A Christ-Centered Community on Thirteen Acres in Northern Collinsville
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church sits on a thirteen-acre campus in the northern reaches of Collinsville, Illinois, where Belt Line Road curves past homes and small businesses. The congregation belongs to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and it reads itself in plain biblical terms: committed to the pure Gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. Current membership runs to over 1,500 souls and 1,300 communicants, with all ages well represented and a notably strong contingent of young families drawn by the on-site Christian day school.
The congregation's mission statement is simple and worth quoting at length: "To feed the sheep who have been found and to find the sheep that are still lost." Everything from the weekend Divine Service to the Wednesday night chapel, from the Braille volunteers to the pregnancy center partnerships, flows from that two-fold purpose.
From Seventy-Nine Founders to a Sanctuary of Four Hundred and Fifty
Good Shepherd was organized as a mission congregation on November 12, 1958, with an initial membership of seventy-nine. Five years later, in 1963, the new church built its first sanctuary, seating roughly three hundred, on the same northern Collinsville site it still occupies. The congregation grew steadily through the following decades, and successive building programs added classrooms, offices, and seating.
In 1984, Good Shepherd started its Christian day school, which has since grown to more than four hundred students in preschool through eighth grade. The following year, the congregation called an associate pastor, beginning a two-pastor ministry that has continued to the present; a total of seven men have now served as pastor at Good Shepherd, including the current trio. By the late 1990s, growth had outpaced the original building, and the church undertook the design, fund-raising, and construction of a new sanctuary seating about five hundred. The five-year effort culminated in the dedication of the new sanctuary on April 11, 1999.
Those who want to hear the story in the voices of those who lived it can listen to interviews that longtime member Phyllis Wallace recorded in 2015 with former pastors and leaders.
A Sanctuary Built for the Word and the Sacraments
The 1999 sanctuary is a contemporary structure with deliberate traditional features. Each floor measures roughly twelve thousand square feet. The lower level includes a walkout fellowship hall that opens for Bible classes behind a soundproof folding wall, along with the church offices, a large conference room, the kitchen, restrooms, a child care room, mechanical space, and an elevator connecting the two floors.
Upstairs, the sanctuary seats about four hundred and fifty in theater-style pews, with another fifty in the choir balcony. Glue-laminated arches set at a forty-five degree angle carry the roof to a height of forty-six feet, a deliberate gesture meant to evoke the transcendence of God. The chancel furnishings (altar, pulpit, and baptismal font) were custom made in a simple yet strong design so that nothing in the room competes with the Word and the Sacraments. Worship is accompanied by a sixteen-rank Wicks pipe organ and a six-foot Samick grand piano.
A prominent feature of the room is its three stained glass windows, produced by Emil Frei Stained Glass from designs by Brother Steve Erspamer of the Society of Mary in St. Louis. The large altar window presents the Word and the Sacraments. One of the side windows carries the seal of Dr. Martin Luther, often called the Luther Rose. The other is a contemporary image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, emphasizing his humanity. A spacious narthex offers a place to gather and talk before and after services.
Liturgical, Dynamic, Reverential: The Divine Service
Good Shepherd worships in a style it describes as liturgical, dynamic, and reverential. Holy Communion is celebrated at every weekend service, and many of the special seasonal services as well. The congregation uses The Lutheran Service Book and the traditional orders of worship at every weekend service. The older phrase for this kind of worship is the Divine Service, a name that captures the rhythm: first God serves his people through Word and Sacrament, and then the people respond in thanksgiving and praise.
Worship takes place on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Between the two Sunday services, from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., Bible study for all ages meets in the fellowship hall, with Sunday School and youth classes meeting throughout the school building. The 8:00 and 10:30 Sunday services are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel and Facebook group page, with full recordings available afterwards on the Sermons page and through the Good Shepherd Collinsville app. An indoor and drive-in option (tuning to FM 88.3) has been offered for those who prefer to remain in their vehicles.
Wednesday brings its own rhythm. A brief Evening Prayer service runs from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., a shorter meditational gathering without Holy Communion that the pastors describe as a way to be refreshed in faith midweek. During Advent and Lent, those Evening Prayer services are replaced by two Services of the Word at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with a congregational supper between them. There is also a Wednesday School Chapel at 8:30 a.m. designed especially for the children of the day school, led by the pastors, the youth leader, and visiting guests.
