History of Good Shepherd
In the Spring of 1990 the South Central District Mission Board of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod called Pastor Mark Bitter to begin the work of starting a WELS church in The Woodlands, Texas, north of Houston. He and his family moved into The Woodlands in August of 1990.
The first public worship service of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was held at The Interfaith Chapel on October 14, 1990. Thirteen adults and sixteen children were members of the congregation at that time. They continued to meet at The Interfaith Center.
In September of 1991 Good Shepherd became a mission congregation of the WELS. In January, 1994 it purchased a church site at 9191 Cochran's Crossing Drive. Groundbreaking for the first church facility was held on June 4, 1995, and the first service in the new church was on Christmas Eve, 1995. The church and facilities were dedicated to the glory of God on Sunday, January 14, 1996.
Currently the Good Shepherd family has over 200 adults and 75 children. The Lord has blessed our congregation in the past eight years. We pray for his continued blessing on us and through us in the future.
Our Pastors
Pastor Mark Bitter
Since its beginning Good Shepherd has been served by Rev. Mark Bitter. Pastor Mark graduated in 1978 with a Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. Part of the educational requirements for this degree included eight years of study in New Testament Greek, six years of study in Old Testament Hebrew, plus research in Biblical Textual Criticism.
Pastor Mark is also a published author, the Chairman of the WELS Commission on Worship, a member of the WELS Board for Parish Services and the Chairman of it's Planning Committee. He has years of experience in the field of music. He is an accomplished concert organist, a choir director with broad experience, and a composer of contemporary Christian music. This unique mix adds a special quality to the worship and ministry life of our congregation. In the community he serves as the President of The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra board.
Before coming here in 1990, Pastor Mark served as pastor of congregations in South Milwaukee, WI. and New Orleans, LA., and as the Dean of Students of Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, WI.
His wife, Betsy, is the Director of Social Services at Park Manor Health Care Center. They have been married for over 25 years and have three children: Kristin; Peter; and Brooke. The family lives in Panther Creek in The Woodlands
Pastor Andy Retberg
Pastor Andy Retberg joined Pastor Mark Bitter in team ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 2008. Pastor Andy graduated in 2004 with a Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. Part of the educational requirements for this degree included eight years of study in New Testament Greek, six years of study in Old Testament Hebrew, plus research in Biblical Textual Criticism.
Before joining Pastor Mark at Good Shepherd, Pastor Andy served a congregation in Scottsdale, AZ. Pastor Andy served on the Board of Directors at Arizona Lutheran Academy. He enjoys playing sports, the outdoors, spending time with his wife, Amy, and children, Maddox, London, and Olivia.
His wife, Amy, spends her time chasing after and raising their children. The family lives in Alden Bridge in the Woodlands.
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