Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

A Brief History

 

 

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale began in 1976, when a group of Lutherans had a desire to start a church in the Gardendale area.  An item was placed in the North Jefferson News advertising an initial meeting, but inclement weather produced a small crowd.  A second advertisement in the newspaper brought a response of over forty people including a few Lutheran pastors.  Arrangements were made with the old city National Bank on Highway 31, to use their public meeting room for Sundays.  The first service was held on November 21, 1976 at 6:00 p.m. and continued for about a year.  Pastor Norman Schulz, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, gave leadership and direction to the small, enthusiastic group.  Rev. Schulz built a cross and candlesticks for a makeshift altar and other local congregations supplied hymnals.

 

After a period of time they began to look for a new place to meet.  They were eventually able to move to the old Wilson Florist building that was located across the street from Gardendale High School.  They began meeting on Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m.  They shared the building with a Presbyterian group, which after a short time moved to their own new church building.  Rev. Schulz conducted confirmation classes, had a morning ladies Bible study and made pastoral visits in the area.

 

A call was issued to St. Louis Seminarian, Richard Elseroad.  He and his wife, Susie came to Gardendale in late July with his installation taking place at the old Gardendale Civic Center on August 12, 1979.  He immediately set to work in building up the congregation by an extensive calling program in the area, with very good results.

 

In four months, on November 19, 1979 the property on which the new church would eventually locate was purchased by the Southern District.  On November 23, 1980 the church was officially organized, celebrating Charter Sunday and adopting its new constitution.  Plans were made to restore an old house on the property to be used as the new church building.  Restoration work took place with a local contractor.

 

Good Shepherd moved from its rented building in May 1981 to the new property and its present location at 2456 Decatur Highway in Gardendale.  The small house served the needs of the congregation for the next fourteen months.  Pews and other items were provided to Good Shepherd for the cost of transportation.

 

At the end of 1980, the congregation had 55 baptized members and 40 communicant members.  In 1984 and 1985 the congregation grew rapidly.  By the end of 1985 it had grown to 243 baptized members and 187 communicant members, and an average attendance of 143.

 

Preparation for a new sanctuary began on May 28, 1982 with a ground breaking ceremony.  On August 22, 1982, the first service in the new building was held.   The formal service of dedication was on September 26^th with Rev. Richard H. Meyer and Rev. Dr. Robert Kerekes leading the service.  The building at that time was 6300 square feet, complete with sanctuary, offices, classrooms and fellowship hall.

 

For a time the old house served as extra classrooms and a library, but because of an increase of liability, the deterioration of the building and a need for more parking space, the house was torn down.

 

The church went self-supporting on January 1, 1986.  In June 1987, the congregation under took the project of building a fellowship hall connected to the main church building.  The hall, later to be named "Heins Hall", after Jim Heins who was the designer and the spirit behind the project, was almost entirely constructed by members of the congregation.  It was completed in January 1988 at the cost of approximately $22,000.00.  The hall was 1600 square feet.

 

On May 1, 1988, Kurt Niebuhr began as Good Shepherd's first DCE.  He was officially installed on May 29, 1988.  During his two years at Good Shepherd, Kurt led our music during worship services, formed three choirs, and oversaw the expansion of our Bible Classes and educational offerings.  In May 1990 Kurt took a call back to his home state of Minnesota.

 

In 1990, a sound mixer was purchased for the church to improve the sound system for church services and programs.

 

Also in 1990, the church joined the Church Extension Fund (CEF) program headed by Paul Reuter.  This program had been previously instrumental in assisting Good Shepherd's building and expansion plans.

 

In 1991, the Men's Club purchased a fifteen passenger van to be used for church outings.

 

On June 17, 1992, the congregation voted to extend the church by adding new classrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen and fellowship hall, now known as Shepherd's Hall. 
The church also began leasing the land south of the building.  In November of that year, the church paid off the land north of the sanctuary.  The official dedication of the new building was in May 1993.

 

Pastor Elseroad accepted a call from Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville, Tennessee in August 1993.  His last official Sunday at Good Shepherd was October 31, 1983.

 

Rev. Thomas R. Noon of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Birmingham was asked to serve as Interim Pastor beginning the first Sunday in November 1993.  He continued to serve in this capacity until April 1995.  In 1994 the congregation continued to move forward in spite of the fact there was no full time pastor.

 

In March 1994, the church's address was changed from 2477 North Road to 2456 Decatur Highway, Gardendale.

 

In October 1994, construction began on a new nursery which was completed in March 1995.  A month later on November 5^th & 6^th, the congregation celebrated 15 years of serving the Lord together.

 

On May 7, 1995, Rev. David Ziehr was installed as Good Shepherd's new pastor.  Pastor Ziehr came from Sarasota, Florida along with his wife, Trudi and his two children, Brittany and Jordan.

 

Also in 1995, a new playground was completed and a new lighted church sign was constructed and dedicated.

 

In November 1996, Good Shepherd celebrated 20 years of ministry with it's services led by Rev. Norman Schulz and a reception following.

 

After five years of service to Good Shepherd, Pastor Ziehr accepted a call to St. Paul Lutheran church in Caledonia, Michigan.  His final Sunday at Good Shepherd was July 30, 2000.  Rev. Thomas Noon was asked again to serve as serve as interim pastor beginning August 1, 2000.

 

In April 2002, Rev. David Moerbe accepted a call from Good Shepherd.  He graduated from St. Louis Seminary in May 2002.  He and his wife Becky moved to Gardendale from Texas in June and was installed on July 14, 2002.

 

In June 2003, Good Shepherd had their 1^st annual Confirmation Banquet with nine confirmands.  And in July of that same year we hosted our first Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Banquet.

 

Charter Members

   

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