Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Collinsville, Illinois
1300 Belt Line Road
344-3151      344-3378 (Fax)

Why become a member?

I’m not a Christian. What should I do?

I am a baptized Christian, but not a Lutheran. What should I do?

I’m already a member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Congregation.  What should I do? How do I transfer?

Jesus said, where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them (Matthew 18.20).

Some people say "I don’t believe in the organized church." They might feel this way because they have had a bad experience in the past. Unfortunately, because all Christians are sinners there will be problems in churches.

Nevertheless Christians gather together in churches because they are called to the mission of the church – to make disciples of all nations. That’s hard to do by yourself.

If you help a person become a Christian, you will need to continue to support them. The more people become Christians, the more Christians have to support one another, their children, their older parents, those who are poor and the weak, etc.

The so-called "organized church" is really the church that works together to support other Christians and to share the Christian message with others.

If you desire to be with Jesus as His disciple, you’ll also want to be with His other disciples – helping and supporting them and working to bring others to Jesus.

I’m not a Christian. What should I do?

1. First of all the pastors would like to meet with you and help you with the basics of the Christian faith.

2. When you are ready to profess your faith, we will celebrate that new beginning of faith with Holy Baptism.

3. Next you are encouraged to worship and attend your first Bible study – the Adult Confirmation Class. "Confirmation" means "to affirm with." This 10 week class will prepare you to affirm your faith with the congregation.

4. After the Adult Confirmation Class you are encouraged to continue worshiping, receiving Holy Communion, attending Bible studies, and serving in various ways.

I am a baptized Christian, but not a Lutheran. What should I do?

2.  The next step is to attend our Adult Confirmation Class to learn about the Lutheran confession of faith.

3.  We would ask that you refrain from receiving Holy Communion until completing these classes.

4.  When you complete the Adult Confirmation Class you are invited to become a member of Good Shepherd. You will not be re-baptized.

5.  After becoming a member of Good Shepherd we encourage you to continue in worship, Holy Communion, Bible study, and in serving.

I’m already a member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Congregation.
What should I do? How do I transfer?

1. We invite you to attend worship and Holy Communion.

3.  When you are convinced that GSLC is the right place for you, we will provide for you a "Letter of Transfer Request" that you may send to your former congregation.

4.  As soon as they send the transfer, you will be accepted as a member at the next monthly Church Council meeting.

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