History
Redeemer had its beginnings in 1924 as a mission church,
holding services in several different places until the congregation erected a
chapel on a small triangular piece of property on Lincoln Avenue, one block
west of Woodward. It was here that the congregation met regularly until 1942
when it moved to its present location on Maple Rd. The chapel built here was
modeled after the Martha Mary Chapel at Greenfield Village,
Dearborn.
Following World War II, the quiet village of Birmingham became
a burgeoning community coming alive with the influx of population that caused
Redeemer's membership to swell to 1600 members by the early 1970's. During that
25 year period, the physical structures went through various stages of
expansion. First a Youth wing was added in 1952 and then the sanctuary was
enlarged to its present capacity in 1957. In 1970-71, the building of a
multi-purpose addition completed the facility as we see it today.
The
congregation was shepherded by two short term pastorates before the Reverend
Theodore Wuggazer began a ministry in 1931 that spanned 36 years and carried
the congregation through all the developmental stages. He was joined in 1962 by
his son, Reverend Duane T. Wuggazer, and they served together until
"Pastor Ted's" passing in September, 1966. Thereafter, Pastor
Duane sustained and nurtured the ministry for a total of 35 years
until he retired in December 1999. At that time the congregation called Reverend Randall Schlak to be its Senior
Pastor. Pastor Randy had been serving the congregation as Associate Pastor
since 1998. The ministry of Redeemer has likewise been enriched by a number of
full time staff personnel, many of whom have remained on the staff for long
periods of time.
Today the congregation numbers over 1100 members,
including children, and carries on a wide variety of programs designed to meet
the needs and challenges of the new millennium.
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