Good Shepherd Lutheran Church | Grow. Connect. Gain a family. Follow Christ.

A Second Week of VBS at the Camarillo Ranch House, July 19-23.
Good Shepherd hosts two weeks of Christian Day Camp, 9 to 11 a.m.

Need a great morning option for the kids?

Good Shepherd is hosting two weeks of VBS at the Camarillo Ranch House, July 12-16 and July 19-23, in east Camarillo.

Led by 40 adult and college-age volunteers, the Christian Day Camps runs Monday through Friday, from 9 to 11 a.m. The first week features an interactive and biblical learning curriculum called "The Egypt Files" from Answers in Genesis. The second week is Good Shepherd's "VBS II: Sports, Arts and Science Week," July 12-23. Children, between ages 4-11, are welcome.

Cost is $30 per child, $40 for the second week. Scholarships are available (contact Grace Hauptman or Pastor Jim Johnson).

VBS Week I: July 12-16, 9-11 a.m., "The Egypt Files," ages 4-11. Fifth Grade Trek also available, along with a week-long middle school track called "Crave Craze," that offers a youth-group experience for students going into seventh and ninth grade. Cost: $30 per child, Crave and Fifth grade: $50 per student. Individual days pro-rated (Scholarships available).

VBS Week II: July 19-23, 9-11 a.m., "Cultivate Your Gifts: VBS Sports, Arts and Science Week," featuring tracks for basketball, volleyball, science, arts, dance, music and advanced baseball skills." $40 per student, $75 for two, family maximum $100. (Scholarships available).

Highlighted by a college ministry group called The Barnabas Team from a Bible college in Minnesota, Good Shepherd pulls together an event that uses lively music, interactive games, bible stories, loving teachers, genuine friendships and about 150 energetic kids in a safe and secure environment at the Camarillo Ranch House.

You can find the ranch house at 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, just one block north of the 101, north of Village at the Park, near Dawson and Flynn. For more information, contact Grace at the church office at 384-9243, or try us on-line at grace@goodshepherd-church.net.

Sunday Night at the Denham Farm Amphitheater!

Good Shepherd hosts outdoor concert and picnic, Sunday, July 25, 5-7:30 p.m.

There's nothing like an outdoor concert at the Farm.

Good Shepherd welcomes friends and neighbors to the farm home of Rick and Elaine Denham, Sunday, July 25, to the natural amphitheater behind the family farm at 1735 Pancho Road in east Camarillo.

The concert features free food and the music of the Amabassadors, a college quartet from Minneapolis, along with the Teen Challenge Choir from Ventura, as well as the country twangs of Marlene Nord, Skip Straw and Brooks Engelhart, of Camarillo. "Should be a great time," says Good Shepherd pastor, Jim Johnson. "We're trying to cultivate the feel of a family reunion and country party. It's a big part of the neighborhood church approach of Good Shepherd's ministry -- and a great time to support the ministry of Tri-County Teen Challenge," a recovery ministry in Ventura.

Because the event is not publicly advertized, and because it's hosted by the Denham family, there is no charge for the event, no cost for food, and no buying or selling at the property. "This is a church family event, but of course, neighbors and friends of Good Shepherd are all welcome." Parking is plentiful, and an offering will be taken, with proceeds going to Teen Challenge. "I love seeing the miracles that occcur in the ministry of Teen Challenge," says Pastor Jim, who respects Teen Challenge's use of the Bible, prayer and discipleship to bring healing to young people caught in the traps of destructive addictions.

Country Faith Outdoor Concert at the Denham Farm,
two miles south of Camarillo High School on Pancho Road,
1735 Pancho Road, Camarillo, CA, 93012 (Behind the red barn)
5:00 to 7:15 p.m.
For more information, contact the church office at 384-9243 or Pastor Jim at 807-8336.

The Schedule for the event looks like this:

4 p.m. Set up and barbecue.
4:45 p.m. Country Music with Marlene Nord, Skip Straw and Brooks Engelhart.
5:15 p.m. New Jerusalem Worship Band
5:40 p.m. Teen Challenge (Praise music, two stories of faith)
6:15 p.m. The Ambassadors, a college quartet from Minneapolis (contemporary and traditional Christian music).
6:45 p.m. Offering for Teen .
7:00 p.m. Closing with the Ambassadors.

