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Good Shepherd Campus Grand Opening in September
New Campus Celebration coming Sunday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Can you celebrate with us?

God has given us a fresh start, an influx of new friends and a three-acre campus with four buildings -- and Sunday, Sept. 19, we're welcoming the community to an Open House at our new campus, located at 380 Arneill Road, to celebrate the gift. The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and we'd love to have you join us!

The Grand Opening Celebration, Sunday, Sept. 19, includes:

8:45 a.m.   Communion Worship Gathering (Open to all)
9:30 a.m.   Inflatable toys for kids
10:00 a.m. Open House, tours, music, meet and greet staff, Good Shepherd ministry booths
10:15 a.m. Chalk artist Christie Ballman
11:00 a.m. Grand Opening Worship Celebration, 11:00 to 12:15, come as you are.
11:45 a.m. Teaching time, "Moving In, Moving Up, Moving Forward," Pastor Jim Johnson
                  *Special commemoration for gifted horse trainer Meliton Ortiz, 1919-2010.
                  *Appreciation Ceremony to First Lutheran Church, 1954-2010, who gifted the campus to us
12:15 p.m. Complimentary Dinner (Establos Restaurant, catering) Be our guest!
12:30 p.m. Camarillo White Horses (Ynez Parker LaDow, great granddaughter of Adolfo Camarillo, friends and family of the late Meliton Ortiz, curator, trainer and breeder of the Camarillo White Horses).
12:45 p.m. Open House, ministry booths
2:00 p.m.   Closing

Come and join us for this day of honor and appreciation! We're expecting 300 to 500 guests. The Open House is a free, family-friendly event, giving us a chance to share who we are and what God is doing among us. Parking is available in two lots on campus and ample street parking is available on Fulton Street and the neighborhood streets east of the campus, near Dumetz. Access is open from Arneill or Fulton in the back.

For more information, call the Good Shepherd office at 384-9243.

Teaching Series in Genesis: From the Beginning to the End.

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.

In preparation for our campus Grand Opening, Pastor Jim Johnson is teaching through a four-week series on the Primary Values and Goals of Good Shepherd, discovering the roots of the New Testament church in the Book of Acts. On September 19, Pastor Jim brings a message for the Arneill Campus opening, "Moving In, Moving Up, and Moving Forward."

Beginning Sept. 26, we return to the year-long study of Genesis. We're examining the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, in Genesis 41-50.

The young believer was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, but God had His eye on the son of Rachel and Jacob. Soon after arriving into the world's largest city as a slave, Joseph found himself as personal assistant to the head of Pharoah's security guard. Not long after that, Joseph becomes secretary of agriculture. Through trial, turmoil and trouble, Joseph always seems to land in triumph. As we work through the study, we're applying God's truths to our lives. People who follow Christ may not get everything they want -- but God is with them.

This week Genesis 40 reveals "God's Way Out." We'll discover what happens when Joseph, former house manager of the head of Egypt's Secret Service, begins to experience God's miracles while in prison. Two former government leaders sharing a prison block began to grow stressed when God speaks to them in a dream. "Why do you look so worried today?" Joseph asks. "We both had dreams," they said, "but no one can tell us what they mean."

"Interpreting dreams is God's business," replies Joseph.

What happens next can profoundly impact your life. Join us Sunday to learn God's Principles of Intervention in Genesis 40.

We began the study last fall. 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!

New Campus Update: Good Shepherd Grand Opening at 380 Arneill Road.

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 began at the new campus on Sunday, July 11, and will continue there all summer.

We're loving the new campus!

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 getting close for the Grand Opening Sunday, Sept. 19. "Lots happening," said Brad. The new sign has been installed.. .painting in the worship center is completed.... four office cubicles are nearing completion... new paint is on in 11 rooms... carpets have been removed in six rooms... new sealing is on the stained and burnished floor in the worship center, and screen frames are complete and the fabric snapped in place.

"Soon the new large cross will be place in the worship center, too," said Pastor Jim. "We're going to make the cross central at Good Shepherd. The message of the cross, the image of the cross and the power of the cross are going to be crucial for us here.'

Grand Opening in weeks..

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: Continuing recovery in Camarillo
(Updated Monday, Aug. 16)

Pastor Hiepler, 90, continues to grow stronger, receiving visitors and walking freely, needing only minimal assistance. 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.

Both Pastor Hiepler and Florence attended church on Sunday, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15, at Good Shepherd, and he and Florence helped entertain about 20 guests at Souplantation afterward last week.

Doctors expect to see him again at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla later in August.

Though he's not yet playing golf, the long-time mentor of Pastor Jim is going strong -- filled with ideas and encouragement. "I truly enjoy having him around," says Pastor Jim Johnson, who talks to him several times a week.

A good time of recuperation...

Friends at Good Shepherd have been praying for the veteran pastor intensely for the past eight 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.

Cards and letters can be sent to:

Pastor and Florence Hiepler
2500 Ponderosa, #110
Camarillo, CA, 93010-2383
Phone is (805) 388-5277

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.

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 available and Children's Church is offered for children ages 4 to 9 during our 11 a.m. service. Confirmation classes for middle schoolers is taught by Mark Heipler and Greg Seeba.

Directions to Sunday worship:

Finding Good Shepherd in central Camarillo
Good Shepherd is located just a few blocks north of the 101 at 380 Arneill Rd. From Ventura Blvd. or Daily Dr., go north on Arneill. You will find our campus on the right-hand side of Arneill, directly across from Smart and Final and FedEx. 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

Note: If a file does not download completely after clicking on the "Download" link, right click on "Direct Link to File", click "Save Target As" and choose where you want to save the file.

Title	The Agony of Following Christ, Part 3, Col. 1:24-29
Date	02/17/2010
Series	Colossians
Key Speaker	James L Johnson
File Type	mp3
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Description	Jesus agonized for you. And He is able to help you endure, too.