Peace Lutheran Church members will break ground for a new church at 2 p.m. Sunday at 3100 N. St. Louis Ave. The church’s previous building at 20th Street and Wisconsin Avenue was destroyed in the May 2011 tornado.
“It is something we have truly looked forward to for so long,” said pastor Kathy Redpath. “It has been great to be taken in by another church, but it will be great to have a place to call our home again.”
Peace Lutheran members have been meeting at Bethany Presbyterian in Joplin since the tornado. Despite not having their own church, members continued to serve the community through outreach programs.
“Church is something that should be us outside of ourselves, and we have tried to stick with that since the tornado,” Redpath said. “But having our own home again from where we can reach out into the community is something that we have all looked forward to.”
Sunday’s ceremony will include two original charter members from the 1965 founding of Peace Lutheran Church. Don Wiese and Leo Winchester will be on hand for the groundbreaking.
“Peace Lutheran members had the one home for nearly 50 years, so it is exciting to have them on hand to help with the transition,” Redpath said.
“As a congregation, we’re just excited about the expansion possibilities with the new location. When they broke ground years ago, they wanted that central location for the city. As we have continued to grow, we are focusing on the community as a whole, and I think having the new location will let that happen for us.”
The new church will include a sanctuary, a fellowship hall and extra space to provide for future worship and ministry programs. Representatives of the building contractor, Joplin Construction Design and Management, will be on hand for Sunday’s groundbreaking.
Redpath said the cost of the new building and the land purchase will be near $1 million.
May 2011 Joplin tornado
Joplin's Peace Lutheran Church to break new ground Sunday
- May 2011 Joplin tornado
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Illinois youth group arrives in Joplin to assemble house
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SLIDESHOW: One year later, One day of unity, updated
Photos from a day of events commemorating the May 22, 2011 tornado anniversary
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Last of 586 FEMA trailers in Joplin to be prepared for move
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Civil engineers release study of Joplin tornado damage
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Rescuers, tornado victims reunite at Quapaw station
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Quapaw tribe’s firefighters, EMS personnel meet with children rescued at Home Depot in 2011
There were hugs, stories and the occasional tear this morning when two children who were trapped and seriously injured after the 2011 Joplin tornado met for the first time the Quapaw Tribe firefighters and emergency medical workers who pulled them from the wreckage and saved their lives that night.
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New members take seats on redevelopment board
Three new members took their places on the board of the Joplin Redevelopment Corp. in a meeting Thursday. The panel welcomed as new members Laurie Delano, vice president of finance for Empire District Electric Co.; Gary Duncan, retired president and chief executive of Freeman Health System; and Phil Stinnett, a former Joplin council member and mayor.
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Tornado grant trustees look to shelter placement
Trustees overseeing a Joplin tornado fund hope to use some of their remaining money to move FEMA-financed tornado shelters to areas where they are needed.
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Documentary about Joplin Globe coverage of tornado wins 2013 Mirror Award
The documentary “Deadline in Disaster” has won a 2013 Mirror Award in the “Best Single Story” category.
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Oklahoma photo collection to begin with ‘Picture Patrol’
A new national photo rescue operation based in Carthage that formed to help salvage and return to owners what was lost in the Joplin tornado has reached out to Moore, Okla., and next week will help storm victims there get down to business.
- More May 2011 Joplin tornado Headlines
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