Challenge

New Campus Update: Good Shepherd to start worship gatherings at 380 Arneill Road.

By Pastor James L. Johnson

July 9, 2009 -- Looking to connect with Good Shepherd on Sundays?

After 10 years of leasing local venues, elementary schools, storefront offices and meeting in parks, God has given us a four-building, 3.4-acre campus in the center Camarillo. Worship services begin at the new campus on Sunday, July 11, and will continue there all summer.

Good Shepherd is moving in this weekend!

You can find us for worship at our new campus in central Camarillo, located three blocks north of Highway 101, at 380 Arneill, in the center of the city. Other ministries are placed or scheduled in parks, homes and the Camarillo Ranch this summer, but Sunday worship are schedule for 8:45 and 11:11 a.m. every week at the young church's new campus.

Campus planning team coordinator Brad Schaub on Friday that the worship center is close to ready for Sunday. "Lots happening," said Brad on Friday, while working to beat the July 11 deadline. "The new sign will be installed (on Friday) afternoon... painting in the worship center should be done late (Friday), with touch up and cleanup to be completed (on Saturday). We're trying to seal the floor late (Friday) and (plan to) move chairs in (on Saturday). Screen frames are complete and the fabric can be snapped in place tomorrow."

Grand Opening in two months...

Good Shepherd's Grand Opening for the campus is set for Sunday, Sept. 19, but the public is invited throughout the summer. Our young congregation has grown from an attendance of 40 four years ago to around 160 this summer -- and we're seeing the Lord dynamically change lives and grow our ministry.

For more information, contact the church office at 805-384-9243.

Good Shepherd's student ministry, called "Crave," holds weekly gatherings on Sundays at Woodside Park, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Several small groups augment the Good Shepherd student ministry as well.

Pastor Hiepler Update: Back in Camarillo to recuperate.
Coming back to church this Sunday!

Orville Hiepler (above with Pastor Jim) has been recuperating from brain surgery at an assisted living center in Camarillo since July 3. Doctors in Torrey Pines, California, early in July, examined him and decided he did not need an additional surgery as of yet. But they did approve him to try a little golf. Family and friends are grateful for your prayers.

Pastor Hiepler Update: Back from Scripps Hospital in Torrey Pines, CA
(Updated Friday, July 17, at 3 p.m.)

It was good news again for Pastor Orville Hiepler this week.

Pastor Hiepler, 90, continues to grow stronger, receiving visitors and walking freely. He and wife Florence remain in the Alma Via Assisted Living Center recuperating in Camarillo, a home away from home for the couple, where their son's family lives and where so many former church contacts live.

The long-time Camarillo pastor was re-examined earlier this month and given a free pass to skip a second surgery for the time being. He was treated late in June to treat a brain bleed, and the recovery was slow -- but then his health returned and doctors cleared him to return to Camarillo. Possible emergency surgery was discussed, due to unusually high blood pressure, but after test results came back with stable progress, doctors cleared him to rest and recuperate back at the Alma Via Assisted Living Center on Los Posas.

Doctors expect to see him again at Scripps Green Hospital in Torrey Pines next week.

A good time of recuperation...

The patriarch and friend of Good Shepherd attendended 11 a.m. worship Sunday, July 11, at Good Shepherd's first Sunday on its new campus, located at 380 Arneill. He was instrumental in bringing about the real estate gift of First Lutheran Church to the growing new congregation, earlier this spring. He also attended Good Shepherd's final service at Tierra Linda Elementary School and was warmly welcomed by crowds of friends. Friends at Good Shepherd have been praying for the veteran pastor intensely for the past two weeks. The long-time pastor, who has been living in a private home near a golf course in Fallbrook, California, underwent emergency surgery at Scripps Hospital near San Diego after returning from a week-long convention in Minneapolis.

Retired from full-time ministry since 2003, he has been living in Fallbrook, California, and active serving the Lord in a myriad of ways. Since being ordained in 1945, Pastor Hiepler has been serving in ministry for 65 yrstd, serving congregations in Pasco, Washington; Sacramento, California; and Trinity Lutheran of Hawthorne, Cal. Pastor Hiepler also served as senior pastor at First Lutheran Church of Camarillo from 1978 to 1989, as well as at AFLC church plants in Oceanside, Palmdale and Murrietta. He is father of Good Shepherd elder Mark Hiepler, and a long-time mentor of pastor Jim Johnson.

