The history of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church began with the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod designating this area as a site of a mission congregation known as The Lutheran Church of North Pontiac. Five acres of land were purchased on Baldwin Road, which is our present location.

The Rev. Charles T. Kosberg was called by the District and assigned to the North Pontiac Mission in 1971. On Sunday, November 7, 1971, our congregation held its first worship service at Carpenter School with 89 people present. The organizational meeting of the congregation was held December 12, of that same year. The first church officers were elected, and the name of the congregation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Orion, was chosen from those that had been suggested.

On April 8, 1973, the congregation broke ground for the first time, and under the blessing of God built our sanctuary and fellowship room (current nursery). In December of 1973, these were dedicated to the glory of God. Ground was broken for our education wing in November of 1978, which was also dedicated to the Lord in 1979.

In the Spring of 1979, Pastor Kosberg accepted a call to a congregation in Illinois, which left the congregation struggling without a pastor for over a year. Finally, in the late Spring of 1980, the Rev. James Van Dellen, of Cass City, MI was called as our Pastor, and began his ministry with us in June of that year. In 1985 an additional six acres of land immediately south of our property was purchased, with the thought of future expansion.

Starting in the nineties, the Lord began to increase our size. He impressed upon us that He had work for us to do in reaching out to families (particularly young families) in our community with His love, as we have experienced it in Jesus Christ. Significant events during the Nineties have included the hiring of Judy Van Dellen as our parish assistant, the institution of Stephen Ministry and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) ministry, and the opening of a Christian Preschool program. In 1997, ground was broken for a new entrance, lobby, and offices as you see them today. In June of 1998, Pastor Eric Tritten joined our ministry team as Associate Pastor, again in an effort to strengthen our programs as we grow in the Lord’s grace, and minister to our community. At that time a new call was issued to Pastor Van Dellen as our Senior Pastor.

In the new millennium, God has continued to pour his blessings out upon our church family. In June of 2000, Mrs. Kimberly Donnelly joined our ministry team as full-time Preschool Director/Christian Day School Coordinator in an effort to begin a day school. In the Spring of 2001, Good Shepherd broke ground again to build phase one of Good Shepherd Lutheran School, which is what you see today.

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