The planning for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church began in 1953. Sunday school and worship services began in 1956 in a small house at 1684 W. Shaw Ave, Fresno. Twenty-six years and extensive fund-raising events later, the church moved to it present site at 5140 N Fruit Ave. The church immediately captured the attention of the City of Fresno with a dramatic one-of-a-kind design by architect Gene Zellmer of L. Gene Zellmer Associates. Our tent design once stood alone but not for long. It was soon joined by a church on the East Coast, the multiple tents of the Denver International Airport, as well as a church in New Zealand. The gravity free environment on the Gemini Space Flights tested the viability of the building materials & tension perimeters for the tent roof. The new Community Center was designed by Architect Terry Tarr and built by Mark Wilson Construction. The Community Center offers youth activities, different types of ministries, community activities and gatherings for the general public.

Some past & present Pastors: left to right. Pastor Ted Niemi (present Pastor), Rev. Paul Valentiner,
 Rev. Tom Cooper, Rev. Warren Nelson, Rev. Bill Gutknecht, Rev. Phil Kinder & Mr. Chuck Witthoft.
 50th Anniversary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Sunday, April 20, 2008.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1960 - 1981 at 1684 W. Shaw Ave. at Channing

Easter, March 1978 with Pastor Dale Click at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 1684 W. Shaw Ave. at Channing

Pastors of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church:

Pastor Lloyd E. Jacobson
First pastor from June 1, 1958 to October 31, 1966
Church's present Jacobson Hall was named in his honor and moved from 1684 W. Shaw Ave at Channing in 1981

Education: University of Wisconsin and Carroll College; Seminary - Northwestern; Graduate work - Oxford University, England
Degrees:  Carroll College PhB 1935, Northwestern B.D. 1938, Northwestern, S.T.M. 1940
Ordained:  October 1939 by Northwest Synod
Wife's maiden name: Virginia Andersen; Children - Judith Mary, Susan Jane & Katherine Virginia

                                    1943-46: 32 months served as U.S. Navy Chaplain with the Amphibious Corps. Served in last part of Philippine Campaign
                                                        and all of the Okinawa Campaign.
                                            1946-47: National Lutheran Council Campus Pastor at the University of California in Berkeley.
                                            1947: Member of Pacific Synod's Executive Committee for three years. Member of Formative Board of
                                                    Pacific Lutheran Seminary, Berkeley, CA
                                            1955: Pastor of First Lutheran Church in Fresno from April 4, 1955 to 1958
                                            Retired in 1976
                                            Rev. Lloyd E. Jacobson
                                            July 24, 1911- February 17,1984.

Sue & Chuck Witthoft on April 19, 2008. This was a dedication for the new community center &
celebration of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church's 50th Anniversary.
Pastor Chuck Witthoft was Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from September 1964 to July 1, 1966.

Pastor Thomas C. Cooper.
Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from March 5, 1967 to June 1, 1973.

Mrs. & Pastor Dale Click. Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from April 1, 1974 to July 1, 1978.
Pastor Dale Click was also Interim Pastor December 17, 1973 to April 1, 1974.

Pastor Warren A. Nelson.
Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from November 29, 1978 to December 31, 1988.

Pastor Philip Kunden was Interim Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
 from February 1, 1989 to June 24, 1990. This photo was taken at the dedication for the new community center
 & celebration of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church's 50th Anniversary on April 19, 2008.

Pastor William Gutknecht.
Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from June 25, 1990 to March 11, 2001.

Pastor Paul & Linda Thomton.
Pastor Paul Thomton was Interim Pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
 from April 1, 2001 to April 1, 2002.

Pastor John & June Bruneer.
Pastor John Bruneer was Interim Pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
 from April 12, 2002 to August 13, 2002.

Present Pastor Ted Niemi of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Took office August 15, 2002.

53rd Anniversary on April 20, 2011

Check out our new photo albums & additional history photos in the History Album! Click here!

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