Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Pelican Rapids, Minnesota) Records

The first service of Our Redeemer, as far as can be determined, was sometime in late 1953. The first building used for worship services was the VFW Hall in Pelican Rapids. The first pastor was Rev. Erwin W. Eifert, the new pastor at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Loon Lake, which was two miles south of Vergas, Minnesota. There were a number of other Lutheran churches in the Pelican Rapids area, but Loon Lake was the only other LCMS. Pastor Eifert served this congregation until January 1956. The next pastor at Saint Paul, Loon Lake, was Rev. George Grabarkewitz, who was installed at Loon lake in May 1956. He also served Pelican Rapids. At that time, Our Redeemer was meeting in the REA building. In 1959, the congregation wasa formally organized under Pastor Grabarkewitz' keadership and joined the LCMS - Minnesota District. Pastor Grabarkewitz served Our Redeemer until his retirement in January 1962. His successor at Saint Paul, Loon Lake, Rev. Henry Sporleder, also served Our Redeemer until 1967. At this time, tje congregation of Our Redeemer decided to build their own building, as they had been meeting the past serveral years at Bethel Lutheran Church, Pelican Rapids, which no longer exists. (The second page of this history is missing). Pastor Bremer seved Our Redeemer for almost 10 years, retiring in April 1989. The succeeding pastors were: Rev. Dan Dierks, pastor of two LCMS congregations in rural Fergus Falls, and Rev. Henry Buchholz, pastor at Almora. Rev. Charles R. Wind began serving Our Redeemer as a vacancy pastor in 1990, and was still serving when he wrote the short history in March 1993. CHI does not have any further information concerning this congregation.