Pastors

Reverend Christopher Shealy was born and raised in Newberry County. He grew up a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Prosperity where he was baptized and confirmed. As a kid, music was a part of his life in many ways – from singing in church choir and the local community choir, to taking piano lessons and playing percussion in the band. After graduating from Newberry High School in 2005, he decided to attend Furman University in Greenville, SC to pursue music. Graduating in 2009 with a Bachelors in Music Education, he accepted a position teaching chorus and music appreciation at Newberry High School, his alma mater.

Although Christopher had attained a position teaching music, it was not all that he had thought it would be, and he felt led elsewhere. For several years, he worked a few part-time jobs, serving as the choir director at Colony Lutheran Church in Newberry for six years, an afterschool and preschool aide at his home church of Grace Lutheran, and as a math tutor for middle- and high-school students. During these years, people would sometimes ask Christopher if he had ever considered entering the ministry – to which he would usually respond with a hearty laugh and a definite “No.”

In 2016, Christopher began to feel an inward call to be a pastor – to match the outward call he had been hearing from others for some time. This led him to begin seminary in the fall of 2017 at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC (now in Hickory, NC). His education included several varied experiences. In the summer of 2018, he worked as a chaplain intern at Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, SC. A few months later, over Christmas break that year, Christopher was blessed to take a two-week trip to the Holy Land, an experience which continues to shape in many ways how he reads and interprets scripture. From the fall of 2019 to the summer of 2020, he interned at Grace Lutheran Church in Boone, NC with Reverend Steve Troisi, where he gained much experience in a variety of pastoral situations. Graduating in May 2021 with a Master of Divinity, Shealy accepted a call to Mt. Hebron Lutheran Church that same month. He was ordained and began serving at Mt. Hebron in June 2021.

In his free time, Pastor Christopher loves to read, play Pokemon Go, play board games, go on walks, and watch mildly scary (but not gory) television shows and movies. Pastor Christopher lives in Prosperity, SC with his wife Sarah and their two children, Myer (age 3 1/2) and AnnaGrace (age 16 months).

At 12 years old, Clarice began playing the opening hymns for Sunday School at Mt. Hebron Lutheran. Soon thereafter, she moved on to the organ. Clarice began on the old pump organ, a real workout, and then the electric organ. After serving several Lutheran churches as organist and choir director for over 55 years, Clarice retired and returned to Mt. Hebron, her home church, where she assists with music and worship. Clarice remarks that it is a joy to sing and play church music with friends and family at Mt. Hebron.

Around 13 years old Marilyn began playing for Sunday School Opening at Bethlehem Lutheran, her home church. As years went by, she played for services, funerals, and other occasions when needed. Marilyn continued to play until a few years after she married David Bedenbaugh. Marilyn later moved her membership to Union Lutheran and played alternately with others for a few years until her first child was born. Marilyn did not play again until coming to Mt. Hebron in 1993. Marilyn says that although it has been a big responsibility over the years, it has given her another church family and friends and it has been a joy to serve.