The pastors are candid about why they have chosen this style. Traditional worship is more theological than therapeutic, focusing first on the person and work of Christ rather than on the mood of the worshiper; it engages the worshiper in responsive readings, creedal affirmations, standing, sitting, and kneeling; and it is designed to serve people of all ages, from eight-day-olds to octogenarians, in a single gathering.
Two Pastors and a Parish Team
The pastoral ministry at Good Shepherd is currently shared by two called pastors and a retired pastor who continues to serve. Pastor Andrew Packer is the Administrative Pastor and can be reached at pastorandrewpacker@gmail.com or through the church office at 618-344-3151, extension 304. Pastor Andrew Gray is the Associate Pastor and can be reached at pastorandrewgray@gmail.com or extension 303. Pastor William Engfehr, now retired, continues to serve as the chairman of the Personnel group on the church council.
Day-to-day operations are coordinated by Parish Administrator Marty Hoffman. The Music Director is Chris Loemker, and the Children's Music Director is Zach Stegman, who oversees the children's choirs and instrumental ensembles. The Handbell Choir is directed by Cheryl Urban.
Governance rests with the Church Council, whose chairmen meet the third Monday of each month under the leadership of Council President Joel Italiano and Secretary Jan VanBeek. Six leadership groups, each chaired by an elected member of the congregation, carry out the work of the church: Elders (Aaron Kober), Christian Day School (Rob Pickerell), Congregational Life (Pat Hoffmeier), Christian Outreach (Jennifer Buchanan), Church Property (Bob Jones), Stewardship and Missions (Collin Bivens), and Finance (Bert Cross). The Voters Assembly, which includes all eligible voting members, meets twice a year, with a focus on financial guidelines in June and the election of leaders in November.
What the Church Believes
Good Shepherd and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are committed to the pure Gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. These teachings are drawn from the inspired and infallible Scriptures and are summarized in the three ecumenical creeds (Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian) and the confessional statements of the Book of Concord. The Small Catechism of Martin Luther is regularly used for instruction.
The church's own statement of faith walks through the central doctrines: that God created all things by his spoken word in six ordinary days; that Adam and Eve fell into sin and that every human being is now born with a fallen nature; that Jesus is the Son of God who became man by being born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died as a ransom for sinners, rose on the third day, ascended into heaven, and will return on the last day; that the Holy Spirit creates faith through the Gospel and gives special gifts to the church; that the Bible is the true and without-error Word of God; that the church is the fellowship of all those brought to repentance and forgiveness in Jesus Christ; and that God has given two Sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion, along with the Word to build his church, with Holy Communion delivering the body and blood of Christ in, with, and under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins.
Pastors are glad to meet with visitors who have questions or concerns about the Christian faith. Anyone is welcome to attend worship, Bible classes, the school, and youth activities as a guest. Those who wish to commune are asked to speak with one of the pastors first; new attendees are encouraged to take a New Member Class (offered in the fall, spring, and summer) before receiving the sacrament.
A Christian Day School Where Pastors Still Teach
Good Shepherd Lutheran School has been part of the congregation since 1984. It enrolls more than four hundred students in preschool through eighth grade and is fully accredited by the National Lutheran School Accreditation, the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, and the Illinois Non-Public School Accrediting Association. All of its teachers are synordically trained as well as Illinois state certified.
The pastors are actively involved in the school, leading chapel services, teaching catechism classes, and meeting with students, parents, and teachers. Bible classes are taught by the school's teachers and pastors during the regular school week. Tuition is held to about ten percent of the average family income for the area; anything above that for member families is covered by church scholarship, and additional aid is available for families with economic hardships. Applications are processed online through FACTS, and Good Shepherd waives its $35 application fee for member families.
Good Shepherd is also a member congregation of the Metro-East Lutheran High School Association, sending students on to Metro-East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville, a traditional nine-through-twelve school where Christian faith is woven into every aspect of campus life.
Children in the Divine Service
Children have always been part of the worship life of the congregation. Good Shepherd encourages families to worship together from infancy onward, following the conviction that the liturgy forms identity, that children are full members of the body of Christ through Baptism, and that participation in standing, sitting, praying, singing, and listening together is one of the most powerful forms of Christian formation available.
