SSLC History

Shepherd of the Springs Lutheran Church

Shepherd of the Springs Lutheran Church (SSLC) began as a mission church on the north end of Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1983. Under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Daniel Preus (1990-95), the congregation was guided and nurtured by a strong commitment to preaching and teaching according to the Lutheran Confessions and the official doctrinal stances of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

In 1995, Rev. Robert Schaibley was called by SSLC to be its pastor. He built on the Lutheran confessional commitments of Rev. Preus and nurtured a strong commitment to the exclusive use of historic Lutheran liturgical worship forms and hymnody. Under his leadership, SSLC enjoyed a worship life that includes celebration of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday and observation of traditional Advent, Lent, and major Church Festival services during appropriate weeks. The congregation currently uses the Lutheran Service Book for its worship life and follows the traditional one-year lectionary.

Rev. Dr. Steven Hein was called to SSLC in 1998 as associate pastor and Headmaster of Shepherd of the Springs Lutheran High School (SSLHS). As a bold and innovative educational venture of the congregation, SSLHS opened its doors with a modest enrollment of 6 students in 1998.

While helping to form the Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education in the LCMS and having become an enormous educational success, SSLHS was forced to close its doors for lack of sufficient enrollment and funds at the end of the 2003-04 academic year.

The leasing of worship, classroom, and kitchen space at the current Earl Drive location began in 2009.

On June 30, 2017, Dr. Hein retired his pastoral position but continues to assist SSLC in a diaconal role. On January 28, 2018, due to health issues, Rev. Schaibley retired as pastor of SSLC, becoming Pastor Emeritus.

In October 2018 the congregation called the Rev. Michael Manz to be our Pastor. He accepted and was installed on November 25th, 2018. Rev. Manz is a 2009 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. Unfortunately, Rev. Manz had to resign his call and move to an area that could support the medical needs of his family.

In March 2021 the congregation called the Rev. Jeff Patterson to be our Pastor. He accepted and was installed on May 16th, 2021. Rev. Patterson is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN.

Sunday Divine Service is held at 9:00 am with the education hour (after snacks) following at 10:30 am. When scheduled, mid-week worship services are held (usually on Wednesdays) at 7 pm. The congregation holds quarterly Voters Assembly meetings.

As part of its mission commitment, SSLC has supported Dr. Hein in his advanced pastoral education work in Sierra Leone since 2007. This work is carried out as a part of Project: Pastoral Education, West Africa (PPEWA) by the Concordia Institute for Christian Studies of which Dr. Hein is Director. The congregation also assists this mission by overseeing the financial operations of PPEWA.

Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.

Psalm 33:20-22