Our Mission

Our Redeemer, throughout its more than eighty year history, has considered mission outreach its vital purpose. The congregation and its members have contributed substantially to establish and support a wide variety of missions and ministries.

Redeemer Hospitality Mission (RHM)
Members of Our Redeemer and its daughter congregation (Pilgrim Lutheran Church), along with residents of the Mapleton-Fall Creek area (where Our Redeemer is located), incorporated RHM in early 1996. The mission of RHM is to enhance life and community through programs focused on youth and family development. Principal among these are the Son Seekers Summer Day Camp and the Jump Start After School Program. Contact Executive Director Linda Elkins or Program Director Karen Kriesel if you would like to help with any of the programs below.

Son Seekers Summer Day Camp: Begun in 1996, this six-week, summer day camp (8:30am - 4pm) provides constructive educational, social, artistic, and recreational programming, along with field trips and meals, for 50 area children from the ages of 6 to 14. The program carries only a small fee and scholarships are available so that no child is excluded.

Jump Start After School Program: Also started in 1996, this free program offers constructive activities (homework, arts, tutoring, recreation) and a hot evening meal for up to 60 children, ages 5-14, Monday through Thursday, 4pm to 7pm.

Ready Readers: Begun in 2006, this component of the after school program offers valuable extra instruction for early reading mastery.

Families In Touch (FIT): This wrap-around program is intended to help families identify and address issues they see impeding their success. Through mentoring, partnering and workshops, it helps equip parents to handle school conferences, disciplinary measures, family budgeting, nutrition, job readiness, health, and other difficult issues, as well as offering fun family events and workshops.

SUCCESS! Adult Literacy Track (SALT!): An individualized program to help adults enhance their own reading and writing skills, enabling them to pursue employment opportunities and better assist their children with school work. Sometimes life just needs a little salt!

Sonshine Family Drop-In Center: The Center is dedicated to fostering a more livable, safe and wholesome community with and for the youth and families of Mapleton-Fall Creek.  It is a vitally shared community ministry involving many residents and partnerships within and beyond the immediate neighborhood in nurturing youth and families. The Piez Memorial Computer Learning Center, comprised of nine state-of-the-art computer workstations, is located within the Drop-In center and is available for community needs and educational classes.

Mid-North Food Pantry
The nine congregations of the Mid-North Church Council combine efforts to supply and support a neighborhood food pantry. Our Redeemer provides financial support and holds food drives each year to help fill the pantry's shelves. Volunteers from Our Redeemer help to staff the pantry, which is located in our building.

Indianapolis Lutheran Campus Ministry
In the 1970's, Our Redeemer called the first Lutheran campus pastor to serve the various colleges and universities in Indianapolis. Today, Our Redeemer supports the ministry along with many other Lutheran congregations.

Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corp. (MFCDC)
The MFCDC is a community development agency created in 1986 by the Mid-North Church Council, whose congregations continue to assist with funding. Properties deeded by Our Redeemer to MFCDC have provided income and equity. Until they outgrew available space, the offices were provided free at Our Redeemer from 1988 through 1998. The corporation does home rehabilitation (for rent and purchase), provides low-interest home improvement loans to neighborhood residents, and offers other programs.

Lutheran Child & Family Services (LCFS)
LCFS has worked in partnership with Lutheran congregations since 1886 to provide residential care and treatment for wayward teens, adoption services, foster care, counseling, and care for the elderly.

Sharing Place
Lutheran Child & Family Services operates the Sharing Place thrift stores on the east and west sides of Indianapolis. Our Redeemer helps this ministry through donations and volunteer labor.

Pilgrimage Center
Established by several local Lutheran congregations in 1998 and incorporated in 2000, this center provides support and encouragement for journeys of faith and life through counseling, education, and consultation. Our Redeemer assists with funding, referral, and volunteers in developing and enhancing programming. The center is affiliated with LCFS.

Mid-North Shepherd Center (MNSC)
The MNSC is sponsored by the Mid-North Church Council and is located at North United Methodist Church. It offers a variety of programs, focused on serving the needs and interests of older members of the nine Council congregations and surrounding neighborhoods.

Missionary in Kenya, Africa
Since the 1970's, in conjunction with several other Lutheran congregations, Our Redeemer has sponsored various missionaries. Currently the supported missionary (Robert Schmalzle) serves in Kenya, Africa.  Read the latest from Pastor Schmalzle.

Lutheran Braille Workers
Members of Our Redeemer volunteer time each week to prepare braille translations of the Bible.

Coburn Place
Our Redeemer aids this local safe haven serving battered women and their children through unbudgeted financial contributions.

Damien Center
Our Redeemer contributes to help continue the work of this center for ministry with HIV-AIDS patients and their families.

Heifer Project International
Since the early 1980's, Our Redeemer has supported selected projects of this agency, which seeks to eliminate world hunger through education, skills training, and livestock distribution.

Wheat Ridge Foundation
Our Redeemer contributes to the annual fund drive for this Lutheran social services agency located in Illinois.

Other missions we support
Christians Linked in Mission
Church Federation of Greater Indpls.
Mid-North Church Council
Association of Lutheran Older Adults
Lutheran Disability Ministries