PASTOR'S PAGE
Dear Sisters and Brothers at St. Matthews,
My name is Rev. Samuel Sumo Payne. I was born in Newton, a village in the Republic of Liberia, West Africa. My father, the late Bishop Roland J. Payne, was the Lutheran Church in Liberia’s first indigenous bishop.
In 1987, a family from Fremont, Nebraska learned of my aspiration to become a pastor through my father. Harland and Judy Schauer welcomed me into their home in August 1989, offering me both a new family and the chance to pursue my dreams in the United States. While living in Nebraska, I quickly adapted to American culture and attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. I graduated in May 1992 with a BA in Psychology, Sociology, and Religion.
That summer, I began the Master of Divinity Program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, preparing over the next four years for ordained ministry in the ELCA. In May 1996, I earned my Master’s degree and was ordained. Since then, I’ve served as an ELCA pastor, leading congregations at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wahoo, Nebraska; Bethlehem and Calvary Lutheran Churches in Indiana; New Creation Lutheran Church in Lima, Ohio; and Trinity Lutheran Church in Galion, Ohio. I am also serving as a hospital Chaplain at St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, along with Pastor here at St. Matthew Lutheran Church here in Lima, Ohio.
In August 2014, I completed my Doctor of Ministry from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio, with a focus on Congregational Mission and Visionary Leadership.
To enhance my role as hospital Chaplain at St. Rita’s, I have completed Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Rita’s Medical Center and OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio. This training prepared me for professional chaplaincy and national board certification with the Association of Professional Chaplaincy and the Board of Clinical Chaplaincy Inc.
I am a proud single father of three wonderful children: Jonathan Sumo Payne, Judy Yandia Sumo Payne, and Galawulu Sumo Payne. Family means a great deal to me, and I cherish caring for my loved ones and serving God through the church.
I have a passion for reading literature, joining in worship, engaging in Bible study, and exploring the prayer life of Jesus in the Gospels. I also enjoy playing soccer, scrabble, and fishing. Embracing life and finding humor in my own mistakes keeps me grounded and reminds me of my humanity.
Please feel free to stop by my office anytime so we can get acquainted. I look forward to working side by side with you as we serve the Lord together.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Samuel S. Payne, Pastor