Orville and wife Florence are recuperating at the Alma Via Assisted Living Center, located at 2500 Ponderosa, in room 110. The residence is located north of Los Posas near the Camarillo hospital in northcentral Camarillo. He and Florence will welcome visitors at Alma Via soon, but friends are requested to limit visits to 15 minutes or less, to alleviate stress. Call the church office at 384-9243 or return to this website for more information.

Current updates will appear on this site.

Worship Times and other connection gatherings

Worship on Sundays, 8:45 and 11 a.m.

Come and join us for worship.

Though providing vibrant and healthy worship gatherings comprises a major part of our focus as a church, Sunday worship is not the only thing we do. Our new churcha holds two worship gatherings on Sundays, at 8:45 (Foundations) and 11 a.m. (Fresh Start). We also nurture and maintain about 30 life groups and outreach team ministries, nourish a daily Bible teaching ministry on radio (KDAR, 98.3 FM, at 12:30 and 10:30 p.m.), and are building a growing children's and youth ministry.

The student ministry, Crave, meets at a local park at 5:30 p.m. Dozens of small groups and ministries are available, including an active and healthy women's ministry (above). Children's outreach at Good Shepherd includes Bible-based small groups for girls and boys, several sports outreaches, occasional day camps at the Camarillo Ranch House, and Sunday morning Bible classes. Women's ministries and support groups are growing each year, and our men's support ministry is building momentum.

Pastor Jim also dreams of someday starting a Shepherd's School of Music at our Arneill Campus, a Bible school for adults called the Shepherds School of Ministry, and a neighborhood outreach ministry soon.

Good Shepherd works side by side with many Bible-teaching churches in Camarillo. We want to bring the gospel of Jesus to a community we love. We're investing in new believers and hoping to reach new residents with the gospel of Jesus Christ. With a stable leadership team and a pastor with a heart to do family-style ministry, we're growing and letting the Lord lead us. As a church and family of friends in Christ, we promote small groups, solid Bible teaching, open arms and grace for the broken.

Worship on Sundays, 8:45 and 11 a.m.

Sunday Schedule and contact numbers
Foundations Service: 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. (Simple liturgy with instrumental ensemble and hymns)
Classes for all ages: 10:00 a.m. (Adult classes: 1. "Luke" 2. "Prayer" for women. 3. "Starting Point.")
Fresh Start gathering: 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (Accoustic and rhythm worship band)
Pre-school and Children's Programming at both 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Church contact number: 805-384-9243
Pastor's Cell: 807-8336
Grand Re-Opening at 380 Arneill: September 19, 8:45 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.

Church on the Move Buys New Campus!

We have a new church campus!

Good Shepherd closed a deal with the purchase the former campus of First Lutheran Church on March 25.

It was both an acquisition and a gift. After seven months of negotiations and prayer, the members of a fading church in Camarillo decided to give its property to a new growing church. Though the price tag was $777,000, it was truly a gift. After years of decline, members of First Lutheran of Camarillo voted to give its four buildings and 3.4-acre property for the cost of its current indebtedness. Though the property was valued at more than $2.5 million, Good Shepherd inherited the campus and obtained a loan from Thrivent for Lutherans in the amount of $900,000, including additional loan monies to improve the worship center and complete deferred maintenance.

The growing Camarillo church plans to begin worshiping on the new campus in July, after three months of repairs, remodeling, painting, new cushioned movable chairs are instlaled and flooring is completed. The congregation's Grand Opening at the Campus is slotted for Sunday, Sept. 19.

One church closes, the other moves in...

"We're grateful for the incredible gift God has provided -- and for the unselfish thing that First Lutheran did to sell us the property at such a good price," said Good Shepherd pastor James L. Johnson.

