At 140 East 56th Street in Tacoma, in the Puyallup Valley, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod with roots in 1950. It is known for Word and Sacrament worship at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, a history that grew from Vacation Bible School and a 35-member mission, and Little Lambs Preschool, its accredited, Christ-centered early childhood ministry.
From a Mission of 35 to a Home on East 56th Street
Good Shepherd's story begins in summer 1950, when a nearly completed Concordia Lutheran School building, a developing area of new homes, a vision of a fertile mission field, and eager volunteers converged with a Vacation Bible School. The encouraging response and attendance helped turn the event into a plan for a mission congregation. Pastors Arthur W. Schelp of Zion Lutheran Church and Winfred A. Schroeder of Grace Lutheran Church directed the effort, and both congregations voted to approve it. A small nucleus of 35 members from Grace and Zion was released to work in the area.
The first worship service was held on the first Sunday in September 1950. Pastor Schelp conducted it in the basement of the Concordia Lutheran School, and Sunday School followed. The little group called itself Concordia Lutheran Mission and prayed for God's guidance as it began.
A call was sent and accepted by Pastor Harold G. Johnson, who grew up at Zion in Tacoma. Called from Coffeyville, Kansas, he was installed as the first resident pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in 1951. He and his wife, Maxine, brought youthful energy to the growing mission with their two sons. Sunday School, Christmas pageants, fellowship and family nights, picnics, and a strawberry festival helped the congregation grow.
In 1953, Redeemer Lutheran Church at Harrison and East G Streets was without a pastor, and its congregation merged with Concordia. The merger brought additional members, workers, and children for Sunday School. The combined congregation adopted the name The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. It purchased the corner of East 56th and B Streets, broke ground on June 7, 1953, for a church and parsonage, and dedicated the completed building on June 6, 1954. Pastor Johnson served until 1955, when he accepted a call to help establish a mission in Bellevue.
Sunday at 9:15: Word and Sacraments
Sunday worship begins at 9:15 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 140 East 56th Street in Tacoma. Pastor Joel Schuldheisz describes his calling there as sharing God's Word and Sacraments with the congregation and walking with people as they grow in faith and seek opportunities to serve those in need. Attendance at worship and involvement in church activities are open to everyone.
Good Shepherd's worship is grounded in the Church Year, which gives worship a strong sense of time and history. Its seasons include Epiphany, Lent and Easter. The congregation invokes the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit during worship, and the sign of the cross recalls Holy Baptism. The baptismal font placed at the front of the sanctuary provides another visible reminder of Christ's death and resurrection and the grace received in Baptism.
The congregation describes itself as a welcoming family of believers sharing God's grace through worship, meaningful connections and compassionate service. Its central desire is for people to come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and, for those who already know him, to share in spiritual growth.
Grace Alone and a Welcoming Church Family
Good Shepherd is rooted in the Lutheran tradition and teaches that people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Its beliefs begin with Martin Luther's 1517 challenge to errors in the medieval church and with the conviction that the teachings recovered by Luther and the reformers are faithful to Holy Scripture. The church summarizes this teaching in four phrases: Grace alone, Scripture alone, Christ alone and Faith alone.
- Grace alone: God loves people even though they are sinful and rebellious, and he sent Jesus to save the ungodly.
- Scripture alone: The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word and the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
- Christ alone: Jesus died and rose again, saves people from sin, death and the devil, and forgives their sins.
- Faith alone: Jesus purchased forgiveness and eternal life for all, and God creates faith through the saving Good News.
Good Shepherd teaches that Holy Baptism, with the Word of God, gives forgiveness, new spiritual life and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Membership may begin through transfer from another Lutheran congregation or through a series of informational sessions focused on the Bible, Christian faith, Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd. Membership involves a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and baptism for those who have not been baptized in the Christian church.
The mission statement that gathers this identity together is Sharing Christ, Feeding Sheep, Growing His Kingdom. Good Shepherd defines itself as a biblical community seeking Christ's redemption for all while following God's design for families, community outreach and compassionate service.
Mahogany, Brass, and the Baptismal Font
One of the most particular features of Good Shepherd's sanctuary is the baptismal font at the front. Its mahogany wood matches the altar and other liturgical artwork created by Ernst Schwidder in 1970. A hand-carved concave section holds the basin used during Baptism, making the font both a working part of worship and a visual statement about Christ's death and the washing of sin.
Pastor Harold G. Johnson, Good Shepherd's first resident pastor, donated the basin now used at the font. His family worked with a local foundry to transform a bedframe made of pure brass into a 25-pound brass baptismal basin. Its polished surface reflects the stained-glass windows, bringing the light and artwork of the sanctuary into the act of Baptism.
Pastor Schuldheisz connects the physical basin with the church's teaching that Holy Baptism is not plain water alone, but water connected with the Word of God. Baptism is received as a gift of saving grace. Remembering it throughout life, including through the sign of the cross, directs the baptized person back to the love of God and the promise of new life in Christ.
