Greetings Springfield Grace United Methodist Church!
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! As I write to you today in this the first of what will be many installments of our church newsletter to come, my heart is full of gratitude and hope. It is both a joy and a sacred responsibility to begin this new chapter with you, and I am very much looking forward to all that God will do among us, within us, and through us.
Transitions, by their very nature, are tender times. There is always a mixture of excitement for what lies ahead and perhaps a little uncertainty, too. But I trust that the same Spirit who has been faithful in our past will be faithful still. We are not beginning this journey alone; we are starting it together, with Christ as our guide and companion.
To tell you just a little about me by way of an introduction, my name is Dale Robert Stufflebeam, but I go by Rob. That in and of itself is but one of a great number of stories I will share with you in the coming weeks and months. I was born in Columbus, and grew up in Logan, which if you know your Ohio geography is located to the southeast of the capital city down US 33, about half-way between Lancaster and Athens. If you’ve ever heard of or visited the Hocking Hills, Logan is at the foothills, and refers to itself as the Gateway to the Hocking Valley.
After graduating high school, I joined the U.S. Air Force, where I served in several locales as a supply warehouseman, later as a recruiter, and finally as a computer technician. When my time in uniform was completed, and after graduating college I went back to work for the Department of Defense, this time as a civilian technician, where I worked for the Defense Information Systems Agency, (in Alabama) and later the Defense Finance & Accounting Service at the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC).
After retiring from government service, I answered God’s call to the ministry, and have served several churches here in the West Ohio Conference. I am a Local Pastor called to the local church, and I truly believe in the power of ministry rooted in community. I love getting to know people, hearing and sharing stories over coffee or lunch, and have a passion for sharing the Word, whether it is through preaching or teaching.
I am married to Amanda Stufflebeam, who is moving into her own appointment here in the Springfield area, serving as pastor to Asbury North Hampton, and Christiansburg United Methodist Churches. We have one daughter; Doree, who lives at home with us, along with our two dogs, Princess Willow, Miss Penny, and our grand-cat, Licorice.
Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to listening to and learning your stories, worshiping beside you, and walking with you in ministry and mission. My prayer is that our time together will be marked by grace, growth, and a deepening love for God and neighbor. May we dream holy dreams, nurture one another in faith, and join our hearts and hands together in the work of the Gospel.
Please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself, send a note, or set up a time to talk. I am eager to get to know you – not just as names in the directory, but as fellow travelers in the journey of discipleship. Thank you for welcoming me with such warmth and hospitality. I already feel deeply blessed to be among you.
In Christ,
Pastor Rob Stufflebeam