Welcome to
Shepherd!
In 1977, a small group of Christians felt called to establish a Gospel-focused Lutheran Church in the St. Croix Valley. They began meeting in a local city hall and although small, they were committed to the work of the church and God added to their numbers.
Since then, Shepherd of the Valley has grown to be a regional ministry reaching people and families throughout the St. Croix Valley and surrounding areas. While the church is now larger in size, it remains committed to the Gospel focus and Lutheran roots.
Mission
Connect all people to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through worship, small groups, and serving.
2030 Vision
For The One
Vision, at its best, always exists to serve our mission to connect all people to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Building on the For the Valley vision, our 2030 five-year vision is: Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will walk with each one in our communities so together we experience life as Jesus meant it to be.
Simply said, Shepherd is For The One.
Matthew 18:12-14
12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
We will walk with each one by being empowered, present, and inviting.
- We are empowered to be more than we are on our own
- We are present and connected with people in our community, especially families, neighbors, and coworkers
- We invite people toward wholeness
- Understand why and how I am empowered by the Holy Spirit
- Practice what being present with others looks like
- See the hurting, lonely, distracted, and addicted in our families, neighbors, coworkers, and ourselves
- Learn tangible ways to express my faith in everyday life
Values
Who We Are
We value creating an environment where all people gather together to worship Christ as one community. We design authentic worship services which embrace time-honored practices and modern expressions that form us to be more like Jesus.
We seek to connect people to growing relationships with Jesus and one another. We are transformed and become more like Jesus as we gather in small groups to study God’s word, pray, and build community.
We believe spiritual growth happens as we serve others by putting their needs above our own. We follow Christ’s example when we invest our time and resources with others in our community and across the world.
We equip the family to raise up the next generation of Christ followers and foster environments for kids and students to build growing relationships with Jesus that last a lifetime.
We give out of love for Christ in the area of our faith. We believe financially giving expands God’s Kingdom and expresses the tangible, sacrificing love of God.
What We Believe
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We call this the Trinity. God is the creator and sustainer of all life. Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:16–17, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. He modeled God’s love for people through a life of service and self-sacrificial love. His death and resurrection redeemed us from sin, conquer death, and offer all who believe ever-lasting life. John 3.16–17, 1 Timothy 3:16, Mark 10:45, Colossians 1:15-20
The Holy Spirit calls us to faith and by living in us, acts as a helper and guide. The Holy Spirit’s supernatural gifts empower all Christians to serve others and tell others about Jesus. Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12:1–31, 1 Corinthians 14:1–25, Romans 12
Sin separates all of us from God. Sin is our rebellion against God’s will and our brokenness in relationships—with God, others, and ourselves. Jesus alone, through his death and resurrection, provides forgiveness, restoration, and salvation from the punishment of sin, death, and the power of the devil. This is the free, unmerited gift called grace. We participate by faith alone and enter into a lifelong process of change and growth. Acts 4:2, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8–9, John 5:24, Romans 3:28, John 3:16, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20
The Bible is God’s word to us about who God is and who we are. It is inspired by God, written by human authors, useful for teaching, and is our final authority in matters of faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Psalm 119:105
We are part of one true Church made up of all who believe Jesus is Lord. While the church is made up of many different expressions, Shepherd identifies with the renewal movement begun during the Reformation and guided by the themes of Martin Luther’s teaching on grace through faith in Christ. We are rooted in the sacramental traditions of Baptisms and Communion. Our church affiliation is with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). Ephesians 4:4–6, Romans 12:5, Matthew 28:18–20, 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, John 3:16-17