We Still Believe...
In an age of
anxiety
we still believe that peace
comes from Jesus Christ,
the Son of God.
In an age of
doubt
we still believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
In an age of
reason
we still believe that God is at work in the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.
In an age of
confusion
we still believe that the Bible is the Word of God, inerrant and infallible.
In an age of
guilt
we still believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, bringing complete pardon and joy to all believers.
In an age of
change
we still believe in one unchanging God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Our Story
In the 1990s, a group of believers in the Red River Valley desired to start a church on the Fargo side of the Red River. The group made plans, and a pastor was called. Finally, in 1996 a church was planted by God's grace. That year Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church opened her doors for her first worship service.
The Lord Jesus blessed Shepherd of the Valley with growth in the first two decades. Our site eventually transitioned to a permanent worship space (the former post-office building in West Fargo)! Worship is currently held at this building, located at 121 Sheyenne Street, West Fargo, ND, 58078. For a time, Shepherd of the Valley operated a preschool. The school closed in 2019. God blessed many families with this opportunity for children's education.
Christian education didn't stop with the closure of the preschool. Since the church's founding, there has been a strong desire for regular opportunities to grow in the Christian faith: regular Bible classes, Sunday School, Confirmation Class, and much more!
The Fargo-Moorhead area has led to some unique opportunities for ministry. Shepherd of the Valley currently works on a Campus Ministry (Christ on Campus) with Ascension Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN, for local universities such as North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Minnesota State University-Moorhead (MSUM).
Our Pastor
Pastor Dan Sprain was born and raised in the valley of the sun. He attended Arizona Lutheran Academy in Phoenix, AZ, Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. After graduating from the seminary in 2022, he was assigned to Shepherd of the Valley, where he serves.
Pastor and Lana have been married since July 2018 and have two children.
Pastor enjoys spending time with his family, reading history, exploring Fargo, watching local sports, playing golf, and going on walks to neighborhood parks with his family.
Our Church Body
WELS is a group of more than 340,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1,300 congregations across the United States and Canada united by a common faith in Christ’s saving love. We are committed to a common calling—encouraging each other in our faith and sharing God’s gift of a Savior with the rest of the world.
Find more information at wels.net.