Growing Faith in the Desert
- PSD
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
God is moving in powerful ways at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Pahrump, Nevada through a new ministry called Shepherd’s Lambs—a homeschool co-op and PreK program meeting once a week. What began as a small outreach has become a growing community of children, mothers, and faithful volunteers.
Each Thursday, Pastor Andy leads the group with songs and Bible stories, currently focusing on the New Testament. Children are grouped by age—from babies to elementary students—while moms receive encouragement and support from the church staff.
Thanks to generous grants, the church installed new commercial-grade vinyl plank flooring in the Education Building and sanctuary foyer, replacing old carpet and creating cleaner, safer spaces for ministry. Picnic tables were refurbished for outdoor snack time, and supplies were added to improve classroom functionality.
Attendance has grown from 33 in the fall to 39 in the spring, including 9 moms and 3 staff. The ministry’s impact extends beyond its weekly meetings. A new Lego Club, led by one of the co-op moms, meets monthly as an extension of Shepherd’s Lambs. This year’s VBS will also be primarily planned and led by homeschool moms—many of whom connected with the church through last year’s VBS.
Although only a couple of families have begun attending worship, the ripple effect is evident. On Easter Sunday, 13 children were in worship—12 of them regular attenders. One council member joyfully remarked, “We have a lot more kids in church now, and that’s a good thing.”
From story time to snack time, God is working through the hands and hearts of His people to welcome little ones—and their families—into His fold. Praise the Lord!
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