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Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
Fresno, California
Sierra Pacific Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
A Brief History of
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church:
In 1953, members of First English Lutheran
Church began to dream about a new Lutheran congregation in the northwest area of
Fresno. Under the leadership of James Tranberg, Berton Bourzac, George Miksch
and Pastor Paul Wolpert, the vision was to bring the Lutheran faith to people
who were moving into this rapidly growing area.
A plan was adopted, a building fund was
established and a committee began looking for property. In 1955, a house with
10 acres of property was purchased for $39,000. The following year a Sunday
School program under the supervision of Ellis and Dottie LaVoy began with over
30 children enrolled. Church services began in 1956.
First Lutheran Church decided in 1957 to remain
at its location to serve that neighborhood and gave the property and $16,000 to
a new mission congregation called Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Pastor Lloyd Jacobson was called and the congregation officially began in April
13,
1958, with 91 members on the church roles.
The original facilities consisted of a small
house with an attached garage and a wooden shed. Some remodeling was required
and two worship services and Sunday School were held. A funding campaign was
started and an architect was hired to plan our first unit; a fellowship hall
that would serve as a worship center and office with classrooms for education.
Ground was broken in 1960 and the Service of Entry in the new building was held
on April 23, 1961.
During this time, West Shaw Avenue was widened
from a two lane rural road to a four lane major thoroughfare and commercial
development began. Shopping malls, restaurants and office buildings dominated
the area around the church. As Good Shepherd contemplated building its second
unit, it became clear that the location was not an ideal site for a church.
After several developers made offers to buy the property, a search began for a
new location.
The search committee consisted of Robert
Jennings, Sandra Borders, Vince Robbins, Sr., James Tranberg, Jim Young and
Pastor Warren Nelson. Leo Wilson, a local developer, assisted us in selling our
property and purchasing the property at 5140 N. Fruit Avenue.
Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church Building Committee (1978): Art Bender, Jack Tranberg,
James Young, Vince Robbins, Robert Jennings (Chairman), Pastor Warren Nelson, Sandra
Borders
Cornerstone removal August
16, 1981
Ground Breaking for Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church October 25, 1981: Jack Tranberg, Robert
Jennings, Pastor Warren Nelson, Sandra Borders
Parish House & construction
January 1982
Saturday,
Feb. 27, 1982: Good Shepherd Beams - Three 65-foot-long, laminated beams
weighing 11 tons were hoisted into place this week to form the arches for the
new sanctuary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The beams were shipped from
Oregon with motorcycle escorts and were raised into place with the use of large
cranes. The Rev. Warren A. Nelson, pastor at Good Shepherd, said the
congregation will resume services at its new site, 5140 N. Fruit Ave., next
Sunday in buildings moved from its old location. The congregation has been
meeting at Gibson Elementary School. The new sanctuary is scheduled to be
completed in mid-June. (Fresno Bee)
Thursday morning, April
15, 1982: Lowering the roof - Gusts of wind twist the final layer of a
fabric roof - the first on a church in this country - as workers try in vain to
lower it on the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 5140 N. Fruit Ave. Wednesday
afternoon. The lining was lowered earlier in the day. The contractor will try to
finish the roof this morning. (Fresno Bee/Richard J. Darby)
In 1982 our current worship center was completed
& dedicated.
Good Shepherd has been blessed with Spirit led
leadership both by its pastors and lay leadership. In August of 2002
Pastor Ted Niemi was called as Good Shepherd Lutheran Church's eighth pastor.
As we look for opportunities at the beginning of
the 21st century to bring our faith values to the community, we are aware that
attracting and retaining young families with a strong emphasis on youth should
have a high priority. A contemporary worship is in the planning stage and a new
facility for ministry and youth activities has captured the excitement of the
congregation.
PASTORS SERVING
CONGREGATION
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Pastor
Lloyd E. Jacobson - June 1, 1958 to
October 31, 1966
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Pastor
Charles M. Wittholt - Assistant Pastor -
September 1964 to July 1, 1966
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Assistant Pastor Charles
M. Wittholt
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Pastor
Hugh Dowler - Interim Pastor - November
1966 to February 1967
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Pastor Thomas C. Cooper - March 5, 1967 to
June 1, 1973
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Pastor Thomas C. Cooper
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Pastor
Hugh Dowler - Interim Pastor - July
1973 to April 1974
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Pastor E. Dale Click - April 1, 1974 to July
1, 1978
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Pastor & Mrs. E. Dale
Click
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Pastor Warren A. Nelson - February 4, 1979 to
December 31, 1988
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Pastor Warren A. Nelson
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Pastor Philip F. Kunder - February 1, 1989 to
June 24, 1990
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Pastor Philip F. Kunder
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Pastor William J. Gutknecht - June 25, 1990 to
March 11, 2001
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Pastor Bill &
Shirley Gutknecht
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Pastor Paul Thomton - Interim Pastor - April
1, 2001 to April 1, 2002
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Interim Pastor Paul & Linda
Thomton
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Pastor John Bruneer - Interim Pastor - April
2, 2002 to August 13, 2002
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Interim Pastor John & June
Bruneer
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Pastor Theodore Niemi - August 15, 2002 to
present
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Pastor Ted & Kristin
Niemi
Timeline
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1957: First Lutheran Church
voted to colonize and deed property to new Mission Church. Charter membership
opened November 13. Application for incorporation in the State of California,
with the corporate name "Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fresno,
California."
