4211
Hiram Sudie Road,
Hiram, Georgia 30141
From the Pastor
Welcome Home to Loving Shepherd Church!
Pastor
Stephen ZehnderBio and Letter to the Congregation
Don't let the Zehnder name fool you. Our family came over
from Germany and settled in Frankenmuth, Michigan, but that was generations
ago. My father left his parents home in Cleveland, OH to pursue education
at Clemson University, and has worked in the South ever since. I was
born in South Carolina, grew up in Virginia, and then moved to Tennessee,
where I lived for high school and college.
While I was pursuing my Industrial Engineering degree at Tennessee Technological
University, pastors kept recommending that I consider seminary, a prospect
I resisted heavily until my very last semester of college. This was
probably the case because I was constantly working with campus ministry
there and remaining active in attendance at the local Lutheran church.
After graduation in 2002, I worked for a few months as youth leader
in Chattanooga before starting at the Fort Wayne seminary in the summer
of 2003.
While in seminary, I was able to get experience preaching at mission
congregations and taking electives in missions, church growth, and language.
Before beginning my vicarage, I also spent six weeks in Guatemala learning
Spanish. My vicarage was a unique one, working for an organization that
sought to combine the youth groups from three congregations.
All in all, I've had some great experiences, some not as fun as others,
but all wonderful for learning and personal formation. And God has been
guiding through all of it! He has developed within me a passion for
the lost, compassion for all peoples, and a desire not only to share
the truth in love, but to convey it in the language of the people -
to take the message of the Gospel to where they are.
I am excited to be beginning a new chapter in life with you! God's richest
blessings as we grow together in the love of Christ!
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Zehnder
Click to E-mail: Pastor Stephen Zehnder
© 2009 Loving Shepherd Lutheran Church. All Rights Reserved.
|
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3: 16-17)
God sent his son into the world for our salvation, not condemnation - and we at Loving Shepherd want to share Christ’s love with you. That is why we preach Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins, and Christ risen for our eternal salvation.
Loving Shepherd has a wonderful mix of friendly people who want to get to know you, and we hope that you will visit us soon. We pray that you will find a new ‘church home’ at Loving Shepherd. If you have any questions about us, or our beliefs, or our worship service, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us.
May Our Loving Shepherd bless you as you seek His glorious face.
