On a quiet street in Lewisville, Texas, just north of Dallas, a non-denominational congregation called The Shepherd's House has gathered every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. since 1990. Pastored by Richard and Dorothy Van Winkle, the church describes its purpose in a single phrase: Equipping the Body with His Glory. That vision frames everything from its food pantry to its civic engagement work.
A Bible Study That Became a Church
The Shepherd's House began as a small Bible study in September 1989. On March 11, 1990, the group incorporated as The Love Church; two years later the name changed to The Shepherd's House Church. Founder and Senior Pastor Richard Van Winkle, a graduate of Melodyland School of Theology, has been in full-time ministry since 1973. He also serves as an Executive Regional Leader with ARMI (Associated Related Ministries International), an organization associated with Andrew Wommack Ministries, and has authored two books, As He Is... So Are We and Love: The Greatest of All.
The church's stated vision is that every function of The Shepherd's House will be for the purpose of exalting and glorifying Jesus, so that His manifested presence (Glory) is with us. From that anchor point flow its other commitments: an atmosphere of awe, prayer, surrender, obedience, love, peace, and security; miracles; multitudes being added to the Kingdom; and every member of the body functioning according to Ephesians 4:16.
Sundays at Ten, Wednesdays at Seven
The week centers on two main gatherings. Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary on Milton Street, with the children's Praise and Worship hour running alongside the adult service for ages 3 through 5th grade before children are dismissed to their own Sunday school at 11 a.m. On Wednesday evenings, doors open at 6:15 p.m. for an open prayer time focused on praise, worship, and thanksgiving, followed by the Midweek Gathering from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Both services are livestreamed on YouTube for those joining from home. Communion is celebrated periodically during the services, and the church observes water baptism for those who have repented and believed.
HIS KIDS: Children's Ministry from Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Children's ministry at The Shepherd's House is called HIS KIDS and is led by Tonya Bauman, who has more than thirty-five years of experience in children's ministry. Her stated aim is for each child to know the love of Jesus personally.
On Sunday mornings, nursery classes open at 10 a.m. for ages six weeks through three years and remain available during the entire service and Sunday school. Children ages three through fifth grade begin in the sanctuary with their families at 10 a.m. for Praise and Worship, then move to their own classrooms at 11 a.m. for age-appropriate Bible teaching that runs until noon. The children are dismissed from the auditorium by an announcement so parents know exactly when the transition happens.
The ministry is grounded in Mark 10:14 - "Let all the little children come to me, and never hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Children participate in special seasonal performances, including a Christmas presentation by the kids during a recent December service.
Teenagers Built for Kingdom Leadership
The youth ministry is built around guiding teenagers into a deep faith in Jesus Christ and preparing them to be future leaders. Three couples and individuals carry the work forward. Paul and Tina Evans have led the youth ministry for two years, working from the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." Esteban and Yesica Santiago, married for twenty-one years and part of The Shepherd's House for more than eight, share the load; Esteban also leads the Men's Ministry Group. Oscar Salceda, a husband and father of five who has served the Lord for more than thirty-six years, rounds out the team as a mentor shaped by Philippians 2:3-4.
Youth classes meet Monday nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and the ministry reaches beyond the church walls into the wider community through outreach events, mentorship, and prayer.
Men of Valor and Women of Virtue
Two sister fellowships anchor adult discipleship outside of Sunday and Wednesday services. Men of Valor meets the second Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Pastor Rich had a vision for the group as a place where men praise, pray, and hear the Word together; the ministry points to Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Healing miracles and answered prayers are part of the group's story.
Women of Virtue meets on the same second Saturday of each month, also 9:30 to 11 a.m. The fellowship is built around Bible study, mutual encouragement, and a sisterhood anchored in Christ's love. Its touchstone verse is Proverbs 27:9 - "Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy." Teresa Chiles, who also co-teaches the Monday morning Bible study and serves in church lunches, helps lead the women's side.
The Father's Storehouse: Hundreds Fed Each Week
In January 2020, Rose Moore, one of the church's founders, opened The Father's Storehouse with a vision to feed people in the local area who need food and support. Since then the pantry has distributed fresh food, clothing, and the Word of God to hundreds of people every week.
Distribution hours are Tuesdays and Fridays from 12 to 1 p.m., with a second Friday evening session from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The ministry is closed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Prayer at the Center
The Shepherd's House describes prayer as its priority. A team of vetted and trained altar-call prayer ministers is available before and after Sunday services for personal prayer. Open Prayer happens before every Wednesday evening service at 6:15 p.m., focused on praise, worship, and thanksgiving with room for specific petitions and brief testimonies. A longer monthly gathering on the fourth Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon brings the prayer team together to set priorities for the coming month, celebrate answered prayers, and pray over the property and ministry areas.
