Two Sunday Services on Ridge Road
On Ridge Road in Damascus, Maryland, Redeemer Lutheran Church has organized nearly every part of its ministry around a single sentence: make disciples who make disciples. The congregation meets at 27015 Ridge Road and runs two Sunday services - a traditional liturgy in the downstairs Chapel and a contemporary gathering in the Family Life Center - that bookend a week that also includes a long-running Tuesday-night recovery program, a homeschool hub on Wednesday mornings, a network of small groups, and a Stephen Ministry that walks alongside people in hard seasons.
Both services are built around the same ingredients. Senior Pastor Trent Thompson describes the order as heart-engaging music, confession, prayer, teaching, Holy Communion, and giving. Sermons are expository, drawn from the Bible, and meant to be applied during the week. The 11:00 AM service is also livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person, and recordings are archived on the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel so anyone can revisit a message.
What a first-time visitor sees at the front door is friendly greeters ready to point the way. The building has ample parking, with designated guest spots near the entrance. Dress is "come as you are." Clean, well-staffed nurseries for infants and toddlers are open during the contemporary service, and Room 207 is reserved as a quiet space for parents who need to feed, calm, or care for a child during worship.
Hospital, Greenhouse, Training Center, Launchpad
In his welcome letter to newcomers, Pastor Trent lays out a vision of the congregation as four overlapping environments. The first is a hospital for sinners, a safe place where hurting people find healing and hope. The second is a greenhouse for growth, where members grow in community, knowledge, obedience, and discipleship. The third is a training center for service, where believers learn to use their spiritual gifts and develop the humble servant heart of Christ. The fourth is a launchpad for everyday missionaries, where disciples are sent out into neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces to join Jesus in his mission to transform, redeem, and restore the world.
That baseball diamond logo members keep seeing around the building is a modern illustration of the journey. Becoming a mature, fruit-bearing Christian is an ongoing process, and the four metaphors correspond to four stops along the way: healing, growing, serving, and going. The church's stated mission is "Make Disciples of All Nations," and the leadership takes seriously the duty to provide the environments in which a person can mature into "the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
In all of this, Redeemer is grounded in the historical orthodox Christian faith and carries a Lutheran heritage that shapes the way the Bible is interpreted and the faith is practiced. The two sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion sit at the center of worship, alongside the proclaimed Word. Members describe themselves as Spirit-led, seeking to discern where God is already at work so they can join him there, and as eager to partner with other like-minded churches for the sake of the gospel.
Eight Anchors of Faith
Redeemer's statement of faith walks through eight headings, each anchored in a specific passage of Scripture.
Under God, the church confesses belief in the one true God known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Under Humankind, it teaches that all humans are sick with the disease of sin - defined as a lack of reverence for and trust in God - and that sin is what makes every person need a Savior (Romans 3:23). Under Jesus Christ, the congregation confesses that the Son of God, though fully God, set aside his divine privilege to become fully human (Philippians 2:6-8); by his perfect life, self-sacrificial death, and miraculous resurrection, Jesus did for humanity what people could never do for themselves, reconciling us with God (John 3:16-17).
Under Holy Spirit, the church affirms belief in the absolute and essential deity and personality of the Spirit, who convinces of sin, regenerates, indwells, seals, sanctifies, illuminates, and comforts believers. The Spirit baptizes believers at conversion into the Body of Christ and sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts.
Under God's Love and Forgiveness, members teach that forgiveness is a free gift that cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that faith itself is a gift by which one receives it. Under the Body of Christ, the church confesses that the Spirit binds Christians together into one Church and that Jesus gives the gift of faith through the sharing of the Gospel and through his promised presence in the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion (Matthew 16:18, Romans 10:17).
Under God-Inspired Response, members believe they have been rescued and are being healed for a purpose: to make an impact on the world for Jesus' sake (Ephesians 2:10), bearing the fruit of love for neighbors in obedience to Christ (Mark 1:17, John 15:12). Under the Bible, the church affirms that, because of the brokenness of human nature, God's Word must be trusted as the source and norm of life together (2 Timothy 3:16-17). While the battle against sin continues (Ephesians 6:12), ultimate victory belongs to Jesus Christ, revealed through the written Word and present in the Living Word.
Sunday School From Infants to Twelfth Grade
Between the two Sunday worship services, Redeemer runs an hour of Sunday Morning Ministries from 9:15 to 10:15 AM for every age. Powerhouse Kids, the children's Sunday school, gathers children from age 10 months through fifth grade during this hour using a biblically based GROW curriculum that is differentiated for preschool and elementary ages. The program runs from mid-September through mid-May, and caregivers are asked to volunteer twice a year to help keep things running.
