Good Shepherd Lutheran Church growing with community

From humble beginnings of meeting in the Wasilla Public Library, the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has grown quickly. Because of that, the church recently broke ground on a new addition.

The church was founded in 1979 and met in the basement of the Wasilla Public Library, where the congregation met for more than two years.

Under Pastor John Strand, the church broke ground in April 1981 at the church's current location at 501 E. Bogard Road, near Wasilla High School.

The building was completed, and was 9,460 square feet. The church had a capacity for 200 people to attend services, but in the last few years, growth has made it necessary to expand.

The congregation simply has outgrown the facilities, and church officials decided an addition to the existing building would be needed to meet the growth.

On June 9, ground was broken on a new addition to the church. The project will add 8,590 square feet to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, giving a total of 18,050 square feet.

The new addition, which is scheduled for completion this winter, will be able to house 350 people for services.

Pastors Duane Hanson and Andrew Arnold are inviting the community to celebrate the church's growth.