Our Beginning

On November 6, 1949, an enthusiastic group of twenty-seven persons attended a Lutheran service held in the ballroom of the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club of Tampa. The Rev. Royall A. Yount, then pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Tampa, conducted the service. The group was young for the most part and full of faith. They continued to hold services each week with Pastor Yount as acting pastor.

 

Organization

On January 15, 1951, the Rev. Clayborne S. King, of Grace Lutheran Church, Salisbury N.C. came to the field as Mission Developer. It was under his energetic and faithful guidance that the mission was brought to the point of organization. The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd became a congregation on January 27, 1952, with 113 adult charter members and 36 baptized children.

Through the financial assistance of the Florida Synod and the Board of American Missions, a parsonage was purchased for $12,500 and six lots for $14,050, three on Horatio and three on Dale, paralleling Dale Mabry Highway. Early in 1952 a group of women met and organized the Lutheran Church Women. After a few meetings the group divided into two Circles.

 

Early Growth

Rev. Charles F. Steck, Jr. was called and took office as pastor on July 1, 1952. Soon the facilities at the Country Club became too small and the group moved to the Five Points Civic Club. Still more room was needed for many things especially the expanding Sunday school. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on May 24, 1953, and construction on the $70,000 chapel & education building was begun. The parsonage was sold.

 

Dedication

The facility, consisting of a chapel, nine classrooms and kitchen, was dedicated on October 18, 1953. Rev. George Cressman arrived in September 1954. The church continued to grow and became financially self-supporting.

 

Expansion

The Rev. Webster Clement served as interim pastor from March 1957 until August 1957 when the Rev. Carl Driscoll arrived at Good Shepherd. The Altar Guild was organized in October 1957. Under Pr. Driscoll’s leadership the membership grew to 800 members in 1959. By 1961 there were 1200 baptized members, of whom nearly 400 were children below confirmation age. Soon the classrooms were bursting at the seams and it was necessary to hold three services on Sunday mornings.

 

New Sanctuary

On October 7, 1962, the congregation voted unanimously to incur an indebtedness of $240,000 to construct a new church building and one wing of an educational unit. The cornerstone laying ceremony was on May 19, 1963 with Dr. Royall A. Yount, now Bishop of the Florida Synod, presiding. Dr. Carl A. Honeycutt, of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Columbia, S.C. was called in May 1 963 and arrived on August 1, 1963 to assume the duties as pastor. The new church with a seating capacity of over 500 was dedicated on October 27, 1963.

 

Transition

Membership leveled off during the mid 1960’s due to the establishment of new Lutheran churches in the area. Progress continued as new church school materials were introduced, the church parking lot was cleared and paved, and a church owned parsonage was built on Azeele St. The Rev. Donald F. Brake served as Interim Pastor for seven months in 1971. On August 22, 1971, the Rev. Norman E. Lucas, from Zion’s Lutheran Church in Defiance, Ohio began his service at Good Shepherd. Under his pastorate many new programs were organized. Communion Deacons began to assist in worship and Lectors began to read scripture. A new organ and choir growth substantially added to worship. Bible study was emphasized and Couples Club, Prime Timers and Leisure Club were all organized. Sunday School was revamped and a Summer Family Experience instituted. The congregation supported Rev. and Mrs. Robert Neff, missionaries in Singapore. Two refugee families were sponsored, one from Uganda and one from Viet Nam. At the end of 1975, a new form of operation including a new Constitution was set up focusing on function and structure. The name of the congregation was changed to “Good Shepherd Lutheran Church”.

 

25th Anniversary

Good Shepherd celebrated its 25th Anniversary with several special concerts, luncheons, and receptions between November 1976 and February 1977. The Gold and Silver Jubilee Banquet with St. Paul Lutheran Church took place at the Airport Holiday Inn on January 1977.

 

Maturity

In the late 1970’s, the Couples and Singles Club presented several dinner theater productions in Driscoll Hall benefiting Metropolitan Ministries and the Lutheran Church in Liberia. On June 7, 1981, a mortgage burning was held to celebrate the debt payoff on the church and two-story building. In 1982, a family of 9 from Viet Nam was sponsored. On October 23, 1983, a Martin Luther Festival was held to celebrate 500 years since his birth. Walter A. Stevens, Jr. became the organist and choir director in January 1985. The Rev. Dr. Victor Rodriguez was called in 1990 on a part-time basis to develop a Hispanic Ministry. Jan Petorak became parish nurse in June 1990. It was decided to expand the size of the office area. George Golden, sexton for 27 years retired in 1990.

 

40th Anniversary

Good Shepherd celebrated its 40th Anniversary on January 25,1992, with a banquet in Driscoll Hall. Dr. Carl Driscoll and Dr. Royall Yount participated in the festivities. In July 1992, the Rev. Ciro Rocco accepted the call as full-time pastor/developer of the Hispanic Ministry. The Prayer Team began meeting weekly in July 1993. Between 1994 and 1997, the Rev. Robert Navarro served as full-time pastor/developer of the Hispanic Ministry. The Rev. Dale R. Lau was interim pastor April 1997 through February 1998. The entire worship service was printed in the bulletin beginning on August 17, 1997.

 

A New Beginning

The Rev. Robert and the Rev. Jennifer Schaefer, from Metropolitan New York City, were called in January 1998 and began ministry as Co-Pastors in March 1998. To help revitalize the congregation, work quickly began on a new mission statement, vision statement, and strategic plan to guide the congregation over the next three to five years and to prepare for ministry in a new century. Good Shepherd began experiencing an increase in spirit and numbers. More room was needed to fulfill our strategic plan for mission. A building plan was approved to renovate and expand Driscoll Hall for multiple uses, the education building to house an Early Childhood Education Center, and prepare the main church to meet the needs of the 21″ century liturgy. A Capital Campaign, under the banner: Building On Our Heritage – Led by the Shepherd, took place in spring of 2001 and brought in nearly $710,000 in commitments over three years. Highlights of the campaign included an inspirational Commitment Sunday Eucharist followed by a dynamic Major Event Brunch at the Rusty Pelican with a Children’s Celebration Event held at the church at the same time. Because of the faithful and strong response of the congregation to this campaign, Good Shepherd Church will truly begin its second 50 years “Building on Our Heritage – Led by the Shepherd’!

 

50th Anniversary

Good Shepherd celebrated its 50th Anniversary on January 27, 2002. Several special events were held to mark the glorious occasion

 

Today at Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd is a thriving congregation with an exceptional worship experience, music program, outreach, and Day School (just to name a few of our programs). We are currently in Pastoral Transition under the leadership of our Interim Pastor, The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel. To learn more about our Pastor, please visit our Pastor Page.