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New minister begins at First Christian Church

June 03, 2005

Dr. Jerry Shepard, the longtime pastor of South Elkhorn Christian Church in Lexington, takes the pulpit this week as the new senior minister at First Christian Church in Danville.

Shepard, 54, a native of Kettering, Ohio, spent the past 27 years leading the congregation on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington. After seeing both of his children graduate from high school and start college and completing an expansion project at the Lexington church, he said the time was right for a new challenge in his ministry.

He expects to generate a new spirit of mission and growth to aFirst Christian congregation.

"I'll bring a sense of incredible grace of God that has brought us love, forgiveness, and hope," Shepard said. "First Christian is not a place for pat answers for questions about life and faith. People will be valued and accepted for where they are in faith and who they are. I expect visitors will find this church a place for inspiring worship, growing in faith, developing true friendships and serving God through helping others."

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Shepard's wife, Candy, is a fifth grade teacher in Lexington. Their daughter, Lindsay, is a graduate student at the University of Kentucky. Their son Jacob finished his freshman year at UK.

Shepard will preach his first sermon at Sunday morning's 10:45 worship at the church at 555 Lexington Ave. A reception will follow. He will also deliver the sermon at next Sunday's Brass Band Festival community communion service on the Centre College campus. The service is a tradition led by First Christian, a Disciples of Christ congregation.

Shepard said he looks forward to learning about Danville and finding ways the church can serve people and the community. "I bring a commitment to spiritual growth and to helping people find the ministry for which God created them."

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