Good Shepherd Lutheran Church History Page

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 3909 Forest Drive, was organized on February 5, 1950 with 65 charter members.

The Reverend Harold E. Park, who had served as mission developer, was called as our first pastor and served in that capacity until August 31, 1956. The first officers were Frank S. Leaphart, Vice Chairman; A. Wyman Platt, Jr., Secretary; William D. Platt, Treasurer; and E.L. Riley, Sr., Financial Secretary. The first formal worship service of the group was held in September, 1949, in the Carolina Children's Home.

Services continued to be held there until the property on Forest Drive was secured. On this 3-3/4 acres of land existed a large two-story frame dwelling. The first floor was converted into a room suitable for worship and the smaller rooms arranged for educational purposes. The pastor's family lived on the upper floor.

Assisted by the Missions Board of Synod of American Missions, the Good Shepherd congregation was able to begin the construction of a very modern church in 1955. A full basement furnished facilities for classes and all group activities until numbers necessitated the addition of a larger, separate educational building in 1962. Just prior to this construction, the congregation purchased a home on the corner of Clemson and Winthrop Avenues for their parsonage. This home was sold in 1976 when the congregation started giving the pastors the opportunity to purchase their own homes.

Work on the parish house was hastened because the original frame building used for Sunday School purposes was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1961. Groundbreaking services for this parish house were held on March 25, 1962. This addition, corresponding in architecture to the sanctuary, was completed in the fall of 1962. It contained sixteen rooms, plus some office space and was conveniently located adjacent to the sanctuary.

A new Zimmer pipe organ was purchased in 1968 and remodeled in 1976. About the same time, the balcony was enlarged to seat about 30 additional people. In 1975, the worship area was redecorated with the addition of carpet and pew cushions and new tile was layed in the entrance. Paving of the parking lot was done in 1976 and expansion of the church offices was completed in 1977.

A multi-purpose Fellowship Activities Building was constructed in 1981. Up until the construction of the new parking lot, facilities also included tennis and basketball courts and a playground for children. In March 1989, the Long-Range Planning Committee,
with the approval of the congregational Council made the recommendation that preliminary plans be made to consider building a new sanctuary.

In January 1990, the Good Shepherd congregation voted unanimously to adopt a revised master plan; to accept preliminary schematic drawings for a new sanctuary and educational, music and administrative facilities and to hire a professional fund raising consultant. In the spring of 1990, Resources Services, Inc. of Dallas, Texas led Good Shepherd in successfully raising of over $700,000 in pledges.

On August 4, 1991, the Groundbreaking Service was held for a new sanctuary and work began on the new worship building with educational/music facilities, a new parking lot and renovation to the existing sanctuary into administrative offices and a meditation chapel. On September 13, 1992, Dedication Day and Homecoming Day were both celebrated with worship in the new sanctuary.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has had eleven pastors in its history: Senior Pastors have been Dr. Harold E. Park (1950-1956), Dr. Alton C. Clark (1958-1976), Dr. Larry S. Long (1975-1995), and Dr. Herman R. Yoos (1996 to present). Associate Pastors serving have been Henry M. Moody, Jr., George L. Sims, Karl Frederick Suhr, Jr., Dr. Ronald W. Feltman, Christina L. Wendland, Mark J. Wendland and Bob Helton.

Visitors are cordially welcome and invited to participate in all the activities of the Good Shepherd congregation. Thankful for the blessings of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the past, we ask God's continued blessings upon us as we move ahead into the future seeking new opportunities to worship, serve and praise Him!

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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 3909 Forest Drive, was organized on February 5, 1950 with 65 charter members.

The Reverend Harold E. Park, who had served as mission developer, was called as our first pastor and served in that capacity until August 31, 1956. The first officers were Frank S. Leaphart, Vice Chairman; A. Wyman Platt, Jr., Secretary; William D. Platt, Treasurer; and E.L. Riley, Sr., Financial Secretary. The first formal worship service of the group was held in September, 1949, in the Carolina Children's Home.

Services continued to be held there until the property on Forest Drive was secured. On this 3-3/4 acres of land existed a large two-story frame dwelling. The first floor was converted into a room suitable for worship and the smaller rooms arranged for educational purposes. The pastor's family lived on the upper floor.

Assisted by the Missions Board of Synod of American Missions, the Good Shepherd congregation was able to begin the construction of a very modern church in 1955. A full basement furnished facilities for classes and all group activities until numbers necessitated the addition of a larger, separate educational building in 1962. Just prior to this construction, the congregation purchased a home on the corner of Clemson and Winthrop Avenues for their parsonage. This home was sold in 1976 when the congregation started giving the pastors the opportunity to purchase their own homes.

Work on the parish house was hastened because the original frame building used for Sunday School purposes was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1961. Groundbreaking services for this parish house were held on March 25, 1962. This addition, corresponding in architecture to the sanctuary, was completed in the fall of 1962. It contained sixteen rooms, plus some office space and was conveniently located adjacent to the sanctuary.

A new Zimmer pipe organ was purchased in 1968 and remodeled in 1976. About the same time, the balcony was enlarged to seat about 30 additional people. In 1975, the worship area was redecorated with the addition of carpet and pew cushions and new tile was layed in the entrance. Paving of the parking lot was done in 1976 and expansion of the church offices was completed in 1977.

A multi-purpose Fellowship Activities Building was constructed in 1981. Up until the construction of the new parking lot, facilities also included tennis and basketball courts and a playground for children. In March 1989, the Long-Range Planning Committee, with the approval of the congregational Council made the recommendation that preliminary plans be made to consider building a new sanctuary.

In January 1990, the Good Shepherd congregation voted unanimously to adopt a revised master plan; to accept preliminary schematic drawings for a new sanctuary and educational, music and administrative facilities and to hire a professional fund raising consultant. In the spring of 1990, Resources Services, Inc. of Dallas, Texas led Good Shepherd in successfully raising of over $700,000 in pledges.

On August 4, 1991, the Groundbreaking Service was held for a new sanctuary and work began on the new worship building with educational/music facilities, a new parking lot and renovation to the existing sanctuary into administrative offices and a meditation chapel. On September 13, 1992, Dedication Day and Homecoming Day were both celebrated with worship in the new sanctuary.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has had eleven pastors in its history: Senior Pastors have been Dr. Harold E. Park (1950-1956), Dr. Alton C. Clark (1958-1976), Dr. Larry S. Long (1975-1995), and Dr. Herman R. Yoos (1996 to present). Associate Pastors serving have been Henry M. Moody, Jr., George L. Sims, Karl Frederick Suhr, Jr., Dr. Ronald W. Feltman, Christina L. Wendland, Mark J. Wendland and Bob Helton. Visitors are cordially welcome and invited to participate in all the activities of the Good Shepherd congregation. Thankful for the blessings of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the past, we ask God's continued blessings upon us as we move ahead into the future seeking new opportunities to worship, serve and praise Him!