August 16, 2020 – Building/Church Anniversary Text: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Dear Friends in Christ,
It was the summer of 1993 and a young LCMS Pastor from Texas brought his relatively new wife to Normal IL to show her where he went to college. One of their stops was his college church – Wittenberg Lutheran Center. They were informed a new mission congregation was forming in the Twin Cities with offices at Wittenberg.
By 1994 this mission had 15 original members, one of which is still a member. In 1995 a large influx of souls joined what was called Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Many were as Isaiah says in our text “outcasts” from another congregation, even to the point of being asked to leave. This mission was made an official member church of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on February 19, 1995 under the leadership of mission developer Rev. Clarence Mankin.
This small band of believers would wander, like the Israelites in the Exodus, from Wittenberg to Holiday Inn to Eastland Conference Center to McLean County Farm Bureau where offices were procured. Would they find a permanent home? Would this mission last? Many of us have lived the story. But it is not about us. It’s about Him – our Lord Jesus Christ. This anniversary day . . .
“PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW”
Many of the verses in our text from Isaiah have been marks of this congregation. “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come . . . keep the Sabbath.” The Lord’s people here have always known the importance of Sunday Worship – keeping the Sabbath. Where the Synodical average in worship is around 35%, Good Shepherd has always been in that 60% range. Even now in this “blip in our lives” the importance of coming together as God’s people in this place is reflected in those coming to the Lord’s House.
God blessed that as well. He gathered us together and when you called a Pastor from Shawnee Kansas with 7-½ years experience, the thought had to be where are we going from here? He looks so young and he told us he likes to sleep in. Is this going to work?
Pastor and people prayed. Another mark of these sheep of the Shepherd. Isaiah says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” They had a voter’s meeting and were presented three plans for a church home. They met in the middle and voted to ask the Church Extension Fund of their district for a $1.8 million dollar loan to build their place of worship and Bible study and fellowship.
A group of them went to Springfield and presented a plan that most bankers and financial advisors would laugh at. We are 150 little church mice and we prayerfully ask for almost 2 million dollars. There are some concerns but they vote unanimously to grant the funds. Huh? What? The Lord must know what He is doing.
And of course He does. As He promised the Israelites, “soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.” The Lord’ righteousness is victorious over wickedness. His salvation comes to His people solely because of Him. Jesus would procure our salvation. The Good Shepherd would lay down his life for the sheep. This is our temporary home but while here on earth we are blessed by our Lord to be part of this congregation.
Ground was broken in 1999 and the Lord blessed us with mild winter weather – construction would continue. On June 11, 2000 a cornerstone was put in place. Later that summer this church would find it’s promised land in southeast Bloomington and begin worshipping in this sanctuary. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.
There is no doubt this is where we are suppose to be. The unexpected blessings are too numerous to list but just a few: church pews we didn’t expect to have, construction overruns of $200,000 we paid off, a pipe organ refurbished and paid for, putting the short pews in the middle of the sanctuary, instead of the back, and having a family from our neighborhood canvas come to worship that first Sunday with a wheelchair-bound family member. Wow! If you have been in this church for any length of time, you see the gracious hand of our Lord.
He has allowed us to touch 535 members in 25 years plus visitors and family members. We have been blessed with twice as many baptisms as funerals. We have had adult confirmations almost every year of our existence. We’ve maintained stability in spite of all those who have moved from our area because of our state economy and job opportunities elsewhere. Even now, the Lord’s Church is resilient.
Praise God From All Blessings Flow. He has hold of us now and into the future. It is a great time to be the church. We are always a mission church. Who needs the stability and rock solid foundation that only our Good Shepherd can provide? Pray for that person. Look to the Holy Spirit for guidance.
We look forward to burning our mortgage and other blessings in the coming years. That young Pastor in 1993 had no idea he would be called to lead this group. What a joy it has been for our family. Lord Jesus continue to grant us your grace, mercy and love as we await your return. Until then . . . Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow! Amen.