FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Twenty-nine years ago, Good Shepherd congregation consisted of just a few families who met together weekly in the basement of the Gretna Town Hall for worship and Bible study. They did not know then what God had in store for the future of the congregation. What they did know—and what they trusted—was the Word of God and the wondrous grace of their Lord Jesus Christ. Motivated by the love of their Lord, they dedicated their lives and shared their gifts in service to Him, and gladly welcomed others to join them! Down through the years, the folks of Good Shepherd have continued that great tradition of gathering, trusting, serving, and inviting—and God has truly blessed this mission! Today we are a faith community of 1,150 people connected to Christ and to one another in a spirit of love and unity with the same mission as our founding fathers—to connect others to Jesus.

CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN MET

We have faced some pretty big challenges throughout the years, but God has guided us through them and helped us to meet them. Several notable ones include:

Early 80’s large initial building indebtedness for a small congregation

God’s Answer: Growth in stewardship, a faithful “can-do” attitude, numerical growth

In mid-90’s out of space for education, administration, and fellowship

God’s Answer: Successful Stewardship Campaign resulting in raising up new

leaders, 3-year commitments of $536,000, and dedication of a new

administration-education wing in 2001

In this new millennium a pressing need for a Christian preschool in the community

God’s Answer: Establishment of Wee Lambs Preschool in 2003 (120 children today)

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

A 2004 Strategic Planning Committee recommended that we seek additional property to meet the demands for our growing mission. A satellite plan was presented in which we would start a 2^nd site concentrating on early childhood education and family ministry while also building ministries at our present location. Simply put, it would be one church at 2 locations. Church Development Partners (CDP) was enlisted with the hope of obtaining land for the satellite site at a discounted price through their unique service of land identification, acquisition, development, and sale. Also Capital Funding Services of LCEF was contracted to undertake a feasibility study for the satellite plan, the results of which were quite positive. But after months of waiting for CDP to secure a parcel of land for us, we were informed that they could not meet the 2 year window guideline for land acquisition, development, and sale. “The time was not right”, they said.

Actually, there was no need to be discouraged. The events which led to putting the satellite plan on hold was actually a “blessing in disguise”. The Lord seemed to be turning our attention toward meeting the urgent demands for ministry at this site and to act on it NOW; and to develop a plan for a 2^nd location LATER, at a more opportune time according to His leading.

THE NEXT GREAT CHALLENGE

There is no doubt about it: the next great challenge is to expand for growth right here, right now! In this decade alone (2000 – 2008), we have grown from a congregation of 676 members to a congregation of 1,150 members—70% growth. We have room to expand our ministries at this site, and NOW is the time to act.

Our Strategic Implementation Team has identified a number of areas needing immediate attention if we are to be effective in the mission God has given to us, and recent input from our staff, boards, and congregation-at-large reiterate the same call to action. Identified needs are:

Insufficient space for Sunday School, Midweek School, and Adult education

Insufficient space for Youth activities and gatherings

Insufficient Preschool space

Insufficient space for Sunday morning fellowship

Insufficient kitchen facilities and space for large congregational meals

Insufficient recreational space for children, youth, and adults

Insufficient space for large worship gatherings

Insufficient office and volunteer work space

Insufficient music rehearsal space

Insufficient nursery and cry room space

A VENTURE WORTH BEING A PART OF

Let’s think about the tremendous things God is calling us to do. Wouldn’t it be a great blessing to have a new ministry activities center (MAC) where we can host large forums for special guest speakers and events as an outreach to the community, which can also offer various weeknight recreation and fellowship opportunities, which can also host large congregational or community meals (with a well-equipped, modern kitchen attached), and which can also serve as a much larger worship space! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a dedicated youth facility to reach more youth in the community! What a great blessing to have more education space for children and adults! How about expanding our preschool! How great would it be to have a large, visitor-friendly fellowship area before and after church, to have plenteous office space, music space, and nursery/cry room space! We could really boost our mission for Christ with expansion like this!

What a challenge! We believe that our congregation with God’s help can reach a goal of $1.5 million in 3-year financial commitments through this campaign. That would provide enough downpayment for us to reasonably finance $2 - $2.5 million in new construction while also managing our current mortgage of $540,000. Specific construction costs (soon forthcoming) along with the results of our combined capital campaign commitments will determine the extent to which we can build. Whatever extent that will be, it will certainly be a blessing from God!

Compelled by love! There is no greater motivation in all of the world than Christ’s deep and sacrificial love for us and for all people. It is a love so deep that it took Jesus to the cross for us; and it is a love so high and long that it will bring us into the splendor of heaven’s glory one day. Driven by that love, we will continue to do what that small handful of folks did who met in the Gretna Town Hall so many years ago: faithfully gather around God’s Word and Sacraments, firmly trust the Lord in all the challenges that come our way; gladly offer our lives and gifts in service to Him; and joyfully welcome others to come and join us. Joining our hearts, our lives, and our gifts together in this great campaign, we have the opportunity to take a giant step forward in the mission that God has given us to connect people to Jesus. May God’s blessing be upon us!