About Us
Our mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ so that all may know God and grow in faith toward Him and in love toward one another.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe God “wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). We strive to make Jesus, Who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” (John 14:6) known to all.
Because of our belief, our mission is to “proclaim Jesus Christ so that all may know God and grow in faith toward Him and in love toward one another.”
We believe in the triune God – the Father,
His Only Son, Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit.
God's Word and the Bible
God’s Word, recorded in the Bible, is the foundation of everything we believe, teach and confess. It is through His living, powerful, transformational Word that He makes himself known as our loving, heavenly Father.
As a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), Redeemer accepts and preaches the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther, who inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century.
By 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. Therefore, it is by grace alone that we are saved.
By Faith Alone
By His suffering and death, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for all people of all time. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God creates within us faith in Jesus. It is through this gift of faith that forgiveness becomes ours.
By Scripture Alone
Scripture is the inerrant and infallible Word of God found in the Bible, through which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. The Bible is the complete and only source of what we believe, teach, and proclaim about God.
Stained glass depiction of the Bible in our Sanctuary
Who is Jesus?
Stained glass depiction of the Bible in our Sanctuary
Jesus is the Son of God. The Old Testament prophets spoke of His coming and described the eternal and life-changing impact He would have.
Jesus is both God and man. As God, He stilled the seas and walked on water. With a touch of His hand, he cured incurable diseases. He restored life to those who had physically died. As man, he was born in a manger in Bethlehem. He felt the pangs of hunger and thirst. He cried over the death of His friend and himself died on a cross to save the lives of those he loves, even us.
Jesus is sinless and blameless. As the perfect sacrifice, He paid the ultimate price so that we could live with Him forever. Through eyes of love, He sees us as he made us, sinless and blameless.
Jesus is merciful in spite of our sin. All of us are broken and sinful. Every day, we think, say and do hurtful and harmful things, to ourselves and to others. No matter how hard we try to be “good,” our sin contaminates everything we do. Sin is behind our brokenness – our failed marriages, empty lives, sickness, emotional distress, sorrow and grief. Jesus came to heal our brokenness.
Without Jesus, the end result of our sin is death. Jesus, the one and only Son of God, who was sinless and blameless, paid the penalty for all of us and all of our sins. With Jesus and because of His sacrifice, we rest in the promise of eternal life.
Jesus is the Redeemer. He suffered, died, and rose again. No one else and nothing else could satisfy the perfection that God demands. Jesus lived a perfect life, gave Himself up to death, and rose again to sit at the right hand of the Father. He fulfilled the promise foretold by the prophets and we wait patiently and expectantly for Him to come again and redeem His children in everlasting life.
Jesus is forgiveness. All who believe in Jesus as their Savior are guaranteed eternal life with Him in heaven.
Who is Jesus? Jesus is love.
OUR STAFF & LEADERS
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."
Acts 20:8
Pastor Edward DeWitt
Pastor Dewitt and wife Sheryl
Rev. Edward DeWitt, a Florida native, was raised in the Winter Park, Florida. After graduating from Winter Park High School, he joined his father in the commercial real estate field and obtained his Real Estate Broker’s license at the age of 19.
In 1981, Pastor DeWitt married Sheryl Warner, and together they have three children and three grandchildren. Although he was raised in the Catholic faith, Pastor DeWitt and his wife joined Messiah Lutheran Church in 1984.
Pastor DeWitt had a very successful career in commercial real estate until he enrolled in Concordia Seminary in 1991. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1995 and received his first call to Concordia Lutheran Church in Sarasota where he served for seven years.
In 2008 he was called as Pastor to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Rev. DeWitt is the Co-founder, President and Chairman of the Board for Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries.
Marge Freeman, Director of Music
The organ faces the Altar in the back of the Sanctuary
Marge was born in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Plantation, Florida in 1964. She studied organ and music theory at Broward Community College in Davie, Florida. She has served in many churches leading worship since 1965. Marge is a member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. For the past 25 years, she has been actively involved in continuing her education in music through workshops. She accepted a part-time position at Redeemer as the Director of Music and Worship in 2011.
Marge married Gordon Freeman in 1952. They were married 59 years before Gordon’s passing and they had three children together. Marge and Gordon enjoyed spending several months each year volunteering in the National Forest. She enjoys gardening, dancing, traveling, and attending concerts and recitals. Marge especially loves the plays and excitement of New York City and visits there twice a year with her daughter. Marge volunteers at Lutheran Haven Village Shop and plays piano for their devotions once a month. When she’s not serving, you might find Marge relaxing and enjoying a meal at her favorite Sanford restaurant, The Willow Tree.
Our Governing Board
Redeemer's Governing Board includes Pastor DeWitt and 12 members of the congregation in good standing.
Joe Brooks, President
Wendell Springfield, Vice President
Georgia Hershiser, Treasurer
Kristen Springfield, Secretary
Doug Komm, Chairman Board of Elders
Skip Heishmann, Director Board of Finance
Sheryl DeWitt, Director Board of Social Ministries
Denise Komm, Director Board of Fellowship
Marge Freeman, Director Board of Worship
Dale Erdman, Director Board of Properties
David Fosburgh, Director of Evangelism & Mission
Board Vacancies: Financial Secretary & Board of Outreach
For more information about the Board or its members, please call the church office at 407-322-3552 or send an email using the link here.
OUR HISTORY
Since 1953, when the Rev. Albert Besalski conducted the first worship service at the Sanford Yacht Club, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer has maintained a dynamic Christian presence in the Sanford community. Redeemer has been propelled to this moment in time by events and experiences orchestrated by God to accomplish His Will. Our close-knit family of believers has a spirit and mindset of resilience. We will continue to depend on our great God for His faithfulness, guidance, and blessings as we continue to grow in His love.
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2
Our Partnership with St. Luke's
Since 2007, Redeemer has been in partnership with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, located about 12 miles away in Oviedo, FL. The collaborative ministry allows each congregation to be involved in the unique and multifaceted educational programs, outreach efforts, and mercy work going on at each location and in each community, optimizing usage and multiplying blessings.
In 2007, the Lord blessed our congregation by providing people and resources from St. Luke’s to help us through a leadership transition. St. Luke’s and its missionaries made a two-year commitment to help us discover a new vision and direction for our church. After many hours of prayer, process and planning, God provided renewal, mission and purpose for Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Sanford and the active ministry we have today.
We are deeply humbled and blessed by this spiritual, supportive, and loving partnership with St. Luke’s. In Christ, we care for one another through successes and trials, and whenever the need arises. We will continue to serve one another and serve our communities with gladness as brothers and sisters in Christ.
