Our Past
Our church was first established as a mission of Lorain Baptist Church on June 21, 1959. Less than a year later, on February 7, 1960, it became Amherst Baptist Church and soon after purchased property at the corner of Leavitt Road and Cooper Foster Park Road. In August 1960, construction began on the first church building, and by February 1962 the name was changed to Leavitt Road Baptist Church. The congregation worshiped at that location until May 1971, when the church moved into a newly built facility on Cleveland Avenue, where we continue to gather today. With the move came a new name, Good Shepherd Baptist Church.
Throughout our history, we have been committed to advancing God’s work by helping plant three new churches and opening our doors to support the launch of others. For decades, Good Shepherd has remained dedicated to serving both neighboring congregations and the surrounding communities.
Our Present
Our church is built on three core values: Generosity, Community Engagement, and Gospel Advancement.
We live these out in practical ways. We provide meals year-round through our food pantry and make sure students don’t go hungry on weekends during the school year.
We love being present in our community, whether it’s helping lead worship at the Lorain County Fair, sharing prayer, conversation, and hot chocolate at Amherst’s Miracle on Main Street Parade, or supporting and hosting other local events.
Everything we do flows from our desire to serve people well and point them to the hope of the Gospel.
Our Future
We are committed to deepening our service to the community we cherish. We will continue offering both practical support and spiritual care to everyone who enters our doors. Above all, we will pursue our calling to gently guide people toward the love, healing, and purpose found in a growing relationship with Jesus.
