Pastor celebrates 20 years in pulpit

As a youth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the 1960s, Ron Gregg knew he was destined to be a preacher. His journey took him through years of education and two other continents before he became pastor of a quaint country church in Sisters.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is celebrating Gregg's 20th anniversary of pastoral leadership on August 29 at the Camp Sherman Community Hall.

"He was our first full-time pastor," said Bob Wood, a member of the interviewing committee. "We could see the potential in this young preacher, and he has proven to be a wonderful addition to our fellowship. We had a very small budget, so Pastor Gregg worked secondary jobs to supplement his income while our church grew."

Pastor Gregg drove a UPS truck and worked as a painting contractor for his first three years at the church. A 1975 graduate of Penn State University, Gregg received his seminary degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 1980. In France, he did advanced study in conversational French for his first full-time employment as an instructor for the Board of World Mission. He taught missionaries (in French) in Cameroon, West Africa, for the next five years.

The streets of his Pittsburgh childhood, with his brothers and widowed mother, and life in Cameroon are frequent sources of material for Pastor Gregg's sermons. He is not adverse to calling upon his personal life experiences to impart a biblical message.

"Every faith has its story," Gregg said, "and personal experiences help us understand the relevance of that faith in our lives."

Still, he sometimes feels that his personal references may not carry the message. His parishioners feel differently.

"Pastor Ron sparks our interest with anecdotes that lead us to consider, help us relate and even make us laugh," said Julia Hammond. "He tells wonderful stories, and they're based on the Christian ideals of love, forgiveness and service."

Gregg served as a pastor in Silverton, Oregon, for two years. He then returned to advanced studies in the Luther Seminary PhD New Testament program in St. Paul, Minnesota, until 1989. Afterward, he spent a year as a pastor in Eugene, Oregon.

"We had no doubts about hiring him after we met Pastor Gregg," said Olaf Bolken, the council president when Gregg began his leadership. "Several of us even helped him move to Sisters so he could begin his job as our pastor."

In 1992, Gregg married Ellen Wood, a Camp Sherman resident since 1977. Gregg recognized that service to a fellowship did not negate the need to serve a whole community.

Hort Hammond, founder of Sisters Habitat for Humanity, began his campaign for Habitat at the church with enthusiastic support from Pastor Gregg and several members of both the Lutheran and Episcopal churches. Gregg served on the first Sisters Habitat Board of Directors.

He was chaplain of Redmond/Sisters Hospice, a member of Sisters Kiwanis and a board member of Family Access Network. He was also a board member of Sisters Men Against Domestic Abuse and a member of the Community Action Team of Sisters.

He was a founding member of Sisters Ministerial Council, where he is currently chairman for the second time. The organization, which meets to share in prayer as a faith community, acts on behalf of individuals or families in immediate crisis with meal vouchers and temporary housing.

His ability to reach out to other churches and establish faith programs in unity has been exceptional. He was an initiator of a popular ecumenical annual Good Friday service. He was also a host pastor at a St. Francis Day Animal Blessing at the Village Green, with more pets attending, with their owners, than anyone would have imagined.

"These have been fortunate years for us," said Russ Williams, who was part of the selection committee when Gregg was hired. "He has led our church into the vital and active fellowship it is

today."

Alan Guggenheim and his wife, Cheryl, a past council president, noted that Pastor Gregg offered confirmation classes to all Sisters youths, not just Lutherans. He had up to 10 students at one time, including their two

sons.

"He's been a life-giving pastor who is there every step of the way for this church and its families," said Guggenheim. "He and the church have matured in parallel."

Jon Liming, the current church council president, added, "Pastor Ron has provided impetus for a wonderful worship experience."

The church encourages those who want to share in the celebration to join Pastor Gregg with his friends and family at the celebration in Camp Sherman, beginning at noon, August 29.