Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

What Good Shepherd Lutheran Church does

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is a nonprofit religious organization and congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), founded in 1955 and headquartered at 4141 Mormon Coulee Rd., La Crosse, Wisconsin. The church delivers weekly in-person worship (two services September–May, one service in summer), live-streamed services, and a sermon podcast distributed across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube. Its programmatic surface spans more than 30 ministries including Sunday School, Confirmation, High School Youth Group, four music ensembles, Stephen Ministry and Care Ministry, support groups (Cancer Support, Grief), men's and women's fellowships, Vacation Bible School, Faith Webs youth mentoring, weddings, funerals, baptisms, Holy Communion, and a Columbarium and Prayer Garden.

The technology stack is a lightweight, modern nonprofit configuration: a Squarespace CMS website (relaunched June 20, 2025), Vanco Services for online and recurring giving (including the Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement App), SignUpGenius for volunteer scheduling, Google Forms for program registration, Google Analytics for traffic analysis, Mailchimp for email marketing, and a Tawk.help AI assistant for automated FAQ handling. The Broadcast/Media Services (BMS) team operates streaming audio and video infrastructure for worship services.

The operating model is donation-funded with no goods or services exchanged for contributions. Revenue streams include weekly offerings, online giving via Vanco, the Simply Giving® recurring program, stocks and securities transfers, designated funds (Youth, Building Contingency, Memorials, Food for Schools), and special event fundraisers such as the Holiday Marketplace. The church maintains a structured governance model with an Executive Committee, Church Council, dedicated ministry directors, parish nurses, and volunteer-driven operational layers, and is preparing for a leadership transition with the announced retirement of Senior Pastor Harald Bringsjord following 12+ years of service.

Name

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Legal name

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Website

https://gslacrosse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation in La Crosse, Wisconsin, founded in 1955, providing weekly worship, faith formation for all ages, music ministry, care and support services, and community outreach to local residents and remote participants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Worship services
• Religious education
• Faith formation
• Community outreach
• Music ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

La Crosse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional Sunday morning offering collection during worship services, including general offering envelopes and special offering envelopes for designated causes such as World Hunger or other outreach initiatives.
2. Online Giving via Vanco: Secure online giving platform powered by Vanco Services allowing one-time or recurring donations via bank account, debit, or credit card. Also accessible via Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement app.
3. Simply Giving Program: Automated recurring giving program through Vanco that allows members to set up recurring contributions directly from their bank account or credit card.
4. Stocks and Securities: Members can fulfill financial pledges or make additional gifts by donating corporate stock or mutual fund shares, which can be a tax-wise giving method.
5. Memorials and Special Gifts: Designated gifts to honor loved ones and support specific church needs.
6. Building Contingency Fund: Designated fund for unexpected building repairs and maintenance needs.
7. Youth Group Fund: Designated giving to support youth programming, service trips, and mentorship activities.
8. Food for Schools Project: Community outreach fund supporting hungry children in the La Crosse community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that delivers weekly worship services both in-person and via online live streaming, alongside faith formation programs for children, youth, and adults. It operates music ministry programs, care and support ministries, sacramental services (baptisms, weddings, funerals, holy communion), and community outreach partnerships serving the La Crosse, Wisconsin area. The church sustains these ministries through voluntary donations and the Simply Giving recurring giving program.

