ABOUT
Our Mission
Good Shepherd exists to serve all people in the Corridor and throughout the world with the Gospel in Word and Sacrament by following the Shepherd, nurturing the flock, and seeking the lost sheep.
Who We Are
Welcome to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church! We are one church with two locations in the Corridor. Our Cedar Rapids campus is at 2900 42nd St NE, Cedar Rapids. Our North Liberty campus meets at the North Liberty Community Center at 520 W Cherry St, North Liberty.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, welcomes you, no matter who you are or where you come from—and so do we. We believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior of all people. By his perfect life, innocent death, and triumphant resurrection, he saves all lost sinners even without our help. Jesus Christ makes us special people, right with God and ready for life! We learn this from the Bible, God’s authentic message of grace and guidance for us. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a curious observer with little religious background, we are delighted to share our worship with you.
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Good Shepherd is a congregation that enjoys having fun together and planning meet-ups and community projects throughout the area. It is a blessing to be able to support each other through daily life - whether that is beginning a career, getting married, starting a family, or seeing our kids off to college. Together we gather around God's word, finding peace in forgiveness and seeing what wisdom he has for us in the different seasons of life. We genuinely enjoy welcoming in our neighbors and getting to know new friends. You are invited to join us!
What We Believe
We believe that Jesus redeemed us, or bought us back, from the guilt of our sin and the slavery of death. By giving his life for us, he released us from that bondage, even though we could offer nothing at all to him. Jesus saved us all because of his grace and not because of any works or any goodness we could have hoped to offer to him.
That message of sheer grace and pure love to us we find in his Word, the completely true and relevant message for our lives. That message is the power of God the Holy Spirit uses to create faith in our hearts, another of his gracious gifts to us, not a decision we make or a work we do for him. Through the waters of baptism, the Holy Spirit forgives sins, creates faith, and saves us. In the Lord's Supper, Jesus is truly present with his body and blood to forgive our sins and assure us of salvation.
Because we are saved by God's grace through faith, we serve not because we have to, but because in thankfulness we want to.
If you have questions about topics, teachings, or modern day issues,
find out more in the Q & A section of our church body's website. >>
We are a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).
Find out more about what our national church body believes. >>
We are a confessional Lutheran church body. Find out more about the confessions of Lutheranism found in the Book of Concord. >>
Our Vision
At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, we believe that only God knows the future. We pray our ministry follows the Shepherd, nurtures the flock, and seeks the lost sheep.
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We envision our congregation to focus on the lost sheep and to let their light shine.
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We envision our flock to grow in faith and be involved in ministry.
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We envision our ministry to start and strengthen relationships in the community and in our congregation.
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We envision our congregation to encourage creativity in all aspects of ministry.
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We envision our church to be visible in the Corridor with multiple campuses.
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We envision our campuses working together towards this vision while tailoring ministry to the needs of each community in the Corridor. We pray God would bless this vision according to his will.
CORE VALUES
WORSHIP
We gather together weekly to worship the One True God through prayer, praise, and thanks offerings. God uses the Means of Grace (God’s Word and Sacrament) to create and strengthen our faith. Our liturgical worship uses the Law (to show us our sin) and Gospel (to show us our Savior).
EVANGELISM
Jesus Christ gave us the duty to tell everyone about his death and resurrection. Jesus died on the cross for all people – the rich and poor, churched and unchurched, man, woman, and child. Our goal is to let our light shine in our words and actions to point all people to their forgiveness of sins, new life in Christ, and salvation in heaven.
COMMUNITY
Compelled by Christ’s love, we strive to be involved and visible in the community. We will do our best to display compassion and mercy by helping those in need, hosting family-friendly events, and building relationships to connect people to Christ. We do what we can to demonstrate love for others in everything we do.
FELLOWSHIP
We want to keep God’s flock together. The church family shows our friendship and common beliefs through events inside and outside of the church. Whether it be Bible-focused or just for fun, we try to include everyone. We welcome all who are searching for hope and comfort to join our family and feel our love.
DISCIPLESHIP
Whether new to the faith or a lifelong believer, we seek to grow in both our knowledge of God’s Word and how we live our life according to it. That is why we offer classes, training, and encouragement meant for every chapter of life from cradle to grave. We value teaching Christians how to live sanctified (God-pleasing) lives so that they are equipped to serve Christ to the best of their God-given abilities.
"I was a child when my parents brought me to Good Shepherd, and I've never left. I was confirmed and married at Good Shepherd. My child was baptized, went to school from K-8, was confirmed, and married at Good Shepherd."
Kristie Stevenson, member since 1973
Pictured with her husband, Arnie
Meet Our Team
Pastor
Rev. Billy King
pastor.cr@goodshepherdcorridor.org
608.855.0151
Pastor King was born and raised in St. Paul, MN. Growing up, he attended St. John Lutheran Church and Elementary School and St. Croix Lutheran High School. He received a BA in Language Arts from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. He then attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) in Mequon, WI, where he completed his Master in Divinity. During his time at WLS, he served one year as a vicar (intern) in Findlay, OH, and one year as a senior vicar at Wisconsin Luther College.
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During his final year at WLS, he met Laura Krueger, the sister of one of his classmates, and they began dating one month before graduation and Call Day. (That is when graduates are assigned to serve as a pastor of a church.) In 2015, he graduated and was assigned as an associate pastor to St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Tomah, WI. Laura moved to Tomah in 2017 and launched her business, King's Creatures Animal Training LLC, one month before their wedding! They've been happily married since October 14, 2017.
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After accepting the Call to serve at Good Shepherd here in the Corridor, Pastor King and Laura moved to Cedar Rapids, along with their 3 dogs and 2 cats, in September 2019.
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Pastor King & Laura enjoy kayaking and hiking with their pets, exploring new restaurants, watching their favorite sports teams, and finding new Giant Things to add to their map. They love living in Iowa’s Creative Corridor where Pastor King has been called to spread the Gospel and advance God's Kingdom!
Therapy Dog
Korra the Therapy Dog
The Living Creatures Ministry program utilizes pets owned by members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. These animals participate in regularly scheduled events at Good Shepherd, nursing homes, schools, and other places throughout the Corridor. They also make visits to shut-ins, attend funeral visitations, and more upon request. Therapy animals also respond to crises across the country to provide comfort to people in times of great need.
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Korra would love to share comfort and love with you. Click here to request a visit >>
Administrative Assistant
Carol Lemke
office@goodshepherdcorridor.org
319.393.5656
Carol, pictured here with her husband Gerhold, has served Good Shepherd as Church Secretary since 2018. She is always ready to welcome visitors to Good Shepherd with a smile!
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Full bio coming soon!
