God on May 14, 1933. This house of worship was to serve the faithful until October 31, 1976, when the new church was dedicated.
+ Beginning in 1933, services were conducted in both English and German to better serve all members of the community.
+ Until 1935, seating in the church consisted of metal folding chairs. L. C. Kern, a local businessman, became concerned about the need for appropriate seating in the Lutheran house of worship and donated the money for the pews. Adolph Bunge constructed the pews which are still in use in the present worship facility. The Chancel furniture and baptismal font were designed and constructed by Henry Weick.
+ Redeemer incorporated in 1945 receiving tax exempt status as a non-profit organization.
+ Due to the significant increase in the numbers of military personnel attending Redeemer, the Armed Services Commission of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, made an interest-free loan to Redeemer in 1951 for the construction of a Parish Hall. It was during this time that the Rev. Wm. Wedig was named service pastor for Camp Polk by the Army and Navy Commission.
+ In July 1965, additional property was purchased on the corner of Highway 190 and Bryan Street for $15,000. This property was to be used for long-range church expansion. Planning and drawing sketches for a larger worship facility was not an easy task. Finalizing the blueprint and locating a contractor who was affordable proved to be even more difficult. DeRidder was experiencing a building boom at the time. In answer to prayer, Harold Krumwiede, building contractor and Lutheran brother in Christ, moved to DeRidder from Chicago. Harold molded the building plans into an affordable structure of 5,280 square feet, at a cost of $100,000.
+ At this point special mention must be made of the men willing to move forward in faith: M. H. Schuetz, Kenneth Smith, E. G. Penney, Dennis Smith, Calvin Schwarze, L. M. Schuetz, and J. H. Koppa. Rev. John Duke held Dedication Services on October 31, 1976.
+ The original furnishings as well as the original pews from the church at 114 Wilson Street were incorporated into the decor of the present house of worship. Thus, altars are located both in the Chancel and in the rear of the Nave, as is traditional in the old Evangelical Lutheran Churches throughout Europe.
+ In 1977 plans were completed for the construction of an activities building, 40 feet by 80 feet. Again problems and delays were experienced. Then, with interest rates soaring to an excess of 15 per cent, work was stopped altogether after the concrete slab was poured and the outer shell had been erected.
+ In January 1982, Harold Krumwiede, then living in Dallas, Texas, read the "Carpenters for Christ" advertisement in the Lutheran Witness and the article reminded him that he also was a carpenter, and that a need existed for him by his Friends in Christ in DeRidder. Again the answer to prayer, Harold traveled to DeRidder to spearhead the completion of the activity building by donating his time and labor. One of the 50th Anniversary goals of the congregation was the completion of the activity building which was to become known as "Bethel Hall." Loan in the amount of $30,000 from Southern District Church Extension Fund made possible the completion of the facility.
PASTORS

W. H. Niewald 1932 - 1942
Theodore Wegener-vacancy 1942 - 1945
C. W. Mueller 1945 - 1947
Rev. Rodehorst-vacancy 1947
Theodore Wegener-vacancy 1947 - 1949
William Wedig 1949 - 1955
Robert Hess-vacancy 1955 - 1956
Fred Gensler 1956 - 1959
Eugene Wille-vacancy 1959 - 1964
Chap Alton Kieschnick-vacancy 1964 - 1966
Caryl Ritchey 1966 - 1970
Bruce Blakelock-vacancy 1970 - 1972
Richard Kessler 1972 - 1976
Anton Prange-vacancy 1976
John Duke 1976 - 1978
Patrick K. Carlson 1978 - 1984
LaVerne Fitch-vacancy 1984 -1985
Robert G. Seaton 1985 - 1993
Wm "Bill" Roten-vacancy 1993 - 1994
Gary Archbold 1994 -