You can expect to see more from Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay in the future. Shepherd of the Bay joined a cohort of 15 other churches as a part of the Thriving Congregations Initiative in the fall of 2022. A group within the congregation has been working hard to explore and understand the contexts in which they minister and to gain clarity about the church’s values and missions. They have done this through one-on-one meetings with members to gain information and ideas for the congregation's future. They are about halfway through the process, and Pastor Jim Honig said last month that the congregation wants to be a beacon of hope for each other and the entire community.

Honig hopes to develop an action plan by March or April so the congregation can focus on several aspects of their ministry over the next year.