SENIOR PASTOR

For close to 30 years, Pastor Sheets has been humbly sharing the love of Christ by passionately proclaiming God’s word! He began serving as our pastor on December 1, 2013. Pastor Sheets was born in 1959 in Akron, Ohio where he grew up with his family. He attended the University of Akron and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. It was at the University of Akron that he met his wife, Brenda, and they were married in 1981. In 1983, Chris and Brenda moved to St. Louis, where he attended Concordia Seminary. Next, he served as a vicar in inner-city Chicago for one year.

Following his graduation from seminary in 1987, Pastor Sheets served three congregations prior to coming to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He served at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Searcy, Arkansas until 1992. From there, he went to Carlinville, Illinois to Zion Lutheran Church where he served until 2003. He was then called to serve as the senior pastor of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church and School until 2013. In November 2013, Pastor Sheets was called here to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he now serves as the senior pastor, as well as the co-superintendent of Belvoir Christian Academy.

Pastor & Brenda have three children: Sarah, Rebekah, and Christopher.

CONTACT: pastor@gslcflock.org

ASSOCIATE PASTOR - GRACE PLACE

Born in Buffalo New York, Pastor Rosser attended Martin Luther School and graduated Kensington High in 1961. After that, he kept pursuing his education through a long list of academic degrees. Rosser graduated with Bachelors of Science from the University of Buffalo, a Masters in Psychology from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a Doctorate (PHD) from Union University in Cincinnati Ohio. He went back to school yet again and became a graduate of Concordia Seminary (DELTO PROGRAM) St.. Louis, Missouri. Last, but not least, he graduated from the Birmingham School of Law and has been a licensed attorney in the state of Alabama for twenty years. He has been married to his wife Barbara for 52 years and has lived in five different states including New York, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia.

Before he landed here, Ed Rosser served as pastor of Solid Rock Lutheran Church in Argo, Alabama for nearly twenty years. He also served as a vacancy pastor for several churches in both Tennessee and Alabama. Now he’s settled in with us, and has been serving as pastor of Grace Place, an outreach ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, since 2017.

CONTACT: associatepastor@gslcflock.org

DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Katie’s journey in ministry began back in 2010 when she graduated from high school and began volunteering as the high school youth leader at Eternal Shepherd Lutheran Church, where she served in that capacity for nearly 9 years. In 2012, while on a mission trip to Chevak, Alaska (the first of 8 trips to that same village), she was encouraged to think about becoming a DCE…but that thought did not manifest until later.

In the meantime, Katie graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre from Anderson University: South Carolina School of the Arts in 2014. She worked with Shakespeare in the Park in Greenville, SC whilst also working as a waitress and jazz singer for hire at the Keowee Key Country Club. In 2016, after much prayerful consideration, she decided to go back to school to officially pursue youth ministry as a career.

After 2 years of online classes at Concordia University Irvine, she went to Orange County, California for her DCE internship at Salem Lutheran Church in Orange. She graduated in May of 2019 with a Masters in Theology and a Director of Christian Ed. Certification. She lived in CA for about a year and a half until she received her first Call here at Good Shepherd in February of 2020.

CONTACT: dce@gslcflock.org

CHURCH SECRETARY/OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Born and raised in Minnesota, this Northwoods girl is a Southerner at heart. She has lived in Tennessee since 2001, has been a member of Good Shepherd since 2006, and has served as our secretary since 2009. She is married to her best friend, Bobby. They have two teenage children and a family cat

BethAnn’s hobbies include gardening, crocheting, singing, playing clarinet and piano, camping, hiking, and going on adventures with her husband.

BethAnn has been an LCMS Lutheran her entire life. She started volunteering in children’s ministries when she was only 14. BethAnn spent many years teaching and directing several children’s ministry programs here at Good Shepherd. In 2019, she stepped back to work in other ministries at the church. BethAnn currently sings in the praise band and leads women’s Bible Studies.

Favorite colors: Sea glass hues. Favorite foods: Thai, Greek, and Mexican. Favorite Bible verses: Psalm 46 and Colossians 3:23-24.

CONTACT: office@gslcflock.org

THE BLESSING PLACE DIRECTOR

Jill has been the director of our Mother’s Day Out (MDO) program since 2007. Along with taking care of others’ kids, Jill and her wonderful husband also love on their 3 adult children.

She’s always felt called to work with children, and has been doing so for the last 23 years! Between her background in education and hands-on work during mission trips, she brings a lot to the table! Her favorite part of her job is seeing the light in a child’s eyes when they learn something new or realize how much Jesus loves them! Ministry to children and parents is vital, especially in today’s world. Jill also has a heart for equipping parents with tools and truth to help them through the struggles of parenting.

Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

The Blessing Place (GSLC’S Mother’s Day Out Program) has both a Monday/Wednesday and a Tuesday/Thursday program where you can choose a one-day or two-day option. We have classes for 1-yr-olds thru 5th graders. Each age level enjoys Bible lessons, music time, and PE as well. Check it out on our ministries page!

CONTACT: theblessingplace@gslcflock.org

FB: www.facebook.com/blessingplace

AVL DIRECTOR

Tim is a long-time member of Good Shepherd, attended The Lutheran School/BCA, and was confirmed here in the 1990s. He is married to Christina, and they have two children, William and Elizabeth. Tim also works as the Cafeteria Manager and IT Manager at Belvoir Christian Academy.

CONTACT: avl@gslcflock.org

TRADITIONAL MUSIC DIRECTOR

Sandy joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 1988. In 2001, she became Music Director for the Traditional Service and has been blessed to serve the Lord with her musical gifts ever since. She loves bringing people to the Lord through music and enjoys prayer time with the choir and orchestra each week. She also plays flute in Grace Notes, an outreach ministry trio from Good Shepherd which plays at area hospitals and senior centers.

In addition to her ministry at Good Shepherd, Sandy has conducted orchestras, bands, and choirs in her career as a musician/music educator. Sandy is Conductor of the UTC Symphony Orchestra and is Conductor of the CSO Youth Philharmonic. She also volunteers as Assistant Conductor and flutist for the Chattanooga Community Orchestra and the Chattanooga Area Flute Society.

Sandy has received a B.S. in Music Education from Ball State University in Muncie, IN as well as M.M. degrees in Music Education and Conducting from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

As far as what she does for fun, Sandy enjoys spending time with her best friend, Ron, (whom she met in high school band and married in 1978) and their family.

CONTACT: traditionalmusic@gslcflock.org

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC DIRECTORS

Susan was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee and has been a Lutheran all her life. She attended the Lutheran School (now Belvoir Christian Academy) from the 4th grade to the 9th grade. She then continued on and graduated from Tyner High School. Susan went to UTC and studied Accounting. She met her husband, Jay Babb, at the Lutheran School (BCA) and they have been married since 1987. They have two children Derek (27) and Jackson (20).

Susan has had a lifelong love for music and vocal performance. Since high school, she has been a part of several choirs and most recently has become a member of the Scenic City Chorus, competing regionally in Women’s Barbershop.

In 2000, she and her husband, Jay, transferred their membership from First Lutheran over to Good Shepherd to help start the Contemporary Praise Band. Over the years Jay and Susan have had many roles within the band. Susan is currently serving as our Contemporary Praise Band Leader, as well as the acting Secretary of the Servant Council.

CONTACT: contemporarymusic@gslcflock.org

GRACE PLACE MUSIC LEADERS

Justin and Anna Hipp met in college while pursuing degrees in church music.

They married in 2011 and have four children. At Grace Place, Anna accompanies each service on the piano while Justin leads the congregation in song.

They also work together at First Lutheran Church where Justin directs the music program and Anna plays the organ.

Their favorite Bible verse is Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

CONTACT: gpmusic@gslcflock.org

ORGANIST

Sheila Pruehs has been playing the organ for churches since she was 14 years old. Over the years, she has played for Episcopalian and Methodist congregations and now has the joy of working at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Sheila is from the Northwest originally where she grew up in Coeur d’Alene, ID. After graduating from High School, she attended Walla Walla College as a Piano Performance major. That is where she met her husband, Ritchie, and they have been married for 42 years. During that time, their musically-inclined family has grown with 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

She finished her college degree in 2012 at California State University, San Bernardino with a major in Psychology and a minor in Music. She has been teaching piano and Kindermusik for over 30 years. We are so happy to have her talent and heart for music here at Good Shepherd!

CHURCH TREASURER

Vickie and her husband Adolf live in Dayton and have been members of GSLC since April 2003.

Along with serving as our church’s financial secretary, she works as an accountant at Chattanooga Boiler and Tank Company.

Her hobbies include walking, reading, and traveling with friends.

CONTACT: treasurer@gslcflock.org

VOLUNTEER NURSERY SUPERVISOR

Vivian has been a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church since 2003, and has been working in the nursery for the last 12 years. She really enjoys helping our littlest lambs learn more about Jesus while in the nursery.

Her full-time job is teaching the 2 1/2 - 4 year olds at the e-Kids Learning Center in Chattanooga. Vivian likes to spend her time reading, coloring, scrapbooking, baking, and watching Georgia football. (Go Dawgs!) She also enjoys spending time with her family, her boyfriend, and her two dogs. A few of her favorite things are the color red, pretty roses, and Mexican food.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

CONTACT: nursery@gslcflock.org

CONGREGATIONAL PRESIDENT

CONTACT: president@gslcflock.org

CHAIRMAN OF LAY MINISTRY

CONTACT: layministry@gslcflock.org

CUSTODIAN