A brief history of Shepherd of the Pines Evangelical Lutheran Church

Shepherd of the Pines is a relatively young church at a mere 40 years old. 

The first worship service was held on Sunday January 14, 1985 at the home of Maurice and Darlene Trumbell (604 W. Overland) utilizing the Order of Morning Service out of The Lutheran Hymnal (p.5). The service was led by Clarence Maaske who read a sermon written by Rev. James Sehner, pastor at First Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, NV.  Bible Class and Sunday School also took place and, of course, a fellowship luncheon following.

Later that year the name Shepherd of the Pines was chosen for the new mission - the runner up name was "Lamb of God."

On October 20, 1985, Pastor Herman Etzold was installed as the first full time pastor of Shepherd of the Pines which then became an official member of the LCMS and its English District in July 1986. Things continued to move quickly. The following year in 1987 land was purchased at the present W. Wade Lane location (3.7 acres), ground was broken in the spring of 1988 and a cornerstone was laid on July 3, 1988

Laborers for Christ constructed the building, which was dedicated on August 7, 1988 and Dr. Oswald Hoffman, Lutheran Hour Speaker, served as the guest preacher.

Following Pastor Etzold's retirement, several pastors served the congregation in an interim fashion until June 1996 when Rev. Todd Arnold was installed as missionary at large and then as the congregation's pastor in November 1998.

On November 17, 2002 ground was broken on a new edition of the church sanctuary and office area, as well as a remodel of the kitchen in the original edition which then became the fellowship hall. The first service in the new sanctuary was July 20, 2003.

Since Pastor Arnold took a call in 2008, Shepherd of the Pines has been served by the following pastors:

• Rev. Daniel Burge (Interim, 2008)

• Rev. Steven de Santo (August 2008 - ?)

• Rev. Larry Bell (2019 - August, 2024)

• Rev. M. Todd Zill (September 2025 - present)