Set among the oaks and intersecting streets of west Augusta, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church has gathered Lutherans at the corner of Aumond Road and Boy Scout Road since 1960. The motto above the church's name - "By Grace, Chosen in Christ and Gifted to Serve" - is more than a tagline; it is the lens through which the congregation reads its ninety-year story and its varied ministry to a Georgia community that includes the CSRA, the suburbs of Martinez and Evans, and the busy corridors around I-520.
Our Redeemer belongs to The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), one of more than 6,000 LCMS congregations walking together in confession of the historic Christian faith. The church sits within the Florida-Georgia District, in the East Central Georgia Circuit (Circuit 004). Members speak warmly of the connection: weekly worship, weekly Bible study, weekly choir rehearsals, weekly quilters stitching comfort for the world's poor - a rhythm that has held steady through decades of growth and change.
Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone
Our Redeemer teaches and confesses the historic Christian faith as summarized in three Reformation-era phrases.
Grace alone: God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him, and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly. Faith alone: by His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him. Scripture alone: the Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
The congregation also confesses the doctrine of the Trinity, that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are coequal and coeternal - one God. With the universal Christian Church, Our Redeemer teaches that Jesus Christ became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan, and that the Holy Spirit creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments.
Being "Lutheran" means the church accepts and teaches Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the Reformation of the Christian Church in the sixteenth century. The Augsburg Confession and other confessions in The Book of Concord - including Luther's Small Catechism - give more detail on what Lutherans believe.
A Congregation Built Around the Sunday Calendar
A Sunday at Our Redeemer follows a familiar rhythm that has been refined over many years. The day opens with a Classic Worship service at 8:15 AM. Sunday School and Bible classes for all ages meet during the Christian Education Hour from 9:40 to 10:40 AM. A second service follows at 11:00 AM, which is Traditional on most Sundays and Lutheran Contemporary on the second and third Sundays of the month. Holy Communion is served at both Sunday services on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month.
The Classic service at 8:15 AM is grounded in the Lutheran Service Book and Lutheran Hymnal. Traditional Lutheran worship and hymns are used, with an emphasis on being "reverent" and "receiving" God's gifts through Word and Sacrament. A fellowship, snack, and coffee time is held between the 8:15 service and the Christian Education Hour on the second and fourth Sundays of the month in the Fellowship Hall.
The Lutheran Contemporary service at 11:00 AM follows the basic liturgical pattern while a worship ensemble helps lead the service. PowerPoint screens bring visual aids to the congregation. The atmosphere leans toward "celebration" and "joyful" worship - rejoicing in the presence of God and the church family as the people worship the great "I Am." Holy Communion is offered at both services on the first and third Sundays each month.
Members are encouraged to gather for Daily Prayer at 12:12 PM. The prayer time is a small but pointed reminder of what the church calls its core identity: by the power of the Holy Spirit, God brings us to faith.
Both services stream live on the church's YouTube channel. Traditional worship streams live each Sunday at 8:15 AM, and Contemporary worship streams live at 11:00 AM on the second and third Sundays. Recordings can be viewed shortly after release online, on Facebook, or on YouTube, and audio of past services is preserved in an audio worship archive that includes Funeral Worship Guides and sermons.
The Buildings at 402 Aumond Road
The campus at 402 Aumond Road is the second home of the congregation. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church was organized as a mission of the English District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on September 2, 1937, founded by the Rev. Adolph Meyer with thirteen communicant members. The first church building, located at the corner of Central Avenue and Johns Road, was dedicated on May 15, 1938.
By 1959 the congregation had outgrown that facility and decided to relocate. The church at the present Aumond Road location was built and dedicated on December 4, 1960. A new wing was added in 1982 to accommodate continued growth in membership and programs. In 1997 the congregation began planning a further expansion - especially in fellowship, classrooms, and Fine Arts Ministries space. That Educational Wing and Fellowship Hall addition was dedicated on January 14, 2001.
The lower level of the newer building houses eight classrooms for children two years old through high school, two larger classrooms for adult classes, and a Sunday school office. The upper level holds the Fellowship Hall, a flexible space with a full retractable stage equipped with lighting and sound, plus a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen. When the stage is closed, the Hall seats 250 guests for dinners; with the stage in use it accommodates 200. In 2008 the sound system was upgraded and two projectors and screens added to the Hall to support the Contemporary service and larger educational events. In 2010 the front entrance and connecting spaces were renovated into what is now called the Church Lobby, an open area for conversation and periodic displays.
Visitors arriving by car find both an upper and a lower parking lot. The campus also serves the wider Augusta community. The Augusta Players have staged productions on the Fellowship Hall stage, and Westminster Schools have used the space for AP testing. Area groups such as Rotary International and the Chamber Singers meet at the church on a regular basis.
