PASTOR'S PAGE
Dear Sisters and Brothers at St. Matthews,
My Background:
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My name is Rev. Samuel Sumo Payne. I was born in the Republic of Liberia West Africa in the village of Newtwon. My father, the late Bishop Roland J. Payne, served as the first indigenous bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia.
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In 1987, a family living in Fremont, Nebraska heard about me and my desire to become a pastor through my father. In August of 1989, Harland and Judy Schauer brought me to the United States to give me a new home and a new opportunity to achieve my dream while attending college. While living with this new family at home in Nebraska, I quickly assimilated into the American culture while attending Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. In May 1992 I graduated from Midland with a BA in Psychology, Sociology and Religion.
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In the summer of 1992, I was accepted into the Master of Divinity Program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. I spent the next four years preparing for the Ordained Ministry in the ELCA. In May of 1996, I completed this Master's Degree and was ordained as a minister. Since then, I have served as an ELCA pastor. During the last 18 years, I have served 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 have also been serving as a hospital Chaplain at St. Rita's Medical Center here in Lima, Ohio.
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I continued my education and in August 2014, I completed the Doctor of Ministry Program from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio. I specialized in Congregational Mission and Visionary Leadership.
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In order to better serve in my job as hospital Chaplain at St. Rita's Medical Center, I have also completed special training in Clinical Pastoral Education through St. Rita's Medical Center and OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio. This prepared me for professional Chaplaincy and the National Board Certification with the Association of Professional Chaplaincy and Board of Clinical Chaplaincy Inc.
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My Family:
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I am a single father blessed with three beautiful children. Jonathan Sumo Payne, 11 years old; Judy Yandia Sumo Payne, 16 years old; and Galawulu Sumo Payne, 17 years old. I consider my self a family man who loves taking care of my family and serving God through his church.
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Interest and Habits:
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I love reading literature, attending worship services, participating in Bible study, and searching the prayer life of Jesus in the gospels. I love playing soccer, playing scrabble and fishing. I love enjoying life and laughing at myself when I make mistakes. That really makes me human.
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Stop by the office anytime so we can get to know one another. I am looking forward to working with you as we serve the Lord together.
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Blessing,
Rev. Dr. Samuel S. Payne, Pastor
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