First Lutheran began in Camarillo in 1954, as an outreach of Ascension Lutheran of Thousand Oaks, and under the direction of founding pastor Lars O. Sunde, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church who retired six years later. The church met at first in the Camarillo VFW on Lewis and Petit, then purchased the current property from the telephone company in 1958. The original church building remains on the property as the current pre-school building. Pastor Wallace Klandrud helped led the congregation to a season of sustained growth , and the sanctuary, with a capacity of 300, was completed in 1967. The fellowship hall, named in memory of founding pastor Sunde, was built in 1973 and the two-story education building in 1985.

Still planning to do alternative outdoor worship gatherings in the community

Even though the church is moving into a new campus at 380 Arneill Drive, Good Shepherd still believes in bringing its ministry to the community. "We move around," says Pastor James L. Johnson, who has served the church since 2006. "We want to bring the gospel to the neighborhoods." We hold Christmas Eve services in a Camarillo Barn at the end of Pancho Road, Good Friday services at the Bella Victorian Vineyard at the foot of the grade, Easter Morning Sunrise services at Mugu Rock Beach on the PCH, and occasional worship gatherings at the Camarillo Ranch House, where our city was founded.

Teaching Series on the Genesis Record
Genesis: From the Beginning to the End on Sundays.

In an effort to teach Bible basics and help jump-start new life re-creations, we're "Taking It From The Top," walking our way through the first book of the Bible.

Starting Sept. 13, we began working our way through the 50 chapters of the first inspired book written by Moses by the Holy Spirit. Pastor Jim Johnson's teaching series will take you through God's record of creation in chapters 1 and 2, the fall of humanity in chapter 3, the world-wide flood that occurred about 1,500 years after creation in chapters 6-8, and the story of Abraham's family, along with the creation of the nation of Israel and the Redeemer that God prepared to send to the world through it, in chapters 12-50. Join us in the journey!

Soul Break Radio on 98.3 FM
Monday to Friday, 12:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Our Radio Ministry, "Soul Break," Monday through Friday, KDAR, 98.3 FM, brings warm and personal Bible teaching to Ventura County listeners from 12:30 to 12:45 p.m. during the lunch hour.

The program is rebroadcast daily from 10:30 to 10:45 p.m. The program features the Bible teaching of Pastor Jim Johnson, the Good Shepherd pastor. Salem Communications editor Greg Hengler is the producer, and Carl Miller is the host. Currently our program is working through a teaching series on the book of Daniel. Find "Soul Break" on KDAR, 98.3 FM, Monday through Friday, at 12:30 during the lunch hour and at 10:30 each night. You can listen live on-line by clicking on

www.kdar.com, or download a program below.

Adult Bible classes and children's programming

Five options are also available for Sunday School from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Excellent children's programming will be a good option for you. Our growing children's program uses an age-appropriate, Biblical curriculum that builds character and helps children grow. Directed by Northwestern College graduate Jared Langness, our children's ministry provides a healthy, safe, and Biblical curriculum that is staffed with people who love kids. A great nursery for pre-schooers is led by former Simi Valley principal Lori Rangel and intern Lindsay Halvorson. Confirmation classes for middle schoolers is taught by Mark Heipler and Greg Seeba.

For adult Bible students, Good Shepherd offers three options:
A women's class on prayer is available for women, taught by Burma Chase, at 10:00 a.m.
A class in Luke runs at 10 a.m. with Bible teacher Steve Hauptman.
"Starting Point: Intro to Ministry at Good Shepherd," is also open between the two worship gatherings. Pastor Jim offers this course to new contacts and friends interested in joining our ministry and/or membership. The eight-part class is held in the worship center and newcomers are welcome to join in mid-stream.

Directions to Sunday worship:

Finding Good Shepherd from the 101 and Santa Rosa
Turn north off the Santa Rosa exit and drive to Woodcreek Road, about .5 miles from the 101. Turn left on Woodcreek past the stop light at the top of the hill by the Mission Oaks Vons Store. Let’s go “back to the basics” of Jesus! For more information, contact Pastor Jim Johnson at pastorjim@goodshepherd-church.net or secretary Grace Hauptman at 384-9243.

Ministry office: 3064 Canopy Drive Camarillo, CA 93012
Mailing address: PO Box 3242 Camarillo, CA 93010
Our church is affiliated with the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations in Minneapolis.
| Email Pastor Jim: pastorjim@goodshepherd-church.net

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