A Powerful Start to 2025

Hi Good Shepherd,

Earlier this year, during our Ignite series, we shared a bold vision for the next three years: to be a vibrant Christian movement in the heart of our community, igniting hope and meaningful change for new generations.

As part of that launch, we hosted a Town Hall to talk about key trends we’re seeing at Good Shepherd—particularly around attendance and finances. One of the clearest takeaways from that conversation was your desire for more regular updates on how we’re doing—not just financially, but across the board. So, this is the first of many updates that will help paint the bigger picture, go beyond the numbers, and share some of what you might not hear in worship.

To help keep you informed, we’ve created a Giving Dashboard on our website where you can track trends in both giving and attendance anytime. You’ll find the link at the bottom of this email.

Let’s start with some great news: we’re growing.
Over the first four months of this year, attendance has increased by 13% compared to the same time last year. In April alone (not counting Easter!), attendance rose by 20% at North Oak and 22% at Gladstone. On April 6, we crossed a major milestone—over 800 people worshiped with us on a regular Sunday for the first time since early 2020!

People aren’t just showing up—they’re stepping in.
More and more of you are serving and connecting in deeper ways. After our Serve Expo, 109 of you signed up to serve—and 166 of you actively served in April, a 26% increase over last year. Small groups are growing too, with 362 people currently involved—a 13% rise from 2024. That means more lives being shaped in community and more people growing in their faith.

And Easter? Incredible.
This year, 1,775 people joined us for Easter worship—a 22% increase over last year. The growth among kids was especially exciting: North Oak welcomed 138 children (up 46%), and Gladstone had 35 kids—an amazing 169% increase! On top of that, your generosity helped us raise $18,528.96 for NKC Schools, directly supporting social workers who assist unhoused students and families. That’s what igniting hope in our community looks like!

Generosity is sparking real impact.
Our Ignite series saw 162 giving commitments for 2025 totaling $945,015, a 13% increase in pledged giving—the highest since 2019! Our combined giving for the first quarter was $316,658, which is up 3% from last year. That generosity has allowed us to:

• Provide a 3% salary increase for our incredible staff.
• Install a new HVAC unit and repair the exterior west wall at North Oak.
• Repaint the entire interior of Gladstone.
• And thanks to a special donation, install new flooring and chairs in the Gladstone worship center.

Looking ahead to summer.
There are some exciting opportunities coming up that you won’t want to miss. VBS will be June 22-25 at both of our campuses. It’s always a highlight at Good Shepherd and this year is already shaping up to be amazing! With strong early signups, we know it’s going to be a big week for our kids—which means we’ll need plenty of help to make it unforgettable.

In July, we’re planning an All-Church Serve Day—a chance for all of us to step into the community together and live out our vision in practical, powerful ways. Keep an eye out for more details soon.

We’re also launching something brand new: Summer Workshops. These gatherings will offer a space to grow, learn and deepen your faith throughout the summer in meaningful and engaging ways.

Here’s what I want you to hear clearly:
God’s Spirit is moving in powerful ways at Good Shepherd—and your giving is fueling life-transforming ministry. Every number tells a story. A story of hope. A story of someone finding healing, care, and purpose.

Thank you to each of you who give. Your generosity is making a real difference. I’m deeply honored and proud to be your pastor. And I truly believe—we’re just getting started.

With peace and gratitude,
Matt