Little Lambs Preschool: Play, Preparation, and Christian Formation
Good Shepherd established Little Lambs Preschool to fulfill the congregation's commitment to the religious instruction of youth and its confidence in Christ's command to welcome children. The school seeks to provide a joyful, loving and safe environment, build a spiritual frame of reference for living, and create groundwork for further education. Its mission is to share Christ's love with families in the Tacoma community. Little Lambs is a fully accredited early childhood facility whose accreditation validates Christ-centered goals and standards for curriculum, facilities, health and safety, and teacher communication.
The 2 Morning Class
The 2 Morning Class is for children who are two and a half years old by September 1. It meets Tuesday and Thursday from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. Potty training is encouraged but not required. This multi-age class gives children their first preschool experience and uses play to introduce early numeracy and pre-literacy concepts. Children also practice executive function and self-regulation by transitioning between activities, focusing attention, managing emotions, developing empathy and navigating relationships. Christian formation is woven through example, Bible lessons, songs and prayer.
The 3 Morning Class
The 3 Morning Class is for children who are three and a half years old by September 1 and are potty trained. It meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. Children work with numbers, letters and letter sounds while learning through reading, free art, puzzles, dramatic play and other learning centers. The curriculum also practices the calendar, weather, counting, colors, shapes and patterns, alongside Bible lessons, songs and prayer.
Junior Kindergarten
The Junior Kindergarten class is for children who are four years old by September 1 and serves children ages four and five in a half-day program. A three-day class meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while a five-day class meets Monday through Friday. Both meet from 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The curriculum refines academic skills while strengthening social and emotional abilities needed for full-day kindergarten. The classroom remains nurturing and Christ-centered, joining faith, learning and preparation for the next stage of school.
The Little Lambs Team
Bonnie Huset has directed Little Lambs since it opened in 2005. She teaches Junior Kindergarten and holds a bachelor's degree in business and an associate degree in early childhood education. Assistant Director and Teacher Diana Tremain works with children ages two and a half through four. Before joining Little Lambs, Tremain ran her own California preschool for 13 years and worked as a homeschool teacher, music teacher and in-home childcare provider. Assistant Teacher Madisen Osman supports the 3s and 4s classes. Together, the staff carry out the school's motto of sharing Christ and caring for children.
Education From Early Childhood Through Adults
Good Shepherd's education ministry reaches from Little Lambs Preschool through children's and youth programs to adult education. Vacation Bible School remains a distinct part of church life and also has a special place in the congregation's history: the successful 1950 Vacation Bible School helped launch the mission that became Good Shepherd. Sunday School was part of the first service and remained an important part of the congregation's early growth.
Director of Christian Education Jeffrey Kranich brings more than four decades of ministry to this work. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Concordia University in Portland, with a theology minor and youth ministry emphasis, and completed his Director of Christian Education program in 1980. His ministry has included congregations in Pembroke, Ontario, Portland and West Seattle. His personal mission statement is Empower Others for Fearless Ministry. He uses his gifts to encourage, equip and enable others to use their abilities in building up the church and sharing faith with others.
Pastor Schuldheisz's Grace in Daily Life
Pastor Joel Schuldheisz came to Good Shepherd after 42 years as a Lutheran teacher in elementary, secondary and college settings. He entered the Specific Ministry Program, primarily offered online through Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and completed an internship, or vicarage, along with his coursework. Good Shepherd called him as pastor in December 2022. He sees sharing God's Word and Sacraments and joining people in their daily lives as central to that calling.
His teaching repeatedly returns to grace that is received rather than earned. Pastor Schuldheisz teaches that people cannot deserve God's forgiveness; they receive Christ's forgiveness through his saving love. When Christians have sinned against one another, genuine confession names their own harmful actions rather than blaming the other person. Asking forgiveness, he teaches, is grounded in trust in God's mercy and leads people toward lives shaped by love and forgiveness.
He also places Holy Baptism, prayer and evangelism within everyday faith. Baptism gives new spiritual life and the power to resist sin. Prayer is a time for presenting requests to God with thanksgiving, while people remain faithful in planting, watering and caring for spiritual growth. In sharing faith, he encourages gentleness and respect rather than argument. The recurring theme is that God makes growth possible and that his people serve as faithful coworkers in his kingdom.
Education, Service, and a Tacoma Ministry
Good Shepherd serves as a supporting congregation of both Little Lambs Preschool and Concordia Christian Academy. This support gives the church's call to share Christ's love with Tacoma families a practical expression. The early childhood school, Christian education ministry, children's and youth programs, Vacation Bible School and congregational care work together to place the church's mission around worship, relationships, learning and service.
Little Lambs has relied on congregational support, fundraising and designated Thrivent Choice dollars. Its annual flower fundraiser has helped purchase classroom furniture, books, art materials and learning resources. Thrivent Choice dollars designated to the preschool are divided between scholarship and general funds. Online giving to Good Shepherd is also available through a secure giving service.
The church is at 140 East 56th Street in Tacoma, and the church office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It is closed Saturdays and Sundays. The church office can be reached at (253) 473-4848, while the preschool office can be reached at (253) 474-4214. From its 35-member beginning in 1950 to Little Lambs Preschool and Concordia Christian Academy, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church remains centered on Word and Sacraments, education for people of every age, and service to its neighbors in love.