Good Shepherd marks 40th year

When David and Mary Schenk moved to Owatonna 40 years ago, they turned their attention to finding another Lutheran church on the north side of town that was just in the beginning stages.

The Schenks say they were attracted to the church because of its mission focus and that it provided a preschool.

In September 1983, 12 families were commissioned from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Owatonna to start another Missouri Synod Church, according to Mary Schenk. The families started Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Sept. 18, 1983.

And now as two of 23 charter members remaining, the Schenks are helping to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church this weekend. The Schenks have felt at home at Good Shepherd ever since moving to town from Janesville.

On Sunday, the church will mark the special occasion during its regular services at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. followed by a “Pot Blessing” meal at 11 a.m. The anniversary will feature slide shows, special music and table displays of the church’s history.

Schenk said back in 1983 a door-to-door survey was conducted on the north side of Owatonna, and the canvassers confirmed that there was a need to start a mission church.

The church began worshipping in a satellite classroom building, adjacent to what was then called the Owatonna Junior High School. Good Shepherd’s first pastor was Rev. John Kallio.

Schenk recalls the humble beginnings of Good Shepherd in which members helped in many ways by keeping things going. By spring of 1984, worship services moved from the satellite classroom to the junior high lunchroom. Every Sunday tables and chairs were moved around, and a makeshift altar was set up.

By 1985, a new church building had been constructed on the corner of 7^th Avenue and 26^th Street NE. Members once again pitched in to help paint and stain the exterior and interior and whatever other projects needed to be done. When the building was finished, members were put on a monthly rotation to do janitorial duties.

Since then, an education wing and a new larger sanctuary have been added to the original building.

In 2001, Good Shepherd had the opportunity to purchase another 10 acres of land adjacent to the existing property. Over time this area has become affectionately known as “The Shepherd’s Woods.”

Good Shepherd has grown over the years to more than 1,200 members. Currently, the church is staffed with two pastors, a preschool director, youth director and a music director.

The focus of Good Shepherd has always been to reach out to others, sharing the love of Jesus and bringing others along to follow his path. Over the years that focus has been carried out in so many ways, including supporting missionaries in foreign lands as well as local outreach in Owatonna.

“I like that our church has outreach mission focus,” said Schenk. “God’s hand was in the whole thing. Some have become long-term missionaries,” she added.

Schenk noted two young people from the congregation have graduated from seminary and became pastors.

The current pastors at Good Shepherd are Rev. Greg Schlicker and Rev. Dan Borkenhagen. They lead both traditional and contemporary services. The youth leaders are Heather Gleason and Kelly Gentz.

Schenk said anyone is invited to come celebrate Good Shepherd’s anniversary on Sunday. She said the idea of marking the 40^th is important to those charter members left because “we may not be here for 50.”

“It’s pretty casual,” she said. “We don’t expect people in ties or dress up if they don’t want to.”

Good Shepherd’s History

• First service: Sept. 18, 1983 at Owatonna Junior High School

• Church dedication: Sept. 15, 1985 at 2500 7^th Ave. NE

• Full-time pastors: Rev. John Kallio (1984-2003), Rev. Mark Rosenau (2004-2018), Rev. Greg Schlicker (2006-present), Rev. Mark Neuman (2020-21) and Rev. Dan Borkenhagen (2022-present)

• Youth/Education leaders: Marilyn Kallio (1995-2003), Carrie Seiler (2003-04), Heather Gleason (2004-present) Cori Woltmann (unknown-2022) and Kelly Gentz (2022-present).