Middle and high school students gather at the same time for Connect Cafe in the Teen Lounge (Room 113). After a shared light breakfast, the group splits into Live Wires, a class for sixth and seventh graders working through a two-year curriculum on identity in Christ based on 1 Timothy 4:12, and Switch, a class for eighth through twelfth graders working through a three-to-four-year curriculum that includes apologetics and parent involvement and is rooted in Ephesians 3:16-20.
Confirmation is folded into the youth discipleship program. Students in eighth through twelfth grade can pursue confirmation by completing at least two years of the youth program (seniors may complete one year), one Christian service project per year, and the parent sessions and monthly assignments. A home visit is part of the process; families interested in confirmation can contact Pastor Trent Thompson or Director of Family Ministry Trisha Griffin.
Family Ministries Anchored in Deuteronomy 6
Family Ministries exists for one stated purpose: to help children into a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and to partner with parents in passing the faith on. The team's mission verse is Deuteronomy 6:5-9, with its picture of faith talked about at home and on the road, tied on hands and written on doorframes.
For parents, the ministry runs Moms Rekindled, a group that meets weekly in person at the same time as the Wednesday Sparks programs, from 9:40 to 11:30 AM. The group welcomes mothers at every stage and focuses on kindling the light of Jesus in the midst of motherhood. Parent Resources are available online, and a printed Kidsafe Policy governs how children and youth are supervised and protected across all programming.
Spark Ministries: Three Programs for Homeschool Families
Spark Ministries is the midweek heart of Redeemer's family discipleship work, and it has grown into one of the most distinctive offerings in the church. Three programs run simultaneously on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, each one designed for a different stage of homeschool life. The programs run from early September through mid-May.
Lil' Sparks is a preschool program for children from six months through age four. The two-hour morning weaves Bible lessons, crafts, music, and gross motor activities together, with age placement determined by the child's age on September 1. Tuition is $450 per year, with a $50 sibling discount applied in the fall.
Spark Kidz serves homeschool students from kindergarten through fifth grade. The program integrates art, music, writing, and physical education into a Bible-focused curriculum, with separate classes for kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade. Students focus on creativity, teamwork, and social skills through a biblical lens, and tuition is $450 per year with the same sibling discount.
Spark Teenz brings the same model to middle schoolers, combining biblical discussion, board games and group activities, and portfolio-enhancing electives. The current year's electives include public speaking, intelligent design, health (nutrition, exercise, first aid, internet safety), and art and music appreciation. Tuition is $450 per year with the sibling discount.
Registration for all three programs requires both a Google registration form and a payment submission; spots are not held until both are completed. Childcare is available for the Moms Bible Study that meets during the same window.
Tuesday Nights in Damascus: Seventeen Years of Recovery
The Best Place to Be on a Tuesday Night, the church's own description of its Celebrate Recovery program, marked its seventeenth year in 2026. The Christ-centered recovery program meets every Tuesday at the Damascus campus and is built around the Eight Recovery Principles found in the Beatitudes and the Christ-Centered Twelve Steps. Its purpose is to fellowship and celebrate God's healing power in the lives of those dealing with hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
The evening runs in three pieces. From 6:30 to 7:00 PM, attendees gather for fellowship. From 7:00 to 8:00 PM, the large group meets for a time of praise and worship, the reading of the eight principles, and a teaching or testimony. From 8:00 to 9:00 PM, gender-specific Open Share Groups give participants a safe place to work through the material together. Two Open Share groups are offered - one for men and one for women, both focused on general issues - and all groups are led by people who have worked through similar struggles themselves.
The program's small-group guidelines set a clear tone. Sharing is kept to three to five minutes and focused on the speaker's own thoughts and feelings; cross talk is not allowed; anonymity and confidentiality are required; offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered group. Group leaders are not counselors and will not attempt to offer professional clinical advice, nor will they let members try to fix one another.
The CR ministry is led by Cherri Warren and Mike Warren. Anyone interested in learning more can email the ministry team at crministry.redeemerlutheran@gmail.com.
Stephen Ministers Carry Each Other's Burdens
Redeemer's Stephen Ministry is named after the man in Acts 6 who was chosen to provide caring ministry to those in need. The program trains Christian men and women to provide confidential one-to-one care to people going through difficult seasons - grief, divorce, job loss, marital or family struggles, chronic or terminal illness, depression, relocation, or the separation of military deployment.
Stephen Ministers rely on prayer, active listening, healthy boundaries, and distinctively Christian caring resources in a strictly confidential relationship. Their motto, drawn from Galatians 6:2, is "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
The process for receiving care begins with an inquiry form, an email to the Referrals Coordinator at Stephen.Ministry@redeemer.us, or a Care Request Card available at the Connections desk and on a table outside the Chapel. Cards are placed in a confidential locked drop box; only Pastor John and the Referrals Coordinator, Teresa Brown, hold keys. After an initial conversation, the coordinator prayerfully matches each care receiver with a Stephen Minister - men are always paired with men and women with women - and meetings of about an hour take place weekly for as long as needed.
