Steve Shafer was ordained on the Day of Atonement on Sept. 22, 1977. During their 32 years in the employed ministry they served congregations in both Michigan and Washington. Over the years they have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know people from all walks of life and being a part of their spiritual journey to God’s Kingdom. Special memories have been made attending many church socials and campouts, along with the travel opportunities afforded to them during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Steve also served on the member’s appeal committee for three years, in various responsibilities during the Feast of Tabernacles and was part of the personal correspondence team for several years.

When asked to reflect back on their years in the ministry, Steve and Evelyn had the following thoughts and advice to share:

Steve: “It is great to be a part of God’s family and to have been a small part of so many peoples’ lives. I have learned to not judge by outward appearances, and why God judges our hearts. Some whom I thought were deeply committed were not, and others whom I questioned proved to be deeply committed. My advice: Don’t judge by outward appearances. Allow people time to display their own fruits. As Christ said, you shall know them by their fruits.”

Evelyn: “When we went to work for the Church in 1982, Denny Luker gave us all the new p.m. visits and asked us to visit all the widows and spiritual widows. It was exciting answering questions for the new prospective members. We enjoyed visiting the elderly the most, as they had been faithful for many years, having gone through many trials. Our most memorable experiences have been getting to know brethren from far-away places during the Feast of Tabernacles. The brethren in Kenya were so warm and friendly and eager to learn. They were also very poor by American standards but filled with the love of God. My advice: Love people; love the brethren. No opportunity is more rewarding than that.”

Steve and Evelyn have been married for 47 years and have three children and 10 grandchildren. They both enjoy traveling, reading about history and spending time outdoors, whether it’s gardening, camping, skiing or swimming. Upon retirement they plan to move back to their home in Michigan—where they will be closer to their children and grandchildren—and to visit their extended families in Arkansas and Mississippi.