LEAD PASTOR CALL COMMITTEE
Pastor Ben Sheets Accepts Call to be Good Shepherd's Next Lead Pastor
A Prayerful Next Step in Our Journey
Please welcome to Good Shepherd our new lead pastor, Ben Sheets. Pastor Ben accepted the position Sunday morning, April 19 after members of Good Shepherd voted overwhelmingly to extend him a call. Pastor Ben expects to finish up his work at his present congregation in Lana'i City, Hawai'i over the next few months before he begins his new position in June.
A Letter from Pastor Ben
Greetings in the name of the Risen Christ,
When I began this season of discernment for my ministry and my family, a wise friend advised me, "stop asking where you're being called and start asking to what are you being called." In answering that question, I found clarity: I was being drawn into a community with strong shared ministry partners, committed to radical welcome, and bold in proclaiming God's reign in the world.
As that first question nears its answer, I sense a deeper one rising to meet it. I suspect it’s one we are all discerning together.
Could it be that we are called for such a time as this? (Paraphrase of Esther 4:14, All Creation Sings 1003) People of faith have been asking this question as they wrestle with where their faith meets times "such as this." Certainly, there have always been "times such as this" to live through. Yet, the moment we now live through asks more of us than many of us have seen. Daily we encounter broken bodies and broken systems, wounded spirits and a wounded world. We experience suffering in relationships and situations that are incredibly close. We witness suffering that is vast, global, and incredibly complex. All these are moments when our hearts break. Could it be that we are called for such a time as this?
At the root of my faith is the conviction and trust that the God who raised Jesus from the dead, spoke peace to the disciples gripped by fear, and sent them to be known in the world by their love is continuing to speak a word of Good News. God is calling the Church to be a bold community of belonging and grace that bears witness in word and deed to the new life we have been given in baptism. Through our care for one another God is bringing healing to all who are brokenhearted and hope to all who suffer under the weight of a broken world.
As we know all too well, this is no easy call. It sends us into the hardest moments of our lives and to the tombs we assume to be sealed shut. And there we look for stones rolled away, trusting that new life springs forth when we love as Christ loved — extravagantly and without condition. The thought of doing this work in the world by myself is overwhelming. I bet it is for you too. But, thanks be to God, we don't do this work alone.
The Spirit of the Resurrected One sealed upon us in baptism binds us together, shaping us into a community of radical grace. A Church that shows up for one another in the hardest moments of our lives. A Church that believes the Gospel is a word of good news for all creation. A Church that is marked by our baptismal commitments to proclaim Christ in word and deed and to strive for justice and peace. This same baptismal Spirit has, I trust, led me to this moment along with you. I am honored by the possibility of being called to serve in this time and place — at Good Shepherd, a community vibrant in faith and bold in love, for such a time as this.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ben Sheets
Pastor Ben Sheets
Meet the Sheets Family
Ben & Rachel, Eliza (14) and Emilyn (11)
Pastor's Bio
Pastor Ben Sheets has spent the past 18 years in ministry focused on helping people encounter God’s love in Jesus in the real circumstances of their lives. His work centers on building relationships, nurturing faith across generations, and creating spaces where people can experience belonging and purpose within the life of the church.
For the past five years, Pastor Ben has served Lānaʻi Union Church (United Church of Christ), on the island of Lana’i, in Lana’i City, Hawai’i. Here he has worked closely with youth and families, built relationships across cultures, and partnered with the wider community in meaningful ways. Prior to his current call, he served Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Plover, Wisconsin, as both Associate and Lead Pastor. Throughout his ministry, he has brought people together across congregations and denominations, led collaborative community efforts, and helped churches engage questions at the intersection of faith, technology, and ministry in a changing world. His leadership is grounded in shared ministry, strong relationships, and a desire to help congregations discover how God is already at work among them.
Pastor Ben grew up in northern Ohio and received his B.A. from Ashland University and his M.Div. from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. His faith was shaped by his family, adults and mentors who invested in his life, and formative experiences at church camp, where he first experienced the power of community and the importance of belonging. It was also at camp where he met his wife, Rachel, while working together. Rachel earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has worked in education for the past 15 years. Together they have two daughters, Eliza (14) and Emilyn (11). Pastor Ben’s hobbies include cooking, running, and traveling to new places with his family.
History of Lead Pastors at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Pastor Clem Peterson
(1957-1985)
Pastor Dave Swenson
(1986-2002)
Pastor Brent Campbell
(2003-2015)
Pastor Chris Enstad
(2016-2023)
The Call Process in the ELCA
