In November 1982, Pastor George Bement came to Grand Junction to begin a new Lutheran congregation.  Our first worship service was held January 30, 1983, in the cafeteria at Clifton Elem. School, with more than 70 persons attending.  On April 24, 1983 Bishop Wayne Wiessenbuehler presided over the official organization of the newly formed and named congregation.  The first constitution was adopted, officers were elected and 93 charter members received.  We were now Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church of the Central District of the American Lutheran Church (which later merged with Lutheran Church in America to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and we are in the Rocky Mtn. Synod.)

 

After a diligent search for a suitable property, on August 16, 1984, we purchased 4 acres of land at 3133 F Road.  Construction began in July, 1985 and after much congregational input and volunteer labor we held our first worship service, appropriately, on Thanksgiving Eve, November 27, 1985.  When the building was dedicated on December 15, 1985, we were a congregation on 180 members.

 

On February 10, 1988 Pastor George left to accept a call to Kihei, Hawaii, and retired Pastor John Kordewich serves as an interim, until we called Pastor Paul Erbes from Our Savior’s Lutheran of Brewster, Kansas.  Pastor Paul served us from October 11, 1988, until April 30, 1992, when he accepted a position as director of the Jacob Center, a correctional center for youth, in Grand Junction.  Pastor George Lund served as interim until we extended a call on July 12, 1992, to Pastor Ron Powers, who was serving Immanuel Lutheran in Bethune, Colorado.  Pastor Ron began ministering to our congregation on August 30, 1992, which, as we entered our tenth year, had grown to 350 members.

 

As we entered the new millennium, we began to feel the need for a larger facility.  After congregational surveys, much prayer, and discussion at council meetings and congregational meetings, an architect was hired in the summer of 2000 to develop a plan to remodel and add on to our existing building.  At our annual meeting in November, 2000, we voted to begin fundraising efforts, which we continue to do as we seek God’s will as a congregational family.  On September 28, 2003 the church celebrated 20 years of ministry by burning the mortgage for the existing church building.  With God’s love and guidance we have continued to change and grow in our faith as we move forward in expanding our ministries and facilities.