August 1958: Pastor James Carlson and family arrived in the Lake Seminole area to develop a new mission for the Augustana Synod. He served until October 1961.
October 1958: A Steering Committee was formed.
October 5th, 1958: The first worship service was held in a leased store at Martin’ Trailer Park (12300 Seminole Blvd.), the new home of the ‘Lake Seminole Lutheran Mission.’
December 7th 1958: The congregation was organized under the Good Shepherd name, with 87 charter members. The Charter Roll was kept open until March 29th, 1959. 46 more members were added for a total of 133.
March 18th, 1959: The congregation voted to purchase the present site (4.42 acres) for $25,000; the firm of Mallore and Vasconi was engaged to design and supervise construction of a sanctuary, they also voted to purchase a parsonage site 10891 99th Avenue North, for $3,250.
March 6th, 1960: A ground-breaking ceremony was held for the first sanctuary, now the Nancy Hamilton Fellowship Hall.
October 5th, 1960: The sanctuary was dedicated by Dr. Thirsten Gustafson, President of the New York Conference of the Augustana Synod.
1962: The Augustana Synod joined three other synods to form the Lutheran Church in America.
August 1962: Pastor Roy Morrod began his ministry, serving until September 1972.
December 19th, 1965: The dedication of the educational building.
April 1973: Pastor Robert Wiley began his ministry, serving until may 1978.
October 1977: The members of the Advent Mission (on the east side of Lake Seminole) joined Good Shepherd, and their pastor, M. Luther Sievert, became a part-time Visitation Pastor here, serving in this capacity until April 1985.
February 1979: Dr. Axel Beckman arrived to begin his ministry, serving until June 1984.
August 8th, 1982: Ground-breaking for the present sanctuary and office area was held.
May 15th, 1983: The service of dedication for the facility was held.
November 27th, 1983: Our 25th Anniversary was celebrated.
March 1985: Pastor Richard ‘Dick’ F. Landeen began his ministry, serving until the end of July 2000.
June 1986: Pastor Mark Bernthal began serving as Assistant Pastor, until February 1989.
1987: The Lutheran Church in America (LCA) merged with American Lutheran Church (ALC) and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA)
July 1989: Pastor Curt Snare began his ministry as Associate Pastor, serving until April 1997.
January 1990: Pastor D.P. Dovemuehle, or Dovie, became our Visitation Pastor, serving through 2000.
June 9th, 1991: Ground-breaking for our new Education and Community Service building.
December 8th, 1991: Dedication of the facility was held.
June 6th, 1993: 6 active Pastors, Axel Beckman, Luther Sievert, Pastor Dovie, John Timmerman, Albert Keyser and Ernest Habig, who actively served Good Shepherd, in a variety of roles, were honored. Each Pastor had 50+ years in the ministry.
Christmas 1993 and 1994: Pastor Adrian Lwenteme from Tanzania, East Africa was with us.
January 1994: The new bridge across Lake Seminole was opened, providing easier access to the church.
April 23, 1995: Dedication of the new organ was held.
July 1997: Pastor Patrick Wesley Poole, or Pastor Wes, began his ministry as Associate Pastor. He served until the end of 2000.
August 1st, 2000: Pastor Priit Rebane begins his position as Interim Senior Pastor. He filled this role until February 2003.
2002: Pastor John Hayner begins his service as Visitation Pastor, until the middle of 2008.
March 1st, 2003: Pastor Robert ‘Chip’ Salzgeber begins his ministry at Good Shepherd, coming from St. Matthews in Wilmington, NC.
August 2003: Little Lambs Christian Preschool opens its doors.
November 23rd, 2008: Good Shepherd celebrates 50 years of ministry, with one combined worship service and a dinner. Bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, Ed Benoway, preaches. In attendance are Pastors James Carlson, Roy Morrod, Robert Wiley, Richard Landeen, Mark Bernthal, Curt Snare, Priit Rebane, John Hayner and Chip Salzgeber. In honor of the 50th anniversary, a large, contemporary stained glass work was installed and dedicated in the Narthex.
July 1st, 2011: David Owens, Director of Music Ministry, retires after 21 years of service, beginning in 1990.
July 31st, 2011: An ordination service is held for former Youth & Families Director, Pastor Tom Holdcraft, who received a first call to Messiah Lutheran in Panama City, Florida.