The intercessory team is led by Maria Storck and Jan Orange under the authority of Pastors Rich and Mike. Intercessors are invited to the team after a season of faithful attendance and training; for 2026, the church has set aside Wednesdays as a weekly day of prayer and fasting. The prayer ministry maintains an extensive scripture reference guide that pairs emotional needs (rejection, discouragement, anxiety, grief, oppression, hopelessness) and physical needs (healing, protection, sleep, strength, finances) with specific Bible verses to pray.
Salt and Light: A Governmental and Cultural Mission
The Salt and Light Ministry approaches civic engagement as a mission field. The ministry works to restore a Biblical and moral foundation, training and equipping the church and community on governmental and cultural issues from a Biblical worldview. Its scriptural anchors include 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 5:13-16, Exodus 18:21, and Proverbs 29:2 and 11:10.
The ministry uses a PETER model: Prayer (1st and 3rd Sundays at 7 p.m., except major holidays), Educate (recorded Zoom lectures from national leaders with Q&A), Take it to the community (locally prayed over and executed), Elections (supporting godly candidates), and Restore America (seeking national renewal through the grace of God). Prayer for America meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for prayer over the president, country, state, county, Israel, neighbors, the seven areas of culture, and current events.
Staff include Connie B. Hudson, an ordained pastor who serves as a Precinct Chair and Area Leader for The Colony; Sharon Jorolan, Cynthia Cundall (Prayer), and Linda Doyle and Barbara Drews (Communications). The ministry points to affiliated resources at saltandlightcouncil.org, including training arms such as Biblical Voter, PEERS, and the Public School Exit initiative.
Bible Studies Throughout the Week
The church runs three regular Bible studies alongside the Wednesday gathering and Sunday school. A Monday morning study from 10 to 11:30 a.m., repeated Sunday evenings from 5 to 6:30 p.m., works through Humility by Andrew Murray under the leadership of Teresa Chiles. A Thursday night study from 7 to 8:30 p.m. rotates two to four studies a year; an upcoming study is You Are Called by John Bevere, taught by David Chiles and Dave Watson. Thursday nights combine praise and worship, interactive study, prayer, and fellowship, often with snacks or dinner. The Thursday studies use Charis Bible College materials such as Spirit, Soul, and Body and end with a celebration and a certificate of completion.
Dave Watson, a retired educator and former denominational mission director and director of a children's home in Oklahoma, facilitates the Thursday study. The church also offers a Monday afternoon Bible Prayer Study described on the events calendar.
The Audio and Visual Team
The production team handles sound, slides, and video for both the in-person services and the livestream. Director of Media Melissa Jolly leads the team; she joined The Shepherd's House in 2015 and has grown the production ministry since then. The team includes Dayton (sound engineer), Naomi and Brandon (live stream directors), Stephanie and David (visual techs), and Bonnie (video tech). Brandon also serves as tech support.
Leadership
Pastor Richard Van Winkle and his wife Dorothy serve as Senior Pastors. Mike Bauman, ordained in 2017 after thirty-five years in the business world, supports operations and preaches and teaches when called upon. His wife, Tonya Bauman, directs the children's ministry. David Chiles, a member since 1996, was made an Elder in February 2023; Teresa Chiles teaches Bible studies and serves the women's ministry. Pastor Rich also serves as an Executive Regional Leader with ARMI, an association tied to Andrew Wommack Ministries.
What We Believe
The Shepherd's House publishes a detailed Statement of Faith. Its core convictions include the Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God; the triune Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; man's fall and redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ; salvation by grace through faith, evidenced by a life of righteousness; water baptism by burial with Christ; the Lord's Supper observed in remembrance of Jesus; and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as a distinct, subsequent experience accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues.
The church also affirms the church as the body of Christ; total prosperity covering spiritual, mental, physical, financial, and social dimensions; the Blessed Hope of Christ's return; the lake of fire for those outside Christ; the Millennial Reign of Jesus; and marriage between one biological man and one biological woman as the foundation of the family.
Giving and Pastoral Protection
Giving is available online in one-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual amounts, with preset options at $25, $50, $100, and $200 and a custom field for any other gift. Giving through Zelle is set up under the address tsha225ccounting@gmail.com. The church lists reasons for giving drawn from Malachi 3:10, Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Romans 12:13, Matthew 6:20, and Proverbs 3:9.
The Shepherd's House has formally adopted the Texas Pastors Protection Act (S.B. No. 2065, May 2015) as part of its governing documents, and the church's bylaws are published for download.
Joining In Person or Online
Visitors are welcomed at 225 Milton Street, Lewisville, Texas, with Sunday worship at 10 a.m. and a Wednesday gathering at 7 p.m. The Plan Your Visit page exists to answer first-time questions before arrival, and the team behind the church is happy to be reached at tshchurch@gmail.com or (972) 219-3973.