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 Equip and encourage our community to discover their God-given, unique gifts for ministry in the Church, home, and world
EQUIP
...is a guiding value of our church. Here is how we desire to live it out:
In the 30-year history of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, it is very clear that
people who come to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church really do want to know,
grow in, and show God’s love. That’s why for three decades, this has been “more
and more, a congregation where God’s love grows.”
And you deserve to have your church, its pastors and staff, join with others in this
fellowship of faith to help you and to equip you to find ways to be involved, so
that you can be a difference-maker in the church, home and world.
Week One Devotional
We are each created in the image of God. But becoming like Christ is not something
that comes naturally to human beings. We have to be taught, equipped and
transformed by God’s ongoing work of the Spirit. That’s why St. Paul wrote to the
Ephesians, saying, “Equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of
the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12 [NRSV]
Someone once wrote, “Please be patient with me. God is not finished with me yet.”
Ain’t it true!
Questions for Reflection
You were put on earth to make a difference with your life. What do you suppose
God designed, gifted, and equipped you to do to make a difference?
For what does your heart burn passionately?
Do you have natural abilities? Unique personality traits? And life experiences?
God will use them to make a difference. That’s a promise!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you must really love me to have made me so uniquely. Help me to discover
how you want to EQUIP me to serve you, the church and your world. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
 Equipping Every Generation...
As an active member of GSLC for going on 11 years, I cannot stress enough the importance of sharing your faithful experience with our children.
It’s a big job to make sure that they get
the message, but I am fortunate enough
to say that there were individuals there
for me; saints willing enough to be patient
as I matured in my beliefs. Were I not
equipped by my baptismal pastor and
mentor, Jim Hale, and many others at
Good Shepherd, I would never have
found the genuineness of my faith. Had
Jeff Cranny not shown me that faith
was the most extreme sport of all, then
I would have never taken the risk of
thankfully surrendering my life to God.
We have a responsibility as Christians…a
fundamental responsibility, to pass on
the faith. So how can we justify not
being witnesses to our very families and
neighbors? One day, they will be the
believers, filling the pews with spouses,
loved ones, children and grandchildren.
They will be our pastors and elders, church
secretaries and praise band leaders.
Our time on this earth is finite, but the
teachings of Christ are not. What are you passing on?
Jason Bischoff
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