To make that participation real, the church provides three practical helps. Restless children can be taken to the narthex, the entry area at the back of the sanctuary, where parents can still follow the service through speakers. For harder days, a nursery in the lower level is available for children from infants through three years of age. And busy bags, available in the narthex, contain children's bulletins, crayons, a small fidget toy, and an Arch book to help little ones engage during the service.
Parents who want a more structured way to bring their children into the service can use the church's parent guide, which walks through what to talk about before, during, and after worship, including pointing out the pulpit, altar, lectern, organ, and communion rail, sitting where the chancel is visible, helping the child listen for a key word, and talking afterward about what was most meaningful.
Sunday School classes meet for all ages at 9:15 a.m., beginning with a brief opening in the school cafeteria before children disperse to their classes. Children from birth through age three meet with their mothers in the church nursery, where the mothers study the Bible while the children play. Junior Confirmation classes are offered on Tuesday evenings during the school year for seventh and eighth graders. Vacation Bible School is open to children ages three (and potty trained) through those entering sixth grade, with older students invited to serve as volunteers.
Youth Ministry: Helping Teens Take Ownership of Their Faith
The youth ministry at Good Shepherd is built around helping students grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus while building friendships that last. Sunday morning youth Bible studies meet at 9:15 a.m., with junior highers (seventh and eighth graders) gathering in the school research lab across from the cafeteria and high schoolers meeting in the youth room on the lower level of the school. Each week the students dig into God's Word and talk through how it connects to real-life questions about faith, friendships, choices, and challenges. The high school youth ministry also maintains an active social media presence for updates, photos, and announcements.
Bible Study Throughout the Week
The Sunday morning Bible class is only one slice of a much larger catechetical effort. On Sunday mornings, a pastor leads a Bible class in the fellowship hall between the services, currently working through the Gospel of Luke. On Monday mornings at 6:30 a.m., the men's study meets in the fellowship hall (currently working through the book of Numbers), and on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m., the women's Bible study gathers to study God's Word together. New Member Classes, taught by one of the pastors, begin each January (with additional series offered in the spring and summer) and cover the basics of the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective, with no obligation to join the congregation and free babysitting available on request.
The church also offers a series of recorded video classes online for those who want to work through the Small Catechism on their own, walking through the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and Holy Communion.
Around the Word, a weekly devotion with daily meditations based on a Psalm, a verse, a prayer, a hymn, and the order of devotion from the Small Catechism, is published in print in the narthex and is available for download online. Subscribers can also receive Around the Word by email.
A Choir for the Whole Congregation, Plus Handbells, Brass, and Children's Voices
The music program at Good Shepherd is rooted in the conviction that the people of God have been singing back to him since Moses and Miriam stood at the Red Sea. Each week the congregation itself serves as the largest choir, singing the historic liturgy and the great Lutheran hymnody of Luther, Gerhardt, Selnecker, and Nicolai, together with twentieth-century settings by Hillert, Schalk, Bunjes, Buszin, Resch, and Hildebrand.
The Adult Choir sings anthems, psalm settings, hymn concertatos, and canticles, rehearsing on Wednesdays from 6:50 to 7:50 p.m. in the school music room during the school year and in the church balcony during Advent and Lent. The choir sings one to two times a month and takes part in special services such as the Christmas Cantata and Hymn Festivals. The Handbell Choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. and plays once a month during the school year. Woodwind, brass, string, and percussion instrumentalists at the high school level and above are encouraged to serve in ensembles that accompany singing and provide service music based on hymns, with brass ensembles often highlighting festival services such as Easter.
Four children's choirs drawn from the day school serve the congregation in worship throughout the school year, with a separate Preschool and Kindergarten choir singing four times a year. The school band accompanies worship during National Lutheran Schools Week, and the faculty choir sings at the beginning of the school year and during that same week.
Life Events: Baptism, Weddings, and Funerals
Good Shepherd walks with families through the central moments of a Christian life. Baptisms of infants, children, and adults are normally scheduled during weekend worship services (Saturday at 5:30 p.m. or Sunday at 8:00 or 10:30 a.m.). Adults are usually baptized at the conclusion of the New Member Class. Parents and sponsors commit to ongoing Christian instruction for those baptized as infants; sponsors may be chosen to assist in raising the children in the Christian faith.
