Eternal Shepherd Lutheran Church (Seneca, South Carolina) Records

Eternal Shepherd Lutheran Church began as a mission sponsored by Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Anderson, South Carolina in September 1983. The first Vespers service was held at a savings and loan in December 1983, and the first service as a Mission of Abiding Savior was held at that same savings and loan in March 1984. The congregation was chartered in October 1984. In November 1984, land was purchased for a building. The church property was dedicated in March 1985. Rev. Kenneth A. Graudin was installed as the first pastor on January 5, 1986. Ground was broken for the building on February 25, 1990. The first service in the new facility was held on December 16, 1990, and the Day of Dedication was January 13, 1991. The 10th anniversary celebration was held in September 1994. Pastor Graudin accepted a call to Maryland in February 1996, and Rev. George M. Coggman was installed on March 9, 1997. The sancutuary was restructured in 1998. By 1999, the 1991 mortgage was paid off, and the congregation saw a need for further expansion. Groundbreaking for this espansion took place on May 18, 2000. Dedication of new Fellowship and Sunday School building was on April 29, 2001. The congregation approved establishment of a preschool on May 20, 2001. The Memorial Garden was dedicated on March 17, 2002. The preschool opened in August 2002, and kiindergarten was added in August 2003. The 20th anniversary celebration of the congregation was held in February 2004. Pastor Coffman left in August 1997, And Pastor Hammer was welcomed in November 2008. A vicarage program was added in 2011. Lightning struck the building in August 2012. Groundbreaking for another expansion occurred on March 15, 2015.