History of Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Lutheran began as a mission start by Our Savior Lutheran, Crestview. The first service (attendance 17) - the first Lutheran service in the Fort Walton Beach area - was held on May 29, 1955 with Reverend William P. Kniffel presiding. Five months later, in October of 1955, the first Lutheran Sunday School (attendance 19) started in Fort Walton Beach. On March 2, 1956, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church became the first officially organized Lutheran Church in the Fort Walton Beach area. On May 4,1956, the congregation was received into the membership of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Buildings
The first building, the "old" Sanctuary and Education wing, were dedicated on July 13,1958.
In May 1972 an Education building was built that later became the present Family Education Center on July 12, 1998 after a building program.
The current Sanctuary building was dedicated on July 6, 1986.
A localized wind storm forced renovations to the Administrative Building which were completed May 2,2001.
Carpet Color
Children's Message on why the carpet color is green.
A member's Feedback: So, you think the church carpet is green? It is more aqua. Actually, it is sea foam.
We never discussed what it represented when we picked it out (1985). Sandy Reddenbacher, an interior designer, picked a dark red and the sea foam. They were in the old narthex for people to look at and vote. People picked the sea foam which sort of represents the gulf and our area.
Called Church Workers
John E. Ellermann, Pastor -27 Jan 1957 to 16 Nov 1965;
Richard O. Ziehr, Pastor - 20 Mar 1966 to 31 Aug 1995;
Ray Angerman*, Director of Christian Education (DCE) - 8 May 1977 to 28 Apr 2002
Karl W. Haeussler, Pastor - 17 Oct 1993 to 19 Jul 1998;
Brian E. Runge, Pastor - 12 Nov 1995 to 30 Oct 2001;
Ray Angerman*, Pastor - 28 Apr 2002 to 1 Oct 2023
Daniel P. Parsch, Pastor - 3 Nov 2002 to 30 Aug 2007
Curtis Wiese, Family Life Minister (DCE) - 4 Jan 2009 to Present
Eric Klemme, Pastor - 1 Dec 2024 to Present
* Ray Angerman has served Good Shepherd through two Calls. One Call as a DCE and in his current Call as Pastor. Pastor Ray began serving at Good Shepherd during the summer of 1974 on a part-time basis as a DCE student. A year later, he returned to us for a one year DCE internship, and on May 8, 1977, he was commissioned and installed as Director of Christian Education. Pastor Ray studied for the pastoral office through the DELTO (Distance Education Toward Ordination) program from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He completed his Vicarage at Hope Lutheran Mission (now Hope Lutheran Church), in South Walton County while continuing to serve Good Shepherd in his Call as DCE. On April 28, 2002, he was ordained and installed as a Good Shepherd pastor.
Plant Age
| Building Roofs | |
|---|---|
| Item | Year |
| Education | 2004 |
| Fellowship (Flat) | 2016 |
| Fellowship (Gable) | 2021 |
| Sanctuary | 2023 |
| Education Building (1998) | |
|---|---|
| Item | Year |
| Cafe` | 2015 |
| Carpet | 2013 |
| Flagpoll | 2013 |
| HVAC | 2010 |
| Office Move | 2020 |
| Playground Mulch | 2013 |
| Youth Room Home | 2012 |
| Fellowship Hall (1958) | |
|---|---|
| Item | Year |
| Carpet | 2024 |
| HVAC | 2015 |
| Large Screen TV | 2017|2022 |
| Library Move | 2015 |
| Live Stream | 2021 |
| Mold Remediation | 2020 |
| Sound Upgrade | 2011 |
| Sanctuary Building (1986) | |
|---|---|
| Item | Year |
| Carpet | 2011 |
| Cry Room and Narthex Speakers | 2018 |
| HVAC | 2012 |
| HVAC (Bride's Room) | 2024 |
| Live Stream | 2020 |
| Narthex Expansion | 2007 |
| Nursery Refurbishment | 2018 |
| Nursery/Chapel/Bell Shuffle | 2012 |
| Organ Replacement | 2019 |
| Pew Refurbishment | 2010 |
| Projectors/Screens | 2016 |
| Sound Upgrade | 2010 |
21/2/2025 8:37:06 AM
Mission Starts
We were instrumental in the mission starts of Grace Lutheran Church in Destin
(received into LCMS membership LCMS 31 Dec 1982) and Hope Lutheran Church in
South Walton County (received into LCMS membership 18 Mar 2001)
Christmas Tree Chrismons Our Christmas Trees have decorations called Chrismons (CHRIST = MONogram) that that proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ through the use of symbols. The Chrismons Tree originated at Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, VA in 1957. They hold the copyright on the word "chrismons".
65th Anniversary
REMEMBER, REJOICE, REDEDICATE
Thank you Pastor Ziehr and his family in our celebration of Good Shepherd's 65th Anniversary of ministry. Thank you to those who worked the reception in the Fellowship Hall. The pictorial presentation of our history that was shown during the Educational Hour is available online through our website.
Reformation 2022
The Reformation commemorates the rescue of the Gospel (Faith alone, Grace alone, Christ alone) from a corrupt medieval church. The catalyst for the reformation was the Oct 31, 1517 posting on the door of the Wittenberg Church a disputation protesting clerical abuses and the sale of forgiveness.
Act 1 - John Tetzel selling indulgences
Act 2 - Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses
Act 3 - Diet of Worms
Previous years:
| Y2020 | Y2021 | Y2022 |
2/11/2022 9:08:16 AM