"It was a long time coming, but it was worth the wait," says Bruce Wietzke, pastor of Shepherd of the Bay, Lusby, Md. He is talking about the congregation's new building, which was dedicated this year—13 years after this mission started.

God is blessing the congregation's efforts. Since the dedication, weekly attendance has risen, and 15 to 20 new people have shown interest in joining this congregation of 120 souls.

But things haven't been easy. This home mission has had its share of ups and downs, says Wietzke, since 20 WELS people in the area recognized the growth potential of Calvert and St. Mary's Counties in 1997.

The group began meeting in Leonardtown before Wietzke arrived in 1998. Nine months later they relocated to an elementary school in Lusby. As the congregation continued to grow, it bought land in 2003 next to a busy four-lane highway. But the congregation decided not to build immediately. "Part of the reason was we thought that we were too small," Wietzke says. Not long after, five households left the church—mostly due to moves—and attendance dwindled.

In 2008, the congregation determined it was time to build. It only had a limited time left in its rented facility, and according to Wietzke, the congregation felt that it needed to take this step so it could not only build a church facility but continue to build a congregation.

Not long after the congregation decided to build, synod budget cutbacks forced the Board for Home Missions to eliminate the congregation's subsidy. Although Shepherd of the Bay is again receiving synod support, at the time, Wietzke says, it was a leap of faith for the congregation to continue with its plans. Members, however, committed themselves—and considerable funds—to the project.

Giving continued to grow as the congregation worked to keep its plans on track. When a year later the congregation had to raise $70,000 more than it expected—all in a month's time—Wietzke says the congregation put it into the Lord's hands. "The Lord sends all kinds of tests, and he always seems to take you to the edge before showing you that he's building a bridge across," he says. Within a few days the congregation had committed an additional $38,000; a few weeks later, a $45,000 grant came from the Antioch Foundation. "What more can you say other than: 'Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings,' " says Wietzke.

The congregation appreciates the partnership it shares with WELS Church Extension Fund, who provided a $886,000 loan and a $238,000 matching grant to the congregation. "It would have been a near impossibility without WELS CEF," says Wietzke.