Those interested in becoming a Stephen Minister can complete an application form and email it to donnase_mail@hotmail.com.
Grow Groups: From Quilting to Bible Study
The Grow Groups ministry is built on the conviction that members can feel welcomed, accepted, and cared for wherever they are in their faith journey. Groups meet in a variety of locations - sometimes in the church building, sometimes in homes, and sometimes in the wider community - and span topics from Bible study to marriage to quilting.
A Young Adult Co-ed group, led by Kyle and Amanda Hughes, gathers for dinner at 6:00 PM on Mondays, with Bible study on the first and third Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM and games or fellowship on the second and fourth Mondays. A Life Issues Co-ed group, led by Pastor Ray Scheck along with Janet and Mike Hoopes, helps Christians think through how to speak God's truth in a culture that holds up sin as good. A Tuesday Morning Bible Study uses a modified SOAP format and meets via Zoom from 10:00 AM to noon on the second through fifth Tuesdays of the month. Mike and Janet Hoopes also lead a Grandparenting group for those investing in the next generation.
The Ramblers, led by Joanne Kessler, bring together men and women aged 55 and older for monthly fellowship centered on a quilt-making service project - no sewing experience is required - with occasional outings and lunches throughout the year. The group meets on the first Thursday of the month from 9:30 AM to noon in Room 124, the Great Room. Triple R Ministries, led by Melissa Harner, is a Love Your Neighbor program that provides a workforce helping neighbors in need around Damascus.
For men, Karl Madden leads a small Discipling Group of two to four people meeting in a format designed around individual needs, and Mark Neuberger leads a Men's Bible Study that meets Fridays from 7:00 to 8:00 AM at the Mt. Airy Inn, currently working through First Corinthians.
For women, Valerie Hobbs leads Band of Sisters, a weekly Wednesday group meeting via Zoom from 7:30 to 9:00 AM. Wanda Sloop and Vicky McClure lead a Women's Life Group meeting Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, with discussion centered on the Book of James using a study guide by Max Lucado. Jan Saxton leads The Minor Prophets on Wednesdays from 9:45 to 11:00 AM. Erin Barry and Bonnie Stoner lead a Moms Bible Study on the second and fourth Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:20 AM in Room 212, with childcare available through Lil' Sparks for those registered.
The UNITE Young Adult Bible Study meets Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM on select weeks and works through studies such as the Philippians series; the age range is roughly 18 to 30.
Prayer Woven Through the Week
Prayer runs through Redeemer's weekly schedule in several forms. On Wednesday mornings, a group gathers from 7:30 to 9:00 AM to pray for the church, its people, the community, and the world. The session is open to anyone who wants to join.
Once a month on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, Redeemer joins with other Damascus churches for Corporate Prayer. The location rotates - recent gatherings have been held at Monument Church on Prices Distillery Road and at Potomac Valley Assembly Church - and the purpose is to gather with and for the churches and community of Damascus.
Friday Worship Nights, when scheduled, run from 6:45 to 8:45 PM and are described as evenings of worship and intercession where the congregation leans in, listens, and obeys.
Pastors, Directors, and Ministry Leaders
Senior Pastor Trent Thompson leads the congregation, with Associate Pastor John Bromhal serving alongside him. Ray Scheck serves as Pastor Emeritus. Yvette Moy is the church's Deployed Pastor, serving with The Crescent Project in the DC metro area.
The Ministry Staff includes Howie Fischer as Director of Discipleship, Brett Barry as Director of Worship, Trisha Griffin as Director of Family Ministry, and Joel Freese as AVL Director. Jan Saxton serves as organist.
Among ministry leaders, Kyle and Amanda Hughes head up the Young Adult ministry, Allison Parello leads the Women's ministry, and Wanda and Chris Sloop lead Marriage ministry. Joanne Kessler oversees Redeemer Ramblers. Cherri Warren and Mike Warren lead Celebrate Recovery, Donna DeMattia leads Prayer Partners, and Nikki Fischer leads Guest Services. Doug Ochs leads the Stewardship ministry.
Four Ways to Give
Redeemer offers four ways to give. Online giving is available through the church's giving portal; donations can also be sent by texting RLCDamascus to 73256; gifts can be mailed to the church office; and shoppers can designate Redeemer as their charity on Amazon Smile, which donates 0.5 percent of eligible purchases back to the church. The Amazon Smile designation is listed as "Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Damascus, MD."
On Ridge Road, the lights come on early for the 8:00 AM service and stay on late for the 11:00 AM gathering, with a full week of Bible studies, recovery meetings, prayer gatherings, and family ministries filling the spaces in between. Two Sunday services, one mission, and a community that sees itself as a hospital, a greenhouse, a training center, and a launchpad - that is the rhythm of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Damascus.