Christian Education for Every Age
Christian Education is not an add-on at Our Redeemer; it is part of the Sunday. The Christian Education Hour runs from 9:40 to 10:40 AM between the two worship services.
Children's Sunday School begins with an all-ages opening in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30, including prayers, a song, and an introduction to the day's Bible lesson. After the opening, classes are dismissed to begin in the Education Wing. The church offers three classes spanning Pre-K through fifth grade, using Concordia Publishing House's "Growing in Christ" curriculum in the fall through spring. The 4th-5th grade class adds extra emphases that prepare students for Confirmation - an introduction to the Concordia Study Bible, a review of the Old and New Testament books, memorization of the Ten Commandments and the Apostles' Creed, and an overview of Law and Gospel. The Pre-Confirmation class meets in the Education Wing, downstairs in Room 311.
A children's message is offered at every worship service. The message is written especially for the children, who come forward to hear from Susan Shipman. It is grounded in God's Word and designed to help younger members develop their faith lives, while also offering talking points between parent and child.
Confirmation begins in sixth grade and welcomes older children who wish to start. The class meets on Sunday mornings during the Christian Education Hour from 9:40 to 10:40 AM in Room 307. The program uses Faith Inkubators' "Head to Heart" curriculum, which provides more than ninety lessons of engaging, brain-based teaching material including object lessons, art, music, game shows, skits, PowerPoint presentations, and home journals. Confirmands are given a Concordia Study Bible, Luther's Small Catechism, and a course syllabus. Year A covers the Ten Commandments and the Apostles' Creed; Year B covers the Lord's Prayer, Baptism, and Confession. Students are expected to attend class regularly, complete required assignments, submit sermon-note summaries, serve as acolytes, and participate in youth service projects. Group Confirmation sessions with Pastor Schwartz run from 12:15 to 1:30 PM on selected Sundays, covering the Lord's Supper and practical application. Faith stories are directed by the pastor individually with students in January, February, and March. The rite of Confirmation is usually conducted in May of each year.
Adult Bible Study also fills the Christian Education Hour. Currently three classes meet each Sunday morning from 9:40 to 10:40 AM: one more lecture-based, another a group study, and a third for younger adults.
Youth: Middle School and High School
Youth ministry at Our Redeemer centers on Sunday afternoons and a busy digital presence.
Youth Group meets every Sunday at 12:15 PM in Luther Inn, a large multi-purpose room in the lower level of the church. The room includes a kitchen, game tables and equipment, a big-screen TV, and a small-group discussion area. High School Youth Group mostly meets on the first and third Sundays of the month; Middle School Youth Group - known affectionately as TACO (The Army of Christ Organization) - mostly meets on the second and fourth Sundays. The format is shared lunch, an activity, and a Bible study together. A Google Meet option is offered, beginning at 1:00 PM, with information sent by email and text prior to each meeting.
The youth program also keeps a strong online footprint. ORLC Youth maintains its own YouTube channel, an Instagram account (@orlcy), a Facebook group, and a library of video Bible studies. Highlights, announcements, and short devotionals appear throughout the week, and families can keep up with current events through a digital calendar.
Sunday School classes for youth meet during the Christian Education Hour. The High School Class, for ninth through twelfth graders, gathers in Luther Inn from 9:40 to 10:40 AM. The 6th-8th grade Confirmation class meets in Room 307. Janet Niehoff leads the Board of Youth Ministry that oversees the program.
Past trips have included the LCMS National Youth Gathering, and the ORLC Youth Ministry keeps families connected through a Luther Inn-Box newsletter.
Music That Lifts the Heart
The Music Ministry seeks to bring talented musicians together to assist in leading worship, striving to worship God according to His Word. Music Director and Organist Justin Hornsby is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Princeton, New Jersey, holding the Master of Music in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy, Master of Arts in Teaching in Music Education, and Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. He is a frequent performer and collaborator in Georgia and South Carolina, accompanies many of the choirs in the CSRA, runs a private studio teaching piano, organ, and voice, and has performed at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan. He believes that music is a gift from God and should be shared with others.
The music ministry offers three ensembles. The Service Choir sings for one Sunday morning service each week and both services on special occasions; rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the Fine Arts Room (6:00 PM during Advent and Lent). The Worship Handbell Choir rings for morning worship services at different times throughout the year; the ability to read music is helpful but not necessary. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM (5:15 PM during Advent and Lent). The Worship Ensemble leads worship once a month for the 11:00 AM Contemporary service and welcomes additional instrumentalists and vocalists; rehearsals are Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall.
