Loving Shepherd Lutheran Church

History of Loving Shepherd

March 27, 1994 - 1995 - A group of four Lutheran families started the work that would form our congregation. They met as a Bible Study Group at Cheatum Hill Community Hall or at a residence. They decided to find a location in Hiram to start a new LCMS Lutheran church.

July 2, 1995 - Loving Shepherd's first service was held in the Hiram Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Six people at our first service.

January 11, 1998 - We unanimously called Pastor Russel Johnson to be our first full-time Pastor.

January 18, 1998 - Loving Shepherd was officially recognized as a congregation of the English District of the Lutheran Church - LCMS. 39 individuals signed the Charter that day.

March 8, 1998 - Pastor Johnson was officially installed as our pastor.

June 28, 1998 - We purchase 5.14 acres of land on Hiram-Sudie Road in Hiram
for our future church location.

April 24-25, 1999 -Visioning Workshop with congregation and architect, Ken Hirsch.

March 12, 2000 - First meeting with the congregation and architect, Greg Beste.
He designs the master plan where all future buildings will be located on our property.

August 2001 - Meet at the 7th Day Baptist Church on Hiram Sudie Road.

October 2001 - Meet at the Paulding Kids University on Ridge Road.

February 2002 - Tibbits Surveying/Engineering worked on Site Engineered Plan.
Architect, Mark Bruno, worked on finished drawings of first building.
Pastor Johnson decides to retire as soon as we can get another pastor from seminary.

April 2002 - Voted to move forward with LCEF loan for church building.
Ken Rankin accepts the call to become our pastor.

June 30, 2002 - Pastor Ken Rankin Ordination and Installation.

August 24, 2002 - Ground Breaking Ceremony on our land.

September 5, 2002 - Grading begins on church property.

November 12, 2002 - Building Pad work begins.

December 18, 2002 - 97 1/2 yards of concrete poured for the building pad.

December 30, 2002 - Building Package arrives and assembly of steel beam structure begins.

January 20, 2002 - Steeple installed on our building.

January 22, 2003 - Framing on the inside of the building begins.

April 6, 2003 - Last service at the Paulding Kids University Daycare

April 13, 2003 - Palm Sunday and Dedication of our New Church Building
84 at morning service and 65 at afternoon service

June 14, 2003 - Vision Workshop with our Circuit Counselor, Rev. Kevin Elseroad
on Natural Church Development and Growth.

July 14-18, 2003 - We have our first Vacation Bible School at our own building.

October 5, 2003 - Church sign and stained glass windows dedication.

February 20, 2005 - Dedication of our new Nursery.

February 27, 2005 -
Dedication of our new Roland Digital Piano.

October 22, 2006 - Dedication of our new hymnals

January 2007 - Pastor Rankin accepts call to church in Wisconsin. We start the call process for new pastor.

January 21, 2007 - Dedication of our finished Kitchen and Classroom.

January 28, 2007 - Last day of Pastor Ken Rankin.
He accepted a call to a church in Wisconsin.

February 18, 2007 - Installation of Interim Pastor,
Rev. Dr. Rodger Meyer

April 2007 - Stephen Zehnder accepts the call to become our new pastor.

July 22, 2007 - Pastor Stephen Zehnder Ordination at Cross Lutheran Church in Chattanooga, TN.

August 5, 2007 - Pastor Stephen Zehnder Installation as Pastor at Loving Shepherd Lutheran Church.

January 2009 - We start the Revitalization process with our church.

Come be a part of Loving Shepherd's History