Rev. Jeff Lehn

Greetings from the corner of Wayne and Webster! My name is Jeff and I am grateful every day to be the pastor of First Presbyterian Church. I hail from St. Paul, Minnesota, where I learned to cheer for the Twins and Vikings and ate too many casseroles. My dear parents still reside there, along with a couple of my siblings. I miss the people, but not the winters.

I grew up attending a Baptist church with my family, but had a theological metamorphosis of sorts after college, eventually finding my way to the Presbyterian fold, where I felt I could love God with all of my heart and all of my mind. A few years later, I sensed God’s call to attend seminary to pursue pastoral ministry. I ended up at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where I studied with a diverse and gifted group of professors and students. After graduating, I served Highland Park Presbyterian Church (in a northern suburb of Chicago) for two years before moving to Fort Wayne to begin ministry here at First Pres.

I like reading, biking and writing. I like following sports, sometimes playing them and hanging out with our goldendoodle, Sunny. I like staying in touch with family and friends, spirited conversations over meals and the gratification of yardwork. And I really love Arianne, my spouse and colleague in ministry at First Pres.

As a pastor, I am animated by our God who is for us and calls us to face the uncertain future with aplomb, creativity and grace. When I wake up in the morning, I am excited about what First Pres can be: a haven of rest, a missional community, a culture of discipleship, a body of unity amid diversity and a light to everyone it meets. By God’s grace, we are trudging in that direction together, one act of service, one moment of witness and one prayer at a time.
 

~ Jeff