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 The seed that gave life to Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church was planted in 1998 when our mother congregation, Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Brighton, MI, decided to birth a "daughter congregation" based on the rapid population growth that was occurring in Livingston County at the time. Planning for the new mission church began in 1999, and Pastor Galen Grulke along with his wife, Patti, joined the staff in February 2002. The first public worship service for Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church was on September 7/8, 2002 at the Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA) building in Howell.
The birth of our new mission church, Heart of the Shepherd, was truly a unique and exciting experience. The Lord of the Church gave birth to a healthy, baby church with the DNA to grow stronger in Him and to GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES for Him . . . "laboring for Him, which is never in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58 
On our first anniversary weekend, September 6/7, 2003, the Rite of Formal Entrance into the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, took place during the worship services. Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church was now an official member congregation of the LCMS and Michigan District.
A few weeks later in October 2003, a Building Team was established to begin the planning process for the construction of our Phase I multi-purpose Worship/Family Life/Child Development Center. Construction began in April 2005, and on September 11, 2005, the HOTS family worshiped for the first time in its new Mission Headquarters on the celebration of its 3rd Anniversary! Shortly after, in January 2006, the Child Development Center opened. Over 90 families from our community and church currently have their children enrolled in our Child Development Center. In September 2008, the church launched their Going-Sowing-Showing-Growing (GSSG) 3-year Church Ownership/Stewardship Emphasis designed to intentionally grow and improve the stewardship life of the families and to provide the needed financial resources for our church's mission and ministry. 
As of our 7th Anniversary in September 2009, we marvel at our awesome God's many blessings to His church, drawing together over 168 families . . . more than 425 souls to form our Family of God, with approximately 270 gathering for weekly worship services. Today, as we step out in faith as Christ's church in this place and explore future ministry opportunities and possibilities we remember our mission: GO--with passionate, Spirit-given power--AND MAKE DISCIPLES by boldly speaking, living, and loving God's Word into the hearts and lives of others.
In the future, some of our goals include the following: - becoming more actively involved and visible in our community via our involvement in and the hosting of various community events and activities
- explore future staffing needs and ministry opportunities and possibilities
- a partnership with the Michigan District regarding a new church plant or new mission site(s)
- the acquisition of the adjoining 2.4 acre piece of property to the south
- the formation of a Building Committee to begin plans for future expansion of additional classrooms to the north and office space and conference rooms(s) to the south
- the possible space for housing a non-profit community organization and/or free health clinic
- upgrading the kitchen to commercial standards
- renovating the barn and making it an attractive, useable facility for our youth and church's ministry.
As we move forward, we hope to provide the opportunity for each individual member and friend to seriously evaluate his/her own personal stewardship/ownership within Christ's church and to determine how he/she can partner with others in the growth of God's kingdom in Livingston County AND beyond.
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