During an interactive children’s sermon, Pastor Remo Madsen (center) shares a joyful moment with younger members of the congregation. Occasions such as these reflect the church’s deep commitment to nurturing faith in children.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Levittown, New York, makes use of an MIF loan to rebuild after a fire

After a Christmas Eve service in 2020, parishioners at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Levittown—a New York City suburb on Long Island—left church for home. It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following protocols to keep parishioners safe, fans were left running in the church attic. Christmas Day had no services scheduled, typical in many Lutheran churches. Then the attic fans, dating from the 1950s, shorted out, causing a fire.

“I received a call from the fire chief on Christmas Day at around 11:45 a.m.,” remembers the Rev. Remo Madsen, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for 19 years. “When I arrived, 30 to 40 members of the church were already in the parking lot. When it was safe, we went into the church, spent time in prayer, and talked about Jesus.”

The congregation, which calls itself a “Church of Joy,” made a firm decision that day: to rebuild.

“We can recover,” Pastor Madsen said at the time. “We can very much overcome a fire. As St. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:31, ‘What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?’”

Only the foundation of the 70-year-old church building was usable, the rest destroyed by water, smoke and fire. Not destroyed was the congregation’s resolve to continue.

“What are we doing Sunday?” was the next question. Determined to gather in worship, the congregation held a cold Sunday service outside in lawn chairs. “The fire department surrounded us on all sides with ladders and trucks and themselves. It was a special moment of care,” Pastor Madsen recalls.

“Through two years of the pandemic we had all sorts of outside activities using tents,” notes Pastor Madsen, “gathering for coffee and cake, meals, and visiting after church. We had a worship tent and a children’s ministry tent,” he explains. For a while the band played in the church garage the fire had spared.

Eventually, the congregation accepted the offer of a local Presbyterian Church to worship in its social hall for a nominal fee.

Throughout this time, faith communities showed support, with the local Roman Catholic Church giving funds, and individual Baptists, Presbyterians and others donating money for the congregation’s new church building.

Generations come together in faith and love at Good Shepherd.

Paying for a new building in part with an MIF loan

Even with insurance, Good Shepherd needed more funds to complete its vision.

"It was great working with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,” shares MIF Regional Manager Deacon Jerry Johnson. “Their faithfulness and outreach to the community are inspiring, and an example of how a church can share the gospel in many different ways."

Building on existing foundations

The congregation wanted a bigger church, with a new footprint. “We reused as much as we could and poured a small additional foundation to expand out,” shares Pastor Madsen.

The new building—dedicated earlier this year in an exuberant celebration with local political leaders cutting the ribbon in front of more than 300 community members—is more spacious with room for fellowship and a warm meeting space.

Good Shepherd is pleased with the result. “We had meetings with the congregation and asked, ‘What do we want?’ Everyone had a voice, and we designed our own building.”

A coffee bar for all

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is highly active at Good Shepherd with upward of 15 groups meeting regularly. “Our goal is to have a group available every day,” says Pastor Madsen, “accessible if anyone ever needs help.”

During the rebuild, the congregation asked A.A. what would make the building better for their meetings—now held in the sanctuary instead of the church basement. “We are forging a relationship with members,” notes Pastor Madsen. While independent from the church, the congregation’s hope was for the groups to feel like part of the church and part of something bigger. A number of congregation members have connected with Good Shepherd through first participating in A.A.

And what did A.A. suggest? “They said they wanted a coffee bar,” notes Pastor Madsen, “and now we have a wonderful coffee bar in a beautiful lobby built for socializing and mutual support.”

Reaching out to youth, young people, and the entire community

Good Shepherd’s ministry extends to people of all ages, with programs that nurture both faith and friendship. Children’s Ministry and Vacation Bible School keep young ones engaged, while events like the annual Christmas tree lot bring youth together in service and camaraderie. That welcoming spirit extends far beyond youth programs. The congregation works to create a place where anyone can feel they belong—an important mission in a time when many people experience deep loneliness. "During the pandemic the congregation was blessed to have members who were very proficient at Facebook,” Pastor Madsen recalls. “We practiced with Facebook services right before COVID began and at one point had more than 7,000 participants at online services while other congregations were setting up digital ministries.” Even when the building was closed, connection remained a priority through a weekly newsletter and ongoing Bible studies. Today, studying the Bible and Christian education remain central to congregational life, with multiple groups meeting each week and 20 to 30 people gathering regularly for sessions led by Pastor Madsen’s wife, JoAnn. A new Gen Z Bible study has also begun, giving younger people a place to ask questions and explore their faith together.

On Friday nights the lawn at Good Shepherd transforms into a vibrant community hub—drawing up to 700 people for an evening of food, fun and fellowship.

Building community in multiple ways

On Friday nights, the church lawn comes alive with Food Trucks—drawing as many as 700 people for music, a children’s corner, local vendors, and even kid-sized food trucks. Saturday mornings bring the Farmers Market, while October’s pumpkin patch and the November–December Christmas tree lot add seasonal cheer. These gatherings often welcome more than twenty times the number of the congregation itself, creating moments of connection and conversation with the community.

Amid the fun and fellowship is a deeper hope: that these shared experiences might open doors to something more. As Pastor Madsen shares, “The purpose of the church is to make sure every person knows that they are valued and loved by God. Jesus loves them. People are not alone. We are not walking a journey alone. Jesus and Christ’s people are with them.”