STAFF

Greetings from Pastor Steve Shackelford

We welcome you to be a part of our family here at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lynchburg, VA. We celebrate ministry in this area now for over 60 years! God’s Work! Our Hands!
I am a Baptized child of God being born and raised in Virginia. My dad was a Lutheran Pastor as well. I graduated from Colonial Heights High School and then went on to graduate from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC. Out of college I was an Associate In Ministry (AIM) and worked at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Savannah, GA as a Youth Director. From there I helped with Youth ministry at St. Timothy Lutheran in Hendersonville, TN. Having worked in various jobs over the years I have also lived in West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio and Oklahoma.
Being a lifelong Lutheran I continually give thanks to God for God’s UNCONDITIONAL Love for ALL of God’s Children! Graduating from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.), I became Director of Learning and Fellowship Ministries, Campus Ministry and Youth Ministry at University Lutheran Church and Student Center in Norman, OK. Moving back to the east coast I have pastored at Grace Lutheran in Bessemer City, NC, Glade Creek Lutheran in Blue Ridge, VA, Christ Lutheran in Radford, VA and Faith Lutheran in Bristol, TN. I have also been a Chaplain at the Veteran Affairs in Mountain Home, TN, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Centra Lynchburg Hospital, Virginia Baptist Hospital, New Century Hospice in Roanoke, VA. I am currently the Spiritual Care Coordinator of New Century Hospice in Roanoke, VA and enjoying being with you in ministry here as Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran since 2015!
I also enjoy all kinds of music (especially pop music from the 1980’s), books and movies and am a vegetarian and lover of all of God’s creation! My favorite scripture verse is Philippians 4:4-13.
Rejoice in the Lord Always!
God Loves You!
God Cares for You!