The Rev. Ryan D. Beffrey was installed on the Feast of Pentecost, June 4, 2017.
The Rev. Ryan David Beffrey is the son of Richard and Debra Beffrey, and a native of Saginaw, Michigan. He was made a child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism on 17 February 1985. He spent his formative years as a member of The Lutheran Church of the Messiah in Saginaw, Michigan. Pastor Beffrey is an alumnus of the excellent educational system of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, having attended Lutheran schools from preschool through seminary. He began his education at the preschool of The Lutheran Church of the Messiah. He then attended Holy Cross Lutheran School for kindergarten through eighth grade. He received his high school diploma from Valley Lutheran High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Pre-Seminary program in 2008 from Concordia University Ann Arbor. He received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2012.
During Seminary, Pastor Beffrey was a fieldworker under the Rev. Daniel Dahling at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Friedheim (Decatur), Indiana. Zion is not only a charter member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, but her founding predates the founding of the Synod, being established by the German missionary F.C.D. Wyneken. During his third year of seminary study, Pastor Beffrey served as Vicar of Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Detroit, Michigan under the Rev. Fr. Mark P. Braden. Pastor Beffrey was Zion’s first full-time Vicar in over forty years.
On Wednesday 2 May 2012, Pastor Beffrey received the Divine Call into the Office of the Holy Ministry to serve as Pastor of Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He was Ordained at his home church by the Rev. Fr. Mark P. Braden on Saturday 9 June 2012, and was Installed at Mount Olive by the Rt. Rev. David P. Stechholz, Bishop Emeritus of the English District, on Sunday 17 June 2012. In Pastor Beffrey’s five years at Mount Olive, she celebrated several blessings. They returned to the Confessional Lutheran practice of receiving the Lord’s Supper weekly and saw attendance at the Divine Service nearly double. They also restored several community activities, such as Vacation Bible School and community open houses. Pastor Beffrey also led Mount Olive through two anniversaries. In 2012, they celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the merger with Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church. Second, Mount Olive celebrated her one hundredth anniversary in 2015 under the theme “One Hundred Years of Christ Crucified,” celebrating the long-standing theme of both Mount Olive and Gethsemane: “We preach Christ Crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23).
On Sunday, June 4, 2017, the Feast of Pentecost, Pastor Beffrey was Installed as the third Pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church of Dorr, Michigan. Epiphany is a vibrant congregation, and he is eager to build on the faithful foundation laid by the congregation's previous Pastors.
Pastor Beffrey has always been an active musician. He began playing trumpet in grade school and played in ensembles in high school, college, and seminary. He also learned the organ and played for several years at his home church, where he also directed the choir for a time. Pastor Beffrey also spent much time singing. He sang in the Concordia Choir while in college. While in seminary he sang in the Seminary Kantorei under the direction of the Rev. Kantor Richard C. Resch. In those years, the Kantorei released two CDs: Evening & Morning: the Music of Lutheran Daily Prayer and He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!, sacred music for the Easter season. During Vicarage he sang with The Detroit Lutheran Singers. After returning to Fort