Eighteen years ago, Faith United Church of Christ listed 224 members.

But by 1997, the North Bottoms church had lost more than half of its members to death or other Lincoln churches.

Today, the church has 51 members on its roster; most are elderly. Only 15 are "active members," said Gary Hoffman, president of the Faith United church board.

Which is why the congregation agreed in January to "dispose" of the 107-year-old North Bottoms church, founded and built by Lincoln's Germans from Russia immigrants.

On Sunday, Faith United, 915 Charleston St., will hold its last service at 10:30 a.m., and will include many of the traditions used over the years, including symbolic ringing of the bells.

Within the next few weeks, the building will become the first home of Redeemer Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) - a one-year-old "daughter" church created in the aftermath of the June 2007 fire that destroyed Lincoln's historical Zion Church at 9th and D streets.

Members of both churches say the arrangement is an answer to their prayers. And now it is up to the very youngest members of Redeemer PCA - the Sunday schoolers - to raise the $1 asking price of the property.

"I think our children will be willing to do extra chores to make that money," said the Rev. Tobey Brockman, pastor of Redeemer PCA.

For Faith United members, the transition is bittersweet.

Susan Stoehr has attended the church for 75 years. Her grandparents used to live across the street from it.

In 1901 Salem Congregational Church, a German congregation, opened on the site.

In 1907, a second church, Our Evangelical St. John's Church was built on the corner of 10th and New Hampshire streets.

Both churches grew rapidly.

In 1916, Salem Congregational replaced its original building with the church that stands today.

And in 1966, the two North Bottoms churches merged into one: Faith United Church of Christ. Four pastors served the church in its first 31 years. Then in 1997, with the retirement of the Rev. Ernest Lauer, Faith United contracted with First-Plymouth Congregational Church to supply ministerial services.

The church is a beloved part of the North Bottoms community, Stoehr said.

But the $3,000 a month cost for upkeep, utilities and Sunday service staffing is a hefty bill for just 51 members, Hoffman said.

So the congregation decided it must get rid of the building. The hope was to sell it or even donate it to another church.

Faith United members were adamant.

"We didn't want the church to be sold and turned into a bar," Stoehr said.

Six religious organizations expressed interest in the building. But Redeemer was a perfect fit, Hoffman said.

After the 2007 fire, Zion Church moved to 5511 S. 27th St., the former home of Southwood Lutheran Church.

Citing a need for a downtown church, Brockman and fellow pastor Adam Odell were asked to "plant" Redeemer PCA. The church, with 120 members, draws from the downtown community's diverse population of urban neighborhoods, university students, professional workers and the arts community.

Although Redeemer is a "downtown church," it has not had a downtown site for services. So members drive all the way out to Zion every Sunday evening for services.

Redeemer will now have a permanent home, near the heart of the city.

Reach Erin Andersen at 473-7217 or eandersen@journalstar.com.