In 1956 two Lutheran pastors knocked on doors in Wheeling’s new neighborhoods asking if people were interested in starting a church. The answer was “yes”! The first worship services and Sunday school were held in a local grade school. Within a year – 1957 – the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd was organized with 99 charter adult members and 82 children. The growing congregation met in Wheeling High School until 1960 when our new church building was completed on Elmhurst Road, just south of Hintz Road.
Eleven years later a huge expansion of the building occurred – our current sanctuary or nave was constructed along with Sunday School rooms in lower level, a library/lounge, and office spaces. A Garden of the Resurrection for the scattering of ashes, was incorporated into our lovely courtyard in 2000. Improvements to the property and buildings continue.
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd has a friendly welcoming spirit as we invite others into life with Christ, and willingly serve our neighbors with love. Our members generously donate gifts, food, and volunteer time for community projects and sponsor many outreach ministries. Neighbors may recall our Christian preschool, Children of the Shepherd, that served the surrounding communities for more 40 years.
Our story continues as we move into the future learning & growing in our Christian faith; welcoming and serving others.
Our faith community is filled with the Love of God, the Grace of Jesus Christ, and Peace of the Holy Spirit.
All are invited to come & find comfort, forgiveness, and joy in learning about the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Pastor David Petersen was born in Chicago and grew up in Arlington Heights and Des Plaines. His father was the first called pastor of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights where his family were active members. His mother was a schoolteacher. He has one sister. David graduated from Carthage College with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Education. He spent his junior year in Heidelberg, Germany where he met his wife Susan, who was a special education teacher in Northbrook and currently teaching in Long Grove. Susan and David have been married for 41 years. They have two grown sons, a grandson, granddaughter, and a grand dog.
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Prior to his call, David spent thirty years in the specialized construction field of concrete cutting: first as a pro-cutter, then as a senior project manager in charge of a department, working in everything from nuclear plants, to hospitals, to the steel mills of Indiana, and everything in between.
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Church life as lay leader has included over 25 years active as a leader in the PADS homeless shelter program; Confirmation small group leader; two call committees; capital campaign for building and organ; social ministry committee; mission trip to Mexico; vision formation committee; small group adult Bible study. David enrolled in the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, in Hyde Park, and graduated with a Master of Divinity. His field education included a year of Ministry in Context (mini internship) at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Prospect Heights; Clinical Pastoral Education at Condell Hospital, assigned as chaplain in the Trauma 1 ER; and a full intern year at Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn. Ordained in 2019, his first call was at Zion Lutheran in Belvidere. In 2024, he was called to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Prospect Heights.
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Susan K. Baushke, Director of Music Ensembles, holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in Vocal Performance, Music Composition and Music Theory. Her instruments include voice, piano, flute, recorder and some guitar. Susan has led the Contemporary Praise Band since 2005, and Bell Choir and Adult Vocal Choirs since 2011.
To round out the church’s music ministry, she also works with featured soloists and small ensembles. Susan also performs as a classical vocalists and opera performer, and
runs a non-profit professional opera company.
Dr. Gloria Sun Oh, Director of Music = Traditional Services, has served as organist at Good Shepherd since 2005 and is also Professor at the American Conservatory of Music and at Chanyang Conservatory of Music.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Teresa Swinson, Office Administrator, has been with Good Shepherd since October of 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree from National Louis University in Applied Behavioral Science. Teresa brings many years of office experience and leadership skills to this congregation. She is looking forward to serving this congregation for years to come.