Who We Are


Shepherd RBC began as a church small group where a number of families were praying about the prospect of starting a new church near Joliet, a church unified on their Reformed Baptist convictions. To prepare to plant a church, the group joined Living Word Bible Church of Morris as members to be shepherded and overseen by an established local church, and Living Word officially adopted Shepherd RBC as a church plant.


With the help of the Illinois Baptist State Association and the Three Rivers Baptist Association, we began meeting Sunday afternoons in July of 2023 for fellowship, worship, and prayer as we sought to form a core group for our church plant. As other families joined, we started meeting for informal worship, studying Scripture and discussing our convictions as Reformed Baptists.


In May of 2024, we moved from the basement of an office building to our rental space at Westview Baptist Church in Shorewood, where we continued to meet Sunday afternoons for worship and discipleship. We began forming relationships in the community and seeking to reach the lost with the Gospel, and to bring wandering sheep back into Christ’s fold. Over 100 people worshipped with us across this first year!


On June 29th, 2025, we officially covenanted together as a local church with 12 members, including an elder and a deacon. Through every trial and triumph, the Lord has been abundantly gracious and kind to us, and we are excited to see what He will continue to do in us and through us for years to come!

Our Leadership

  • Pastor Luke Schmeltzer

    Luke Schmeltzer is our elder and full-time pastor/church planter. He has been leading Bible studies, preaching, and serving in various ministry capacities since 2017 and earned a Masters of Divinity from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary in 2025. Luke and his wife Jess are residents of Crest Hill with their two daughters, Olivia and Annabelle. Luke is passionate about sound doctrine lived out in love to God and neighbor.

  • Deacon Landon J.

    Landon J. is our deacon, who joined Shepherd at the start of the church planting process. He earned a Masters of Theological Studies from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary in 2023 and has been married to Hannah since 2024. He has worked in a variety of roles in Christian camps and is currently fundraising to be a missionary with Live Global. Landon is grateful for the opportunity to serve the body of Christ in any way he can.