Texas Lutheran University has been blessed by congregations that regularly support the Lutheran Advantage Scholarship through annual gifts. Some congregations, like Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, have gone above and beyond by establishing an endowed scholarship to benefit our students and creating a congregational endowment allows the mission and vision of a congregation to live in perpetuity.

Organized in 1963 in Kenedy, Texas, with the merger of St. Matthew Lutheran, Kenedy, Holy Cross Lutheran, Pawnee, and St. Michael’s Lutheran in Ray Point, Texas, the formal organization of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church took place at St. Matthew’s January 6, 1963, at 9 A.M. by Rev. Philip Wahlberg, president of the Texas Synod of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). That was when he received members into the new congregation. The first church council members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church were: August Wieding – chairman, Clarence Haveman –secretary, Everett Booe, Jr. – treasurer, A.E. Kirchner – financial secretary, Louis Gustafson, Sr., Walter Wernli, Sr., William Richter, Sr., Otto Thiele, Jr., and Edward Johnson.

At the time of the organization there were 191 adults and 76 children who had signed the charter. After worship, a congregational meeting was held and Rev. Lester K. Larson was called as pastor. He accepted the call and was installed by Rev. Philip Wahlberg immediately following the congregational meeting.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from its beginnings to the present has been and will continue to be an active, Christ centered, community-oriented congregation. Currently served by Rev. Walter (Wally) Schievelbein '89, Good Shepherd strives to be good stewards with all that has God has placed in our care.

The church membership is honored to have established the Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church Endowed Scholarship.

"The church has been blessed by our relationship with Texas Lutheran University and we pray that many TLU students will be blessed through this gift of love," said Pastor Schievelbein.