Redemption Church

Since 2019, Redemption Church in Owatonna, Minnesota, has met in a 3,200 square-foot building in a strip mall. As the congregation outgrew the space, Pastor Christian Kohs began looking into purchasing and renovating a warehouse, a process he said would have taken years to get up to code.

Instead, God provided an opportunity for Redemption to purchase a meeting space in the heart of downtown, breathing new life into the oldest building in Steele County and providing opportunity for growth.

in February, a Redemption member learned from a neighbor that First Baptist Church (FBC) on Main Street was closing its doors. Pastor Kohs visited the church and soon after was consulting Central District Conference (CDC) leaders and making an offer matching the asking price of $168,000, although the 132-year-old building and its contents were worth $3.1 million. Although Redemption’s bid was the lowest of three, because the two higher bidders wanted either to demolish or gut the building, the church accepted Redemption’s offer.

The congregation is planning a grand opening celebration Sept. 11, which coincides with Redemption’s fourth birthday. The church launched on Sept. 9, 2018. Redemption has personally invited the 11 remaining members of FBC to attend.

Read the full article in the Christian Leader.