A Lutheran church group hopes the congregation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will mark the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by moving into its first permanent worship facility.

“They have been through a lot,” said Dale Mellendorf, project manager with Laborers for Christ, a ministry of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund that helps congregations with limited budgets build their own construction projects.

The deadly storm destroyed the rented building where Good Shepherd members previously worshipped. Laborers are now tackling the interior work on a new 8,720-square-foot steel structure that will provide worship seating for 140, as well as a fellowship hall.

Dale Mellendorf, Laborers for Christ project manager for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Slidell, works on rebuilding the church. (Courtesy photo)

The new church is located on four acres about eight miles northwest of the previous facility.

“Our new building will allow us the opportunity to do more outreach ministry than we can now do,” said Rev. Robert Aumann, Good Shepherd’s pastor whose home also suffered heavy hurricane damage. “Since the storm, our members are always on the lookout for needs that can be met and how we can reach out to the community with the love of Christ.”

Aumann called the five Laborers who have been working for the congregation since April “terrific people.”

“I see them working morning to night, and I know that some of them are older than I am,” Aumann said. “You wonder how they have the strength and the energy to do what they do, but it’s their love for the Lord.”

The 70-member congregation currently worships in the dance hall used by the Tammany Twirlers that offered its facility to Good Shepherd shortly after the storm.

“We ‘do-si-do’ to the altar on Sunday mornings,” said Aumann.

So do the Laborers, who take part in Bible classes and the congregation’s small group ministry. Laborers and Good Shepherd members also join forces at the construction site, especially on Saturdays.

“These people are really good about helping out,” Mellendorf said. “Most of them work during the week, but on Saturdays we get a lot of help.”

The Southern District Church Extension Fund provided loan support for Good Shepherd’s new church.

Laborers For Christ was founded in 1980 and has helped complete more than 730 building projects. To learn more, call toll-free (800) 854-4004, ext. 6446, or visit www.lcef.org/ services/laborers_for_christ.