WHO WE ARE —
Discover the story,
beliefs, and people
behind Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church.
OUR HISTORY —
Where We've Been
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was founded in 1971 by a small group of devoted followers of Christ. The first gathered in the Gym of Carpenter Elementary School before moving to their current location in 1973. Though Good Shepherd has been through a number of ups and downs over the last 5 decades, the congregation continues to seek ways to impact the lives of others with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
OUR FUTURE —
Where We're Headed
Transformation in the community happens when God's people see an opportunity to serve and seize that opportunity. Our role as a faith community is to strengthen and support each other as we strive to love our neighbor in tangible ways. The process is messy and non-linear, most of us live messy, non-linear lives. However, we have four markers that we use to ensure that we are being as effective as we can in our love for our community.
Worship- We know that God works through His Word and Sacraments to change our lives and to energize us for service. As a church, our goal is to ensure that our worship gatherings present the Word and Sacraments in a way that does not distract from God's presence.
Growth- As we grow in our knowledge of God's Word and its application in life, we are better equipped to apply God's Word to our lives. As we apply the Word to our lives, we experience stability, peace, and clarity.
Service- Jesus said, "I did not come to be served, but to serve and give my life." We are most like God when we serve those around us. When we open our lives to be used by God, He gives us opportunities and the tools to make a difference. In serving others, we experience the richness of being a child of God.
Witness- Our relationship with Jesus fundamentally changes everything. He gives us joy, peace, and confidence. Because we see God living in us and in our lives, we cannot help but testify that God's life-changing love is freely available to everyone.
OUR STAFF —
Those Who Lead Us
Ben Oelschlaeger
Pastor
Chrissy VanDellen
Church Administrator
About Us —
Our Beliefs
The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
It is His message to all people. The entire Bible points to Jesus as the Savior.
There is only one true God.
He has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God is the creator of everything that exists.
People were originally created by God pure and Holy.
They lived according to God’s will, doing what was pleasing to Him.
Adam and Eve, the man and woman God created in the beginning, went against God’s will and brought sin into the world.
Since that time, all people have been conceived and born in sin.
Sin is living outside of a relationship with God.
It is not living according to God’s will, and thus transgressing His holy will in thought, word and deed.
People cannot save themselves.
Their good works cannot restore them to a right relationship with God.
God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world.
He is both true God and true man. He lived to fulfill God’s law for us, died on the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserved, and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life. He ascended into heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of The Father to intercede for us.
Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, God declares a person just-or righteous-and forgiven.
This happens not because of human effort, but because the justification won by Jesus is applied to the one who believes in Jesus as Savior.
The means of grace are the Word, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion.
By these means, God applies the merits of Jesus’ atoning death to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior.
Jesus will come again to take all believers to Himself.
On the final day, all the dead will be raised. Those who are still alive will be bodily transformed. After this, the final judgment will take place. unbelievers will go into eternal damnation, and believers into eternal life.
The true Christian Church is made up of all believers of all times who believe in the Triune God and in Jesus Christ as their only Savior.
The true visible church is the church which correctly preaches and teaches God’s Word and administers Holy Baptism and Holy Communion according to the teachings of Scripture.
Faith in Jesus is a gift of God
It is given by the power of the Holy Spirit, thus all the glory belongs to God.
Christians are called to tell others that the only way of salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ.
Christians are called to show their faith by their deeds of love towards others.