Product overview

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church offers a comprehensive portfolio of faith-based programs and services centered around weekly worship (in-person and online/livestream), spiritual formation (Sunday School, Confirmation, Youth Group, Bible Study), music ministry (Bell Choir, Sanctuary Choir, Youth Choir, Sounds of Praise Worship Band), care ministries (Stephen Ministry, Cancer Support Group, Care Ministry), fellowship groups (Men's Group, Women's Groups, Game Night, Bunco Night, Burrito Breakfast), and sacraments (Baptisms, Holy Communion, Weddings, Funerals). The church extends its reach digitally through live streaming, podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube), online giving via Vanco, and a new AI-powered Help Center. Key programs include Vacation Bible School, Faith Webs youth mentoring, quilting for Lutheran World Relief, and the Columbarium Garden.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Person Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services held at the church campus for congregation members and visitors, with Holy Communion celebrated on the first and third Sundays.
• Online Live Streaming Live-streamed and archived Sunday worship services allowing remote participation, with on-demand viewing through the multimedia archive.
• Weekly Sermons Podcast Audio podcast of weekly sermons featuring messages from the Senior Pastor and guest preachers, available across major podcast platforms.
• Online Giving via Vanco Secure online donation platform supporting one-time and recurring contributions via bank account, debit, or credit card, including the Simply Giving automated giving program.
• Weekly Email Newsletter (Shepherd's Voice) Weekly email update and monthly newsletter sent to subscribers with announcements, devotionals, community updates, and event information.
• Nursery Care Sunday nursery care for infants through age 3 during both worship services, staffed by volunteers.
• Bible Study / Lydia Circle Monthly Bible study and fellowship group for women combining Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service projects.
• Gloria Dei Youth Choir Children's choir program for grades 2-5 providing musical and spiritual growth with monthly Sunday worship performances.
• Sounds of Praise Worship Band Contemporary worship band providing musical leadership during worship services with piano, acoustic and bass guitars, violin, percussion, saxophone, flute, trumpet, and more.
• Cancer Support Group Monthly support group for adults facing cancer and their caregivers, providing emotional support and confidential sharing.
• Care Ministry / Stephen Ministry Compassionate care ministry including Stephen Ministry (confidential one-on-one Christian support), Helping Hands (meal delivery, transportation), and Lay Eucharistic Ministry (home communion visits).
• Weddings Wedding ceremony coordination including premarital preparation, ceremony planning, and use of the church sanctuary.
• Funeral Services Funeral and memorial service planning with pastoral support, including use of the Columbarium and Prayer Garden for cremated remains.
• Baptisms Baptismal celebrations during Sunday worship services with dedication at the baptismal font in the Sanctuary.
• Holy Communion Holy Communion celebrated on first and third Sundays of each month, with non-alcoholic wine and gluten-free wafers available; open to all baptized Christians.
• Vacation Bible School (VBS) Annual summer program for children ages 4 through 5th grade providing faith-based education, activities, and a free-will offering supper.
• Faith Webs Youth faith formation and mentoring program connecting children with adult supporters from the congregation for year-round relationship building, with fundraising for summer camp and mission trips.
• Quilters for Lutheran World Relief Volunteer quilting group creating quilts donated to Lutheran World Relief for global humanitarian distribution.
• New Membership Orientation Welcome sessions for newcomers held twice yearly with potluck dinner, church tour, and introduction to ministries.
• Columbarium Garden Sacred garden space with secure niches for cremated remains, angel sculpture, and peaceful prayer garden available for interment.
• New Church Website with AI Help Center New church website launched June 2025 featuring improved mobile experience, streamlined giving, AI assistant Help Center, and easy access to worship times, sermons, and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ youth participate in education programs ages 3-18
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)coreOthersGood Shepherd is a congregation of the ELCA, one of the largest Lutheran denominations in the U.S. with over 3.7 million members and 10,000 congregations. The church participates in denominational mission, receives support and resources, and contributes to ELCA's wider church ministry and humanitarian causes globally.
• La Crosse Area SynodcoreOthersGood Shepherd is one of 74 congregations in the La Crosse Area Synod. The synod provides pastoral support, coordinates regional church activities including the annual Synod Assembly, and supports initiatives like the year of discernment toward becoming a Reconciling in Christ synod.
• Lutheran World Relief (LWR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe church's quilting ministry creates quilts for Lutheran World Relief, which distributes them globally to communities in need. The quilting group meets 2nd and 4th Mondays and also accepts contributions from members quilting at home following LWR guidelines.
• Vanco ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationVanco Services provides the church's online giving platform (Vanco Simply Giving) and mobile app (Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement), enabling secure online donations, recurring giving, and text-to-give capabilities.
• La Crosse JayceesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership with the La Crosse Jaycees to collect toys for the Toys for Tots program, benefiting 1,200+ local children in La Crosse County during the holiday season.
• The Salvation Army of La Crosse CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConfirmation students support the Salvation Army canteen through service projects, providing nonperishable food items, sandwiches, brownies, and homemade trail mix to help restock supplies for local neighbors in need.
• Lutheran Campus Ministry (LuMin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partnership supporting college students in their faith journey through campus ministry programs and activities.
• Sugar Creek Bible CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner providing summer camp experiences for youth faith formation. The Faith Webs program helps connect youth with opportunities to attend overnight faith-based summer camps.
• Hintgen Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch supports the local school through the Food for Schools Project (formerly Hintgen Food Program), providing meals to students in need in the La Crosse community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Episcopal Church: A mainline Protestant denomination with liturgical worship similar to Good Shepherd's Lutheran practice. Comparable as a broader mainline body serving similar congregant demographics in similar markets, with overlapping sacramental and faith formation programming.
• Presbyterian Church (USA): A mainline Protestant denomination serving congregants with similar worship rhythms, governance by elders, and community engagement emphasis. Comparable as a broader mainline incumbent in the same religious market space, though operating at national denominational scale.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): The parent denomination of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, with 3.7M members and 10,000 congregations nationwide. Comparable as the institutional umbrella governing operations, doctrine, and shared resources that Good Shepherd depends on, though it operates at vastly larger scale across many congregations.
• United Methodist Church (UMC): A mainline Protestant denomination with comparable weekly worship, Sunday school, music ministry, and community outreach programming. Comparable as a broader mainline incumbent sharing similar congregant demographics, governance structures, and stewardship-based revenue model.

Others

• The Salvation Army USA: A faith-based nonprofit organization with which Good Shepherd partners for community service in La Crosse. Comparable as a faith-rooted organization delivering community outreach (food assistance, holiday support), donation-funded, and operating at multi-state scale rather than as a single congregation.

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS): A Lutheran denomination headquartered in Wisconsin with similar confessional Lutheran identity and overlapping service territory. Comparable as a sibling Lutheran body operating congregations in the same regional market (including Wisconsin) with similar Sunday worship, sacraments, and faith formation programming.
• American Baptist Churches USA: A mainline Protestant denomination with similar congregational polity, weekly worship, and community mission emphasis. Comparable as a similarly-sized mainline body offering baptism, communion, faith formation, and outreach programs in similar markets.
• Evangelical Covenant Church: A mid-sized mainline Protestant denomination with both evangelical and sacramental traditions. Comparable as a similar-sized mainline body offering weekly worship, faith formation, and community outreach programming to congregants with overlapping values and demographics.
• United Church of Christ (UCC): A progressive mainline Protestant denomination with similar theology of radical hospitality and inclusion. Directly comparable as a mainline body competing for the same progressive Christian households in the La Crosse market, with similar worship, faith formation, and community outreach programming.
• Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS): The second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S., serving congregants with similar worship traditions and Lutheran theological identity. Directly comparable as another Lutheran denomination competing for the same Lutheran-faith households in markets like La Crosse, though more confessionally conservative than ELCA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gslacrosse/streams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gslacrosse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Good Shepherd Lutheran Church