Weddings are considered a sacred celebration of the lifelong union of a man and a woman, grounded in the Biblical teaching on marriage. Both persons are asked to be of the Christian faith. At least three sessions of pre-marital counseling with one of the pastors are required. Pastors of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod do not participate in joint wedding services with pastors of other confessions, in order to avoid confusion about what the church teaches. Most weddings are held on Saturday morning or afternoon up to 3:00 p.m.; receptions cannot currently be held at the church because of Bible class setup and the Saturday evening service. Wedding fees include $150 for the wedding coordinator and usually $150 for the musicians; there is no pastoral fee for members.
Funerals are planned with one of the pastors, focusing on God's word and the sure hope of the resurrection. Funeral visitations and luncheons at the church are organized in cooperation with the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, which sponsors the luncheons; families are asked to cover the costs of meat and bread while members of Good Shepherd provide additional dishes, desserts, and drinks. A Funeral Pre-Planning Sheet is available for those who wish to make arrangements in advance.
The Life Team and the Defense of Human Life
The Life Team at Good Shepherd works to promote and protect God's gift of life at every stage, from the unborn to the aged. The team sponsors special speakers and projects for the congregation and community and is committed to walking alongside women facing high-risk pregnancies with information and a friendly ear. Each January the team hosts Life Week, a series of Zoom and Facebook Live presentations running over a full week on topics such as God's design for human identity, prenatal diagnosis, adoption and foster care, and serving those at the end of life. The congregation identifies itself as a life-affirming church that prays intentionally for human life to be cherished at every stage, regardless of circumstances, and points those who have experienced abortion toward Word of Hope, a post-abortion ministry.
Missions and Outreach: Local, Regional, and Global
The Missions and Outreach ministry supports a wide network of partners. Locally, the congregation supports Mosaic Health, a free holistic pregnancy and health center serving Granite City and Fairview Heights, Illinois. Regionally, Good Shepherd supports Unity Lutheran School in East St. Louis, the Southern Illinois Prison Ministry (where Good Shepherd members currently participate in a pen-pal ministry with inmates), and a group of church members who assemble braille books for the visually impaired each month.
The congregation also has a long relationship with Issues, Etc., a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, Illinois, and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. Good Shepherd's current district-wide mission partnership is with Seminario Concordia El Reformador in the Dominican Republic, a seminary serving Spanish-speaking Lutherans from across Central and South America by training pastors and deaconesses who plant churches in their home countries; the seminary is part of Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Confesional, the church body in fellowship with the LCMS in the Dominican Republic. The congregation also supports Eve's Restoration Ministries, a new LCMS organization working to open a home in the Metro East for mothers seeking to reunite with their children in foster care.
The Board of Christian Outreach meets on the fourth Monday of each month and is chaired by Jennifer Buchanan; its work includes the Welcome Table in the church entryway, where brochures, devotional materials, and busy bags for children are available for visitors and members.
Pastoral Care, Counseling, and Prayer
The pastors are available for pastoral counseling and can refer individuals and couples to other professional counselors when needed. Areas of pastoral care include individual confession and absolution, pre-marital counseling, marital counseling, youth counseling, sex education, and support for depression and anxiety. The congregation provides resources on domestic abuse and maintains a strong working relationship with Word of Hope for those affected by abortion.
The Prayer and Care Ministry receives prayer requests through the church office, through an online prayer request form, and through personal contact, and the prayer team keeps requests on the congregation's prayer list for at least three Sundays (longer on request). A small treasury of classic Christian prayers is also available online, including Luther's Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and the Common Table Prayer.
Becoming Part of the Family
For those who feel drawn to make Good Shepherd their church home, the path runs through the New Member Class, offered three times a year, which covers the basics of the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective, with no obligation to join and no cost. Christians of other denominations are welcome to attend the class and, if they affirm the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions, may be received by adult confirmation. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod members transferring from another LCMS congregation meet with one of the pastors for an introduction and then ask for the transfer of their membership. Children and adults are baptized at the conclusion of the New Member Class. Visitors who are still investigating Christianity are warmly welcomed at worship and Bible studies, with the only request being that they not take Holy Communion until they have spoken with one of the pastors.
Those who simply want to drop in will find the Saturday evening service quieter and shorter, the early Sunday service followed by adult Bible study and Sunday School, and the late Sunday service the largest of the weekend gatherings. Whatever door they come through, they will be met by a congregation that has been gathering on Belt Line Road since 1958, that has built its worship around the Word and the Sacraments, and that is intent on both feeding the sheep who have been found and finding the sheep who are still lost.