Youthful congregation gives 103-year-old church new life

This month marks the first anniversary of its opening service at the old Wheeler Memorial Presbyterian Church, known for its six exterior pillars, its large stained-glass windows and its pipe organ.The structure at 23rd and J Streets was getting old, and the Wheeler congregation was aging. Upkeep was too costly for the dwindling numbers, so it was decided to put the beloved church building on the market.After early interest by the Learning Community didn't result in a bid, Emmaus stepped up and bought it for $425,000.What soon followed was a touching transition. The Presbyterian congregation held its final service in the chapel at the same time that Emmaus folks held their first in the sanctuary.Then the 75 or so members from Wheeler joined the newcomers for joint prayer as well as words from the outgoing and incoming pastors."There were tears," said the Rev. Ed Steinmetz, pastor at Wheeler its final 15 years and now retired. "It was both sad and joyous. Many of our people didn't want to leave — one had attended there more than 70 years but they knew we had no choice."The Presbyterian congregation, founded in 1887 in a storefront, had lasted 125 years.

The South Omaha neighborhood has changed: Once attracting European immigrants, it now is home to many Hispanics.After selling the 1910 church building, the Wheeler congregation merged with Mosher-Pilgrim Presbyterian near 48th and Monroe Streets to form Discovery Presbyterian Church.Pastor Erik of Emmaus Bible said the Presbyterians couldn't have been kinder in welcoming him and his congregants and wishing them well. Emmaus, which had held services at Bellevue West High School, was thrilled to purchase such a beautiful, historic church.Already, he said, the congregation has grown from 200 a year ago to nearly 300. Many are in their 30s with children, he said, but some are in their 40s and 50s."Omaha's evangelical presence is very light in this part of town," he wrote recently, "and we have some tremendous opportunities for Gospel advancement."The pastor, who grew up Catholic near Boston, said he was a rebellious teenager who married at 18 and joined the Air Force. His wife, Christie, also served in the Air Force, and both were assigned as intelligence analysts at Offutt Air Force Base.