That verse is from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes and it states: “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

That verse, she said, sums up her belief that now is the time to end the musical ministry of the Sonshine Singers, at least in its current form, after 20 years.

Although Redenius and members of the group are not ruling out future reunions or special events, the Feb. 14-16 ministry at First United Methodist Church, 127 N. 10th St., will be the last regularly scheduled performance.

“Twenty years seemed like a wonderful cutoff point,” she said. “It just seemed like God was leading me in this way.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Sonshine Singers members Marty Smith, of Otho, at left, John Zuerrer, of Fort Dodge and Fred Moeller, also of Fort Dodge, demonstrate their singing abilities.

The group that the Fort Dodge woman established in 1999 consists of 120 singers and 12 accompanists. Its annual ministries have packed area church sanctuaries from the beginning. The group has also performed at the state Capitol, the Iowa State Fair, the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, and C.Y. Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

In 2014 and 2015, the group sang for about 1,500 people at the Oleson Park Bandshell, generating $15,000 in donations for the renovation of the historic venue.

There has never been an admission charge for a Sonshine Singers ministry, but donations received at them have enabled the group to donate about $35,000 over the years to various organizations and causes.

The group has released 22 CDs.

“It’s given people a way to witness to people easily through something you love to do, which is sing,” said Fred Moeller, of Fort Dodge, who’s been a member for 19 years.

“I don’t think I’ve ever made it through one of our ministries in 19 years without choking up and shedding a tear,” he added.

He said that when people ask him about his singing “that just leads to more conversation, more witnessing, more ministry.”

John Zuerrer, of Fort Dodge, has been singing since he was 4 years old and has been a member of the Sonshine Singers since the beginning. He attributes the group’s success to Redenius.

“I’ve had excellent, excellent directors, but this lady right here is unbelievable,” he said. “She has put her heart and soul into directing.”

Zuerrer said Redenius has a knack for bringing out the best possible performance from all of the group’s members without getting mad or losing her patience. He said the closest she ever comes to saying a mean word is when she says “Oh snorty pig.”

Although the group consists of nearly 140 people, it’s essentially one large family, according to members.

“We are all praying for each other,” said Carolyn Bergman, of Fort Dodge. “We all support each other. We are a family in the true sense of the word.”

Within the Sonshine Singers family are some families in which three generations are singing.

“That’s just phenomenal,” Redenius said. “What a blessing that families can be a part of the ministry.”

Performances of sacred music by the Fort Dodge Civic Glee Club led to the establishment of the Sonshine Singers. Redenius directed the glee club from 1996 to 1998. She recalled that following glee club shows, members of the audience would compliment the group on its performance of sacred songs. She said some even suggested that the group switch to singing sacred music only.

Redenius didn’t think the glee club should change its format. But as more compliments about the singing of sacred music poured in, she started thinking about a music ministry. In 1998, she resigned as director of the glee club and the following year the group that became Sonshine Singers was created.

Her husband, the Rev. Allan Redenius, came up with the original name of the group: Sonshine Ministries. That was soon modified to Sonshine Singers.

Her children, Todd and Lisa, became the first two members of the group.

She contacted Zuerrer early in the process of establishing the group.

“She came to me and said, ‘I’m thinking of doing this. Maybe I’ll get 20 or 30 people,'” he said. “She got 100 people in the first year.”

The group’s initial performance was in March 2000 at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge. Redenius said she prayed that 100 people would show up to hear the music. About 700 people came, and some of them ended up sitting in the church stairwells because there were no seats left.

“I have not included numbers in my prayers since there,” Redenius said.