Laura Prill came to Raleigh in 1988 to find a career. But it was her search for a church that led to a calling. She will tell you that the alive, intimate, and inviting atmosphere of a fledgling Good Shepherd immediately “just felt right.”

Over the years, from Bible Study, to Youth Group, to Prayer Team, and Music Ministry, Laura found herself immersed in a community that forged not only a deeper connection to her faith but also in her relationship with God. However, it wasn’t until she went on her first Via de Cristo retreat that her eyes were opened to the profound love God had for her all along.

Laura explained that while in conversation with the different communities within GSLC, the topic of Via de Cristo (Spanish for “The Way of Christ”), the three-day Lutheran retreat, seemed to keep coming up. The persistence felt purposeful and, after she experienced her first weekend, she understood why. Laura credits immersion within this “Grace-filled” event, with its fellowship, joyful worship, and opportunity to delve into Christian truths, as to when her “relationship with God really started.” Furthermore, it “opened her eyes that God had found her before she even realized it” all those years ago. 

With retirement on her side, Laura’s involvement in the Good Shepherd community continues to thrive, including as a Church Officer. She remains active on the board of directors for Via de Cristo, and maintains that Good Shepherd’s weekly Sunday morning education program keeps her actively present in her faith. Laura’s journey of lifelong formation started with a Bible study and continues to have a beautiful ripple effect throughout her life.

“There hasn’t been any activity I have been involved in,” Laura beams as she continues, “that I haven’t walked away with a new friend.” 

When David and Karen Cope moved to the Triangle, they enjoyed the vibrant life of retirees. Now living closer to family and getting to know their new church – Good Shepherd – they found a place to belong.

In those days, going out was a big part of the way they enjoyed themselves, whether it was dinner and a movie or seeing a show at DPAC. And they explored ways to dive into life at church as well, getting to know the folks near them in the pew and getting involved with Sunday Morning Education.

Through the years, Karen began to develop health issues, and dementia was a part of her diagnosis. As the dementia progressed and David found himself increasingly in the role of caretaker, a friend in the pew, Ginny, made a suggestion: She encouraged them to check out Good Shepherd’s ministry, Memory Café. Ginny thought it might be a way for David and Karen to enjoy the feel of one of their nice nights out, in a safe, friendly, and supportive environment.

Skeptical at first, David and Karen decided to try it, and David was thrilled when Karen absolutely loved the event. They attended each café, enjoying the camaraderie, the food, and the entertainment. “When she didn’t want to do much else,” David said, “she always looked forward to Memory Café.” Even in her final months, when conversation was difficult, Karen enjoyed sitting around the table, smiling at the conversation of others. And being a hearty eater, she loved the delicious food prepared by the kitchen crew.

Karen passed away in 2019.  Then, COVID temporarily closed Memory Cafe.  When this ministry opened again, David wanted to give back to Memory Café, in honor of his beloved spouse. As a thank you for all that Memory Café meant to her, he now plays piano during the dinner portion of the program each time they gather. The music connects in a special way to folks with dementia, and it connects David to that special time with Karen in her final years.

This year, David and Karen would have celebrated 50 years of marriage. We remember her with fondness and give thanks for the ways we can be the real presence of Christ’s love for one another at every age and stage of life. Thank you, David, for sharing your love of Karen with our Memory Café folks in this meaningful way!

Ask Page about her involvement with Good Shepherd and it is readily apparent that for her, to worship God means to serve others. It was during the pandemic, in her search to find the right outlet for this, that Page discovered a match in Good Shepherd, and so much more.

Despite being active members in their former congregation, Page felt something was missing for both her and her family. The parish “had stopped growing, learning,” she explained.  A lack of connection with the new pastor and the start of COVID finally prompted her to explore other churches on YouTube. It was a sermon by Pastor Marsha that hit a chord and led Page and her family to walk through Good Shepherd’s doors in 2021 and dive into volunteering at the Coffee House. From there, Page describes, with a vibrant energy usually reserved for theme parks, her ongoing involvement with Coffee House, Memory Café, and Summerfest, emphasizing the genuine kindness of those she is grateful to serve beside. 

And while it is evident Page and her family have found the dynamic, cross-generational community they were looking for, there’s another element that keeps coming up. “The sermons reinvigorate my faith,” shares Page, “they bring me a sense of closeness in my relationship with God.” Often, one will hit home so hard that she and her family will share a smile and whisper a collective “mic drop!” at its conclusion.

For Page, Good Shepherd’s numerous opportunities allowed her to engage herself and her family with God through inspiring service to others. And the sermons, well, they’re the magic that got her here in the first place and continue to form her faith along the way.

“We were not a churchgoing family,” said Joanna about growing up in Greenwood, Indiana. When she wasn’t busy breaking Indiana high school swim records, she would occasionally attend church with friends, mostly megachurches or Mass with neighbors, never Lutheran. Needless to say, becoming the wife of a Lutheran pastor and Army Chaplain Candidate was not on her radar screen!

Once Aaron entered her life, their shared focus began to take shape.  Because of events in Aaron’s life, he began to consider entering seminary with the eventual goal of becoming an Army Chaplain. “He gave me plenty of outs”, Joanna said. He told me, “If this isn’t what you want, it’s OK. He wanted me to have a choice.” They made the choice together and he entered seminary.

When it came time for Aaron to enter the vicar program as part of his seminary education, Joanna was also completing a master’s degree in counseling. They were both nervous about the city and congregation where they would be placed. Lovingly, Aaron requested sites where Joanna could also facilitate her licensing. “Some of the focus was on me,” she shared. “I think he wanted me to flourish in the program, too.”  

They were both excited – and nervous – in April of last year when all of the vicar candidates were called into the seminary sanctuary to receive their assignments. As soon as they were assigned to Good Shepherd Lutheran in Raleigh, they began preparing their move.

Into her time in Raleigh and at Good Shepherd, Joanna was delighted to find that rather than having to meet expectations of the church, she was allowed to choose her involvement. She sings in the Sanctuary Choir, has volunteered in the nursery and at Camp Agape, and even tag-teams with Vicar Aaron in his effort to develop the young adult ministry. 

“Good Shepherd is providing for my needs, as well as Aaron’s,” she feels. She believes these last stages of his education are meant to solidify their ministry journey together. And, according to Joanna, Good Shepherd has been an ideal environment for both of them. 

Your generosity and sustained giving to Good Shepherd make it possible for us to offer the vicar experience to seminarian families like the Spanglers. Thank you for your support for God’s Church and the ministries of Good Shepherd.