Good Shepherd Church, the former Good Shepherd Evangelical United Brethren Church, was founded as a pilot project in rural church unification after the West Virginia Conference and other Evangelical United Brethren officials determined the Point Pleasant Circuit (Mt. Olive, Mt. Zion, Greer & Eckard EUB Churches) would be the logical charge for the project.

On October 5, 1961, a committee of Conference officials and three representatives of each church and the pastor of the charge, Rev. Donald Pringle, met to formulate the plan and basis of the union. The representatives were: from Eckard Chapel – Glen Holland, James Langdon and Samuel Lutton; from Trinity – Mrs. Homer Greenlee, Fred Daugherty and Homer Whittington; from Mt. Olive – Mrs. Otis Randolph, Dewey Barnett & Mrs. Ruth Hunter; from Mt. Zion – Walter Ridenour, Willie McKinney & Loris Pullins.

On December 7, 1961, a meeting of the four churches was held at Eckard Church to discuss the proposed union. The plan and basis of union was submitted to a vote by the congregation on March 18, 1962, at which time it was approved by a heavy majority and the name ‘Good Shepherd’ was chosen. The current site of 19.3 acres, located along Route 2 in Flatrock, was purchased from Kenneth & Anna Anthony for $7,520 in June 1962 to be the future Good Shepherd EUB Church and parsonage. It was estimated that the total development would be near $100,000. Funding for the project came from a $45,000 loan from PP Building & Loan, a $10,000 loan from National Division of Board of Missions of the EUB Church, a $20,000 grant from Women’s Society of World Service, and a $25,000 grant from WV Conference.

A building committee was established. Samuel Lutton was the chairman. Other members included Mrs. Aris Langdon, Mrs. Ernestine Whittington, Mrs. G.W. McKinney, Fred Daugherty, Glen Holland, Dewey Barnett, Loris Pullins and John Hudson. Plans were drawn up by Everett Lutton for the church and parsonage. They were then submitted to a vote by the congregation and approved by nearly 3-1. The Lutton brothers were the contractors for the new building.

The new church was designed to seat 250 people, with an overflow section for at least 100 more. Plans for the basement included a fellowship hall, kitchen and restrooms. There were 10 rooms available for Sunday School and other educational purposes. The parsonage would have 3 bedrooms, a living and dining room combination, a kitchen with breakfast nook, and a full-size basement. During construction, Sunday school was held in each local church while evening services were combined at Eckard Church.

In July 1962, Rev. Donald Lockhart was appointed by the Conference to be the first pastor in the new church. On March 10, 1963, the groundbreaking service was held, and excavation began on June 24, 1963. The church and parsonage were constructed simultaneously. The cornerstone was laid on Sept. 8, 1963. The pastor and his family moved into the new parsonage on Dec. 7, 1963 and the first service was held in the new building on February 2, 1964. The dedication service, led by the Bishop J. Gordon Howard and Conference Superintendent Harry Eckels was held on July 12, 1964.

The new church was the product of both a venture in faith and an attempt to adapt to changing patterns of life and service through the church. Four congregations from four one room churches came together to make the new facilities possible. Good Shepherd EUB Church embraced the union of the four separate churches and growth ensued. This, however, would not be the end of merging faith communities.  In April 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church merged to form The United Methodist Church.

With God’s help, the donations of individuals, and the organizations of the church- the indebtedness was paid in full on Feb 4, 1976, and on July 11 that same year, the 12th anniversary day of dedication, the mortgage-burning service was held.

Other changes occurred throughout the years…

Missionary outreach, known as Women’s Society of World Service, was organized in November 1964. It was reorganized in October 1968 and became known as Women’s Society of Christian Service, and then later as The United Methodist Women.

With the new church, also came a group known as the Ladies Aid. This was the working arm of the church. The group later changed their name to Friendship Circle, and now mainly does hand quilting with the proceeds going to various needs of the church.

Through special funds and individual gifts, several goals, improvements, and additions have continued to be made in the church. Some accomplishments include altar cushions, carpeting, organ, piano, air conditioning, parking lot pavement, bell tower, wheelchair ramp, padded pews, pulpit chairs, flower stands, communion table, copier, new hymnals, basement room divider, picnic shelter, elevator, playground, and many more.

In 2024, with the changes to the UMC Book of Discipline brought about by the General Conference of that year, Good Shepherd decided that it could not align itself with the new theological understanding and direction of the United Methodist Church. The Good Shepherd congregation removed its entire membership from the UMC Church and is now seeking a new independent way forward forged in the traditional values of John Wesley and the early Christian church.  This community of believers has been unswerving in its faith as it has sought to discern God’s call through its many mergers and even severance. Good Shepherd Church remains dedicated to faithful Christian discipleship, mission, and outreach to the community and the world.