Shepherd's Heart 07/03/26
Church Council Quarterly Update - Summer 2026
Dear Good Shepherd Family,
As we begin the next fiscal year, your Church Council wanted to take a moment to share some of the work taking place behind the scenes and celebrate the many ways God continues to move in and through our congregation.
One of the great joys of serving on Council is having a front-row seat to the ways God is at work at Good Shepherd. Whether it's worship, discipleship, missions, facilities, staffing, or finances, we continue to see God's faithfulness in countless ways.
Celebrating What God Is Doing
This spring was filled with significant moments in the life of our church.
Claimed By God was especially meaningful, with 73 people remembering or affirming their baptism and 11 people receiving baptism for the first time. These moments remind us that God is still transforming lives and drawing people into deeper relationship with Him.
We also celebrated the dedication of the new Chapel, which has quickly become a treasured space for prayer, reflection, and worship. The response from the congregation has been overwhelmingly positive, and it has been encouraging to see people making use of the space throughout the week.
More recently, we opened our newly renovated Contemporary Sanctuary. What began as a vision a few years ago is now becoming a reality. We are grateful for the generosity, patience, and support of the congregation throughout the renovation process. The completed project positions Good Shepherd well for future ministry and creates welcoming spaces where people can encounter Jesus for years to come.
Leadership and Staffing
After an extensive search process, Council unanimously approved the hiring of Pastor Tim Nybroten as our new Executive Pastor of Ministries. Pastor Tim will begin serving at Good Shepherd in August.
Last week, many members of our congregation had the opportunity to meet Pastor Tim during an informal gathering on campus. The evening confirmed what the search team and Council experienced throughout the call process: a thoughtful, gracious leader with a deep love for Jesus and His Church. We are excited to welcome him to Good Shepherd this August and look forward to the ways God will use his gifts among us.
We are deeply grateful for the members of the search team who invested many months in prayer, interviews, discernment, and conversation. We are excited to welcome Pastor Tim and look forward to the gifts, experience, and leadership he will bring to our church family.
As Good Shepherd continues to grow, Council remains committed to supporting our staff and ensuring that our leadership structure is healthy, sustainable, and aligned with our mission.
Financial Stewardship
Council reviews the financial health of the church every month, and we are thankful to report that Good Shepherd remains in a strong financial position.
Giving has remained strong throughout the year, allowing us to support ministry initiatives, complete major facility projects, invest in missions, and maintain healthy reserves. We continue to be grateful for the faithfulness and generosity of this congregation.
Behind the scenes, Council and staff are also evaluating long-term financial practices, reserve strategies, and accountability processes to ensure that we steward the resources entrusted to us wisely and transparently.
Missions and Outreach
Good Shepherd continues to make an impact both locally and globally through our missionaries, our mission partners, and outreach efforts.
Council remains engaged in conversations regarding several of our mission partnerships, including Cherish Watoto, as we seek to balance faithful stewardship with meaningful Kingdom impact. We are grateful for the work being done through our Missions Team and for the many members of our congregation who continue to support these efforts through prayer, service, and generosity.
Future Ministry Leadership Discernment
Earlier this year, Council commissioned a team to explore future pastoral staffing needs at Good Shepherd. As that work has progressed, the team's focus has shifted from filling a specific position to first understanding the needs of our congregation, staff, and ministry areas.
Over the past several months, team members have met with pastors, staff leaders, and ministry leaders to listen, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of where additional leadership may be needed in the years ahead. Rather than beginning with a job posting and searching for a candidate, the team is working to identify the needs first and then determine whether a new position is warranted and what that role should look like.
We believe this slower, more deliberate approach will help ensure that any future staffing decisions are driven by ministry needs and mission priorities rather than by assumptions or timelines.
We are grateful for the faithful service of the members of this discernment team:
Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment as they assist Council and staff in thinking about the future of ministry at Good Shepherd.
Looking Ahead
This summer and fall, Pastor Tara Beth and her staff will begin engaging the congregation in a season of prayer, discernment, and visioning as we seek God's direction for the future of Good Shepherd.
As Council, we are excited about what lies ahead. We believe God is continuing to open doors for ministry, deepen discipleship, and expand opportunities to share the Gospel in our community and beyond.
Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, your service, and your trust. It is a privilege to serve alongside you.
