‘More than just the building’: Restoring a church in Panama

The front door of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Balboa, Panama, stands open to receive worshipers. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Megan Mertz

On Sunday, Feb. 4, nearly 200 people from all walks of life gathered for the dedication of the newly renovated sanctuary of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Balboa (Panama City), Panama. They included Panamanians, indigenous Kuna people, expats, LCMS missionaries and partner church leaders, all of whom came to celebrate the reopening of the church.

Due to a series of catastrophic events — including hurricanes, floods and termites — along with the normal wear and tear of a tropical climate, Redeemer’s sanctuary and parochial hall had become unusable. But after a group of supporters from the LCMS and beyond came together to help the struggling congregation, sufficient repairs were made to allow Redeemer members to gather in their church again.

Redeemer was started in 1948 by a United States military chaplain who was serving personnel stationed in the area. In 1999, when the U.S. turned control of the Panama Canal over to the Panamanian government, the church building was also turned over by the LCMS to the newly formed national church body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Panama.

Today, although much work still remains to be done, the building has undergone an amazing transformation. The sanctuary’s roof and underlayment were replaced, the walls were treated for mold and given a fresh coat of paint, the windows were replaced, and the original pasta tile floor was restored to its former beauty. In addition, the whole second floor of the parochial hall has been outfitted with new plumbing and electrical systems.

Worshipers attend the dedication of the newly renovated sanctuary of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Balboa, Panama, on Feb. 4. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

LCMS Missionary Rev. Dr. Arthur Rickman, who serves as sole pastor of Redeemer, calls the church “a symbol of hope and perseverance” for the entire area. This was certainly reflected in the Feb. 4 dedication, which was a crowded, joyous event filled with worship and warm fellowship.

“I want to express gratitude for the partnership of the LCMS and of Disaster Response. We know there were a lot of people who gave sacrificially [to support this project],” Rickman said.

Rickman added that the restoration effort was not just about repairing the building. “The church is more than just the building; it is the people. With the restoration work completed, we have the opportunity to revitalize the congregation, renew our presence in the Balboa area and serve as an example of God’s faithfulness to all our congregations in Panama.”

Read more about Redeemer, Balboa, and see more photos, in the Spring 2024 issue of Lutherans Engage the World, coming to mailboxes soon. Subscribe to both the print and digital editions of the magazine at engage.lcms.org.

Posted March 8, 2024

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Megan Mertz

Megan Mertz is the Chief Copyeditor for LCMS Communications and Managing Editor of Lutherans Engage magazine. She grew up in St. Louis — not far from the LCMS International Center — although she has also lived in China, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. In her free time, Mertz enjoys reading, writing and traveling.