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about us

Lutheran Church

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For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

A meeting for prospective members of what would become Shepherd of Peace was held on August 12, 1990. Prior to that meeting, the Mid-South District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod had already purchased the former home of the Methodist church in Maumelle and called Rev. Paul Mayerhoff of Metairie, LA to be the planting pastor. Soon after this meeting, the building was cleaned and painted, the grounds were landscaped, and furnishings were purchased for the new congregation. Soon the name Shepherd of Peace was chosen.

The first formal gathering of Shepherd of Peace was a Bible Study on the topic of friendship that began on October 10, 1990. The first worship service was held on November 4 at 10:30am with more than 100 people in attendance. As 1990 came to a close, there was an average of 60 people in services each week. Finally, on April 18, 1991, Shepherd of Peace was officially chartered as a congregation of the LCMS.

In the ensuing years, the congregation outgrew her original building and elected to build a new sanctuary, offices, and Sunday School classrooms right next door. The original building would be repurposed and used as a fellowship hall for Bible Classes and other gatherings.

Pastor Mayerhoff retired in 2012, having served Shepherd of Peace for over 21 years.

Rev. Neil Vanderbush of Pea Ridge, AR was called as the second pastor of SOP and served faithfully for 14 months. Following his departure, Shepherd of Peace endured a three-year pastoral vacancy. During this time, Rev. Timothy Henning served faithfully as the congregation’s vacancy pastor. It was also determined during this period of time that, due to some financial struggles, Shepherd of Peace would enter into a dual parish agreement with Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock. This would allow them to continue to faithfully serve Maumelle and the surrounding area and also aid Trinity in continuing to serve their area. On September 18, 2016, Rev. David Vandercook of Houston, TX was installed as the third pastor of Shepherd of Peace, and the first to serve the new dual parish that includes Trinity, North Little Rock.

Over the years, many have come and gone from Shepherd of Peace as the community of Maumelle continues to change and grow. While the world around us is always changing, God and his Word remain the same. Shepherd of Peace endeavors to continue to preach that Word of God and administer the Sacraments faithfully. To God alone be the glory!

Rev. David D. Vandercook was installed as the pastor of Shepard of Peace (and as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock) on September 18, 2016. Prior to coming to Arkansas, Pastor Vandercook served three different congregations in Texas. Pastor has been married to his wife, Laura, since 2004 and they have been blessed with three lovely children: Allyssa, David, and Kaytlin.

Pastor and his family enjoy camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Pastor is also an avid road cyclist and an amateur auto and bicycle mechanic. In addition to his ministry to Shepherd of Peace and Trinity, Pastor Vandercook also serves as the Circuit Visitor for the Little Rock North Circuit of the Mid-South District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. He is also a regular guest on "Sharper Iron," a radio program on the LCMS's radio station, KFUO.

BIBLE. 

We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books, to be the inspired Word of God, without error, the revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.

GOD. 

We believe in one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God has always been and will always be the only God. There were none before Him and shall be none after him.

THE FATHER. 

We believe that the Father created all things in heaven and on earth. He created human beings out of a love for us and desires a personal relationship with each of us.

JESUS. 

We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Furthermore, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven.

HOLY SPIRIT. 

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict men, making them aware of their sin and the salvation available through Jesus. He regenerates, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service.

MAN.

We believe that man was created in the image of God and sinless, but fell into sin and is therefore lost and subject to judgment. There is nothing man can do to save himself from this judgment, but he can accept the death of Jesus as punishment in place of his own eternal death by acknowledging God and accepting the free gift of salvation.

SALVATION. 

We believe that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ provides the only way of justification and salvation for all who believe. Any who attach additional works of man as a requirement for salvation are false in that they infer Jesus’ death is insufficient in and of itself to save and that human beings somehow have the capability to save themselves.