In Christ,
Tyler Wojtkiewicz
Church Council President
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Dear Good Shepherd Family,
As we begin the next fiscal year, your Church Council wanted to take a moment to share some of the work taking place behind the scenes and celebrate the many ways God continues to move in and through our congregation.
One of the great joys of serving on Council is having a front-row seat to the ways God is at work at Good Shepherd. Whether it's worship, discipleship, missions, facilities, staffing, or finances, we continue to see God's faithfulness in countless ways.
Celebrating What God Is Doing
This spring was filled with significant moments in the life of our church.
Claimed By God was especially meaningful, with 73 people remembering or affirming their baptism and 11 people receiving baptism for the first time. These moments remind us that God is still transforming lives and drawing people into deeper relationship with Him.
We also celebrated the dedication of the new Chapel, which has quickly become a treasured space for prayer, reflection, and worship. The response from the congregation has been overwhelmingly positive, and it has been encouraging to see people making use of the space throughout the week.
More recently, we opened our newly renovated Contemporary Sanctuary. What began as a vision a few years ago is now becoming a reality. We are grateful for the generosity, patience, and support of the congregation throughout the renovation process. The completed project positions Good Shepherd well for future ministry and creates welcoming spaces where people can encounter Jesus for years to come.
Leadership and Staffing
After an extensive search process, Council unanimously approved the hiring of Pastor Tim Nybroten as our new Executive Pastor of Ministries. Pastor Tim will begin serving at Good Shepherd in August.
Last week, many members of our congregation had the opportunity to meet Pastor Tim during an informal gathering on campus. The evening confirmed what the search team and Council experienced throughout the call process: a thoughtful, gracious leader with a deep love for Jesus and His Church. We are excited to welcome him to Good Shepherd this August and look forward to the ways God will use his gifts among us.
We are deeply grateful for the members of the search team who invested many months in prayer, interviews, discernment, and conversation. We are excited to welcome Pastor Tim and look forward to the gifts, experience, and leadership he will bring to our church family.
As Good Shepherd continues to grow, Council remains committed to supporting our staff and ensuring that our leadership structure is healthy, sustainable, and aligned with our mission.
Financial Stewardship
Council reviews the financial health of the church every month, and we are thankful to report that Good Shepherd remains in a strong financial position.
Giving has remained strong throughout the year, allowing us to support ministry initiatives, complete major facility projects, invest in missions, and maintain healthy reserves. We continue to be grateful for the faithfulness and generosity of this congregation.
Behind the scenes, Council and staff are also evaluating long-term financial practices, reserve strategies, and accountability processes to ensure that we steward the resources entrusted to us wisely and transparently.
Missions and Outreach
Good Shepherd continues to make an impact both locally and globally through our missionaries, our mission partners, and outreach efforts.
Council remains engaged in conversations regarding several of our mission partnerships, including Cherish Watoto, as we seek to balance faithful stewardship with meaningful Kingdom impact. We are grateful for the work being done through our Missions Team and for the many members of our congregation who continue to support these efforts through prayer, service, and generosity.
Future Ministry Leadership Discernment
Earlier this year, Council commissioned a team to explore future pastoral staffing needs at Good Shepherd. As that work has progressed, the team's focus has shifted from filling a specific position to first understanding the needs of our congregation, staff, and ministry areas.
Over the past several months, team members have met with pastors, staff leaders, and ministry leaders to listen, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of where additional leadership may be needed in the years ahead. Rather than beginning with a job posting and searching for a candidate, the team is working to identify the needs first and then determine whether a new position is warranted and what that role should look like.
We believe this slower, more deliberate approach will help ensure that any future staffing decisions are driven by ministry needs and mission priorities rather than by assumptions or timelines.
We are grateful for the faithful service of the members of this discernment team:
David Braner
Karl Cordes
Josiah Eschbach
Pat Hughes
Tara Wheeker
Zane Yu
Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment as they assist Council and staff in thinking about the future of ministry at Good Shepherd.
Looking Ahead
This summer and fall, Pastor Tara Beth and her staff will begin engaging the congregation in a season of prayer, discernment, and visioning as we seek God's direction for the future of Good Shepherd.
As Council, we are excited about what lies ahead. We believe God is continuing to open doors for ministry, deepen discipleship, and expand opportunities to share the Gospel in our community and beyond.
Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, your service, and your trust. It is a privilege to serve alongside you.
In Christ,
Tyler Wojtkiewicz
Church Council President
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church