GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN COMMUNITY history

The new congregation was formally organized on January 20th, 1963 with 124 baptized and 70 confirmed members.

Formal dedication for the new education unit came on October 3rd, 1965.

In September of 1968 the Kalkwarf family left Champaign for a move to Bartonville, Illinois, leaving a congregation of 414 baptized and 215 confirmed members.

Raymond M. Meyer of Omaha, Nebraska accepted the call to serve Good Shepherd, arriving in January of 1969.

In October 1970 the congregational phase of Bethel began.

August of 1971 found the Meyers moving to Waterloo, Iowa.

Construction began in August of 1972, and was ready for the first 9:00 Church service and Sunday School class on December 17, 1972.

The dedication service of the church was held May 20, 1973 with a total of 75 charter families in the congregation.

After a Vision Committee did a feasibility study, the congregation gave wholehearted approval to build a new church in early 1974.

A bonding program in April of 1975 resulted in $275,000 worth of bonds being sold in 3½ days’ time.

After 6 1/2 years of foundation building, on January 22, 1978, Pastor Lind handed over the baton to Reverend Harvey J. Jaeger.

1979 — Good Shepherd Church began as a mission congregation of the American Lutheran Church worshipping on Westmoreland Avenue in Naperville.

A major roofing-insulation project became necessary in 1982.

In 1983 the congregation celebrated its 20th anniversary, grateful to God for blessings past and hopeful for the future as our shared ministry moved into its third decade.

1984 — Growing beyond the site at Westmoreland, the congregation took a step of faith and sold the building and found a new place to worship at St Procopius Abbey in Lisle.

Pastor David A. Nelson accepted a call from the American Lutheran Church national office to help with the fundraising for the proposed merger that became the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). A farewell reception was held for him and his family on May 19th, 1985.

In July 1987, Pastor David Osborne came to Woodstock, Georgia as a pastor/developer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was officially recognized as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on April 9, 1989.

In 1990, a long-range planning committee was appointed to consider future needs of the congregation.

A design for the physical structure, which included a sanctuary, fellowship area, classrooms and administrative offices, was approved in 1991 and a capital fund campaign was initiated.

In 1992-93, a remodeling committee supervised the remodeling and expansion of our facilities.

On Palm Sunday, 1993, the congregation celebrated its 30thanniversary with the dedication of its new and remodeled facilities.

Pastor Harvey Jaeger announced his retirement in 1997, and for approximately one year the congregation was served by Interim Pastor Alan Schafmeyer.

As ministries, programs, and responsibilities continued to expand, a building expansion to increase fellowship, education and music space began in 1998.

The building expansion was completed and dedicated in 1999.

2000 – An expanded ministry facility was constructed to provide Good Shepherd’s ministry with the needed tools to serve the greater Naperville area for God.

Pastor Edward Schneider retired on July 29th, 2001 and a reception was held to honor him and his wife, Nancy.

Donna Hacker Smith began her pastoral duties at Good Shepherd on February 17th, 2002, following service at St James Lutheran Church, Freeport, Ill.

In 2003, Good Shepherd celebrated its 40th anniversary with a luncheon.

Her retirement was honored on April 30, 2006, during worship and at a reception.

Jason Fisher became Youth and Family Minister on November 22nd, 2009 after serving a Rockford, Illinois congregation.

Upon completing the ELCA requirements for Associate in Ministry, he was installed during a worship service on January 31st, 2010.

Pastor Donna was given an appreciation reception on January 30th, 2011, after formally requesting a Leave from Call from the Central/Southern Synod of the ELCA. At this time there were 723 baptized and 588 confirmed members.

Pastor Tom, as he likes to be called, began his service with our congregation on February 13, 2012.

Pastor Beth Macha served as interim Pastor beginning January 2015.

Pastor Jen Fite began serving as permanent Pastor in February 2016.

Notable outreach activities of our congregation have included providing services to Southeast Asian refugees and mentally challenged citizens, becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation, and in 2017 became an AMMPARO Welcoming Congregation.

In early 2019, Pastor Tom retired and Good Shepherd is currently in the process of identifying and calling a new full-time Pastor.