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1958: Congregation and
Board of American Missions called Pastor Jacobson, who accepted and began
pastorate June 1st. Engaged architect to draw plans for church.
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1959: Remodeled house and
attached garage for more space. Continued Capital Funding in concentrated
effort.
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1960: Ground breaking for
first unit of church, October 23.
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1961: Services for laying of
cornerstone conducted February 12. Service of Entry in new church, April 23.
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1962: Became self-supporting
congregation.
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1963: New Lutheran Church
in America officially came into being, of which Good Shepherd is a member
congregation.
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1967: Pastor Cooper accepted
Call. Installed March 5th.
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1970: Faith Lutheran
Church merged with Good Shepherd. Retreat Center given to congregation by Wm.
Dean.
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1972: Sold 1.5 acres to
Link Care Foundation.
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1974: Pastor Click
accepted Call. Installed May 19th.
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1978: Began planning for
new site.
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1979: Pastor Nelson accepted
Call. Began ministry in February.
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1980: Pacific Southwest Synod
approved Good Shepherd plan to move to 5140 N. Fruit Avenue.
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1981: Last services and
cornerstone removal at 1684 W. Shaw Avenue, August 16th. Ground Breaking for new
church at 5140 N. Fruit Avenue, October 25th. Moving Day for former Good
Shepherd sanctuary to new site, November 11th. (During this construction period,
the congregation worshipped at Gibson School.)
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1982: Rite of Entry
Service at new location, June 20. Service of Dedication, September 19th.
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1989: Rev. Philip F. Kunder
began ministry February 1.
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1990: Rev. William J. Gutknecht
began ministry June 25.
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2001: Rev. Paul Thomton, Interim Pastor,
began ministry April 1. Kitchen renovations approved August 27. Sound System in
Sanctuary upgraded December 9.
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2002: Lutheran World
Relief Hunger Appeal for the Children of Afghanistan on Sunday, January 6 - Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church 'Hunger Deputies' (our children) raised over $10,100
for the children of Afghanistan!!! Rev. John Bruneer, Interim Pastor, began
ministry April 2. KAIROS approved to begin Capital Fund Campaign for new
Community Ministry Center, May 28. New carpet in Sanctuary approved August 27.
Installation of Rev. Theodore Niemi Sunday September 29.
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2003: Appeal Worship and
Festival for new Community Ministries Center June 8 raised over $170,000 over a
three year pledge period.
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2007: "Building On A New Foundation -
NOW" Fundraising began Reformation Sunday, October 28, 2007 for a goal of
$450,000. 58 commitments were received for a total of $222,778.28 at the
Oktoberfest Celebration lunch (great bratwurst, potato salad & sauerkraut)
following. Completion of $750,000 Community Center on November 20, 2007.
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Charter Members of
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,
Fresno, California
1957
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George
and Evelyn Miksch - Jeanne Miksch
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Martin,
Mabel and Frederick Woods
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Alfred
Krumbein
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Gladys
East
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Vegard,
Mae and Bruce Hall
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Burton,
Mildred, Janice and Paul Bourzac
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Clarence, Irene, John, Corrine and Marylin Bourzac
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Vern,
Elsie, Pauls, LaVerne and Patrina Fries
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Ellis,
Dorothy, Jean, Rebecca, Kathy and Yvonne LaVoy
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Henry,
Dorothy and Camille Slinkard
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Wilfred,
Beverly, Penny, Pamela, Patty Joe and Jeff Green
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Neil,
Verna, Susan, David and Carol Walden
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David,
Glenna, Sandra, Donna and David Woodward
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Harry,
Hilda, Harry and Mark Johnson
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Earl,
Bernice, Peter, Margaret, Michael, Shirley and Virginia Mathew
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James,
Mildred, Jacqueline, Sharon and Donna Tranberg
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Eleanor
and Penny Bailey
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Helmut,
Lisa, Evelyn and Leanne Fawalket
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Eunice
Livengood
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Elizabeth, Bertha and Marianne Rippe
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Clarence, Doris, Joyce, Janice and Craig Sparks
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Thomas
Roughton
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Victor,
Renatta, Linda and Richard Gustafson
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Earl,
Beverly, Rae-Lynn, Clifford and Karl Mangrum
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Raymond,
Grace, Donald and Thomas Hemry
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Margie
Zingarelli
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Designers & Builders of
Present Worship Center
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Architect: L. Gene Zellmer
Associates, Fresno and Monterey.
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Contractor: David Hoff
Construction Co. Fresno
Kurt E. Zumwalt - Job Superintendent.
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Fabric Roof Manufacturer:
CHEMFAB/Birdair Structures Division, Buffalo, New York.
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Pews and Chancel Furniture Manufacturer:
Ediger's Church Furniture, Independence, Oregon.
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Landscape Design & Supervision:
Valley Empire Sprinkler Co., Fresno.
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Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church Family on Rally Day, 1977.
Check out our
new photo albums! Click here!
Welcome to Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church Online Directory
Note: Please contact the church office for your password. Thanks.
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
5140 N. Fruit Ave.
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: (559) 225-2092
FAX: (559) 225-2093
E-mail: gslcfresno@earthlink.net
Web site: www.goodshepherdfresno.org
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