Adult Bible Study Beyond Sunday Morning
The appetite for the Word does not stop at the end of Sunday School. Our Redeemer hosts several weekly adult Bible studies.
On Monday nights, Pastor Schwartz leads an adult class from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. On Wednesday mornings, he leads another adult class from 9:30 to 10:45 AM. The Ladies' A.M. Bible Study (LAMBS) meets Thursday mornings at 9:30 AM in Room 309 of the Education Wing; childcare is provided, with arrangements made by calling the church office on Tuesday.
The Men's Breakfast Bible Study (MBBS) meets every Friday morning at 6:30 AM for coffee, a light breakfast, and in-depth focus on God's Word. A Sunday-evening small group meets in the Martinez area from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The Young Adults group meets on various days of the week. New Member Classes - for those new to the faith or seeking a review of basic Christian tenets - are held three times a year.
Women, Men, and the LWML
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is the official women's auxiliary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. For more than sixty-five years, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman's relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries, and supporting global missions. The Our Redeemer LWML unit helps each woman of the congregation affirm her relationship with the triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of Augusta and the world.
The unit holds regular meetings with an LWML emphasis and the in-gathering of mites - small offerings gathered with prayer for mission grants. Karen Bowers coordinates the mites and provides a Mites devotional at every meeting. Seventy-five percent of mite offerings are kept for District mission grants and programs, and twenty-five percent are sent to the National LWML for its mission grants.
The local mission project supported by the Our Redeemer LWML is the Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries (DCCM), which purchases canned goods from Golden Harvest Food Bank and distributes bags to about 300 families a week. Ruth Ann Nolde coordinates the sponsorship and volunteers; she and fellow ORLC member Ken Wingeier sit on the DCCM board. Several ORLC members volunteer at the site.
The unit maintains an active Card Ministry, sending cards for birthdays, illness, and other life-events; to military personnel; to singles; to college students; and to shut-ins. The unit publishes the official LWML publication Lutheran Women's Quarterly for members and supports the FL/GA District's e-Evangel newsletter. The annual ORLC Rummage Sale, run by the LWML, raises funds that assist with mission outreach projects and supplement expenses for rallies, conventions, and retreats. The group also provides refreshments for Sunday fellowship hours, Lenten and Advent lunches, makes banners for confirmands, gathers food and assembles Thanksgiving baskets, purchases kitchen equipment, cleans the church, and contributes to an in-gathering of gifts at Zone, District, and National meetings.
Our Redeemer is part of the East Central Georgia Zone of the FL/GA District LWML, which includes congregations in Macon, Perry, Milledgeville, Savannah, Statesboro, and Warner Robins.
Men's ministry centers on Sunday morning Bible study and the Friday morning Men's Breakfast Bible Study (MBBS) at 6:30 AM. All men and adults are encouraged to attend studies listed under the adult category of current activities.
Quilters, Prayer Shawls, and the Mission of the Hands
Tuesdays at Our Redeemer belong to the Quilters. The group meets from 9:00 AM until noon in Room 309 of the Education Wing. Some members design, two iron, others piece the quilts, one binds, and others tie quilts to finish them. They take a break for snacks (often homemade) and a devotion. The result is more than 300 tied quilts each year, distributed to ministries and locations around the world. Recent shipments have included 117 quilts and 94 personal care kits sent to Lutheran World Relief.
Recipients of the quilts and personal care kits include Safe Homes of Augusta, the Cumbee Center of Aiken, South Carolina, Threshold to Freedom, Lutheran World Relief, Interfaith Hospitality, and the Martinez Fire Department. Hand-stitched quilts are also auctioned off as fundraisers throughout the year. Anyone is welcome to join on Tuesday mornings.
A separate Prayer Shawl and Lap Quilt Ministry provides shawls and quilts to anyone - member or non-member - in need of prayer and encouragement, whether in nursing homes, hospitals, or confined at home. The physical warmth of the shawl carries with it the prayerful promise attached, giving tangible evidence of God's involvement in everyday life. Requests can be made through the church office.
The Quilters also sponsor the annual ORLC Craft Fair each November in the Fellowship Hall, raising money for local ministries. Past proceeds have supported Family Promise of Augusta.
Hands Across Borders: Belize and Africa
Our Redeemer's mission work reaches well beyond Augusta.
For several years, the congregation sent mission teams to a small non-denominational church in San Jose Village, Belize. The trips, focused on sharing the Gospel message and God's love, ran each year from 2016 to 2019. Even after the trips were paused, the congregation continued to share God's love by supporting the Belizean church financially - including providing funds for a traditional Christmas meal of smoked ham for families who otherwise could not afford it. The archives of the Belize Mission Trip are preserved and the church prays that the teams will return.
The church also supports LCMS missionaries Mark and Megan Mantey in East Africa. Megan works with the Luther Academy, developing conferences for African church bodies, and has worked with Lutheran church bodies in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Rwanda, and Togo for French-speaking music and liturgical workshops to learn about a new Lutheran French hymnal, Edition Africaine. Mark has focused on business-related tasks at the East Africa Field Office, engaging in activities that assist missionaries with projects, work visas, and budgets. Both have traveled in the region, including Megan's trips to attend the Lutheran Church of Uganda's church elections and to teach alongside Ambassadors of Reconciliation in Rwanda. Gifts to their ministry can be directed through the LCMS and Mission Central.
Closer to home, the congregation supports Lutheran World Relief, the DCCM Food Pantry, the Golden Harvest Food Bank, the Augusta Rescue Mission, Child Enrichment, Garden City Rescue, Family Promise of Augusta, Safe Homes of Augusta, the Cumbee Center of Aiken, Threshold to Freedom, and Interfaith Hospitality. Members have also walked in the Augusta Care Pregnancy Center's Walk for Life on Augusta's Riverwalk.
Pastoral Care, Visiting, and Staying Connected
Members unable to attend services in person are reached by the Member Visiting Team, which sends cards and visits to those at home, in nursing homes, or in the hospital. The team is a visible expression of the church's understanding that worship and Word extend beyond Sunday morning.
An online Prayer Request form invites anyone in the community to share a prayer concern; the request is received by the Prayer Request Team, who pray on the requester's behalf for thirty days. A Little Free Library near the playground offers free children's books; families are invited to take a book or contribute to the collection.
Members and visitors can keep up with the church's many activities through a weekly email newsletter, the PULSE newsletter published most months, an online calendar, a Facebook profile, and a YouTube channel. Online giving is available through the church's online giving buttons, with options for general donations and memorials. A weekly audio archive holds sermons and special services for those who wish to revisit them.
Walking Together: The Leadership Team
Pastor Roger A. Schwartz was installed at Our Redeemer in May 2008. He received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 2000. Before coming to Our Redeemer he served Trinity Lutheran Church in Toccoa, Georgia, and was involved in planting a mission congregation in Clarkesville that is now called Grace Lutheran Church. Prior to entering the ministry, Pastor Schwartz worked as an industrial sales engineer. He and his wife, Delores Reich Schwartz, a practicing Physician Assistant, are blessed with three children: Abigail, Nathaniel, and Ethan. His interests include reading, walking, tennis, and cooking.
Music Director and Organist Justin Hornsby also directs music for many CSRA choirs and runs a private studio of piano, organ, and voice students.
Parish Administrator Sheri D. Agee joined the staff on November 27, 2000. Before coming to Our Redeemer she was a stay-at-home mom to daughters Sierra and Brooke. She previously worked at the Medical College of Georgia in the Department of Medical Photography as the Office Manager. She is married to Chris Agee and serves as the Women's Ministry Leader at her own congregation. Her interests include family, gardening, attending Christian concerts, painting, and traveling.
Discipleship and Special Events Coordinator Emily Neuberg joined Our Redeemer with her family in December 2024. She and her husband, William, have been married since 2012 and are raising their four children together, whom Emily homeschools. Emily is combining her love for Jesus with her gift for event planning and hospitality.
Technology Support Facilitator Karen Leibl joined the staff at the end of April 2021. Karen and her family have been members of Our Redeemer since 2000. After travels around the world due to the military, the family has made the Augusta area their home now that her husband, Aric, has retired from Active Duty Air Force service. Karen's role supports the digital reach of the church's ministry.
Vacation Bible School and the Annual Calendar
Vacation Bible School is open to all children from preschool through fifth grade. Held each summer, VBS features Bible activities, games, and crafts designed to engage all the senses and bring a Bible theme to life. The ORLC Rummage Sale is an annual fall event organized by the LWML; the ORLC Craft Fair, sponsored by the Quilters, fills the Fellowship Hall each November with vendors and visitors from across the area.
Throughout the year, members and friends come together for Advent and Lenten lunches, Thanksgiving basket assembly, fellowship hours between services, and occasional concerts hosted in the Fellowship Hall. The church also marks the changing seasons of the church calendar with midweek services and special music, all rooted in the same historic liturgy that shapes Sunday morning.
Faith That Endures
From thirteen communicant members in 1937 to a thriving congregation with multiple weekly Bible studies, a busy music ministry, an active youth program, mission work across two continents, and a campus that hosts the wider community, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church traces its story through the words of its motto. "By Grace, Chosen in Christ and Gifted to Serve" is the day-by-day practice of a people walking together.