My name is Galen Grulke and while I have the honor of serving as our church’s pastor, I also have the privilege of being the spiritual leader of a number of specific families, the majority of which include the men who serve with me on the Discipleship Team as spiritual leaders and assist me in the spiritual care of all of our families.  What an awesome responsibility and privilege it is to do life together here as God’s Family…to  pray for and with one another…to serve and worship together…and to be used by our Lord to make our families feel needed, wanted, and loved. 

My wife Patti and I are so grateful for the opportunity to be instrumental in the birth of our church and for the many families God has led to be part of His church family here since we began in September 2002.  Patti would be the first to tell you that since becoming husband and wife on December 30, 1972,  it’s been quite an exciting, as well as challenging, ministry ride that landed us in Howell and at Heart of the Shepherd. 

Words can’t express our gratitude for God’s precious gifts of our daughter – Courtni  (who serves as the Director of our church’s Child Development Center and is pregnant with our third granddaughter expecting to be born in  April 2010 ) and her husband Kevin, the proud parents of our first grandson – Mason Blue, and for our son - Travis (Principal at Redeemer in Cuyahoga Falls, OH) and his wife Lori (Kindergarten teacher at Redeemer), the proud parents of our first and second granddaughters – Mallory and Elise, and for the privilege of being their loving parents and blessed grandparents. 

Thankfulness fills my heart as I think about the many dear friends He's placed in our lives and in the life of our family…Yes, God is good…May the Shepherd’s heart of love and compassion empower our hearts, lives, families and church for Christlike, loving actions!

Click here for the names of the families on this ministry team.

Click here for more information on Pastor Galen Grulke.