Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is the result of a merger of three Lutheran churches. We maintain the records for these Lutheran churches in our church office.

Bethany

Bethany was organized on July 12, 1904. The first worship service was held in Odd Fellows Hall on the corner of Mill and Long Avenue. 45 people were present at the first meeting.

Formal organization of the new mission was consummated on December 4, 1904 with 160 people present.

St. Paul

St Paul was organized on November 5, 1848. There were 27 charter members who had emigrated from Southern Germany, mainly from the Kingdom of Wüettemberg.

From 1890 to 1900 there was a great influx of Siebenbüerger Saxons which added to the strength of the congregation.

Trinity

Trinity was organized on December 3, 1900. In the beginning, services were held in private homes, a rented chapel and the Finnish Temperance Hall on Morton Street.

The Ray Street building was erected in 1915.

Redeemer

In 1962, St. Paul and Bethany joined hands to become Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Good Shepherd

Trinity, who had embraced the members of the former Bessemer Finnish Lutheran Church in 1941, joined together with Redeemer in 1970 to become Good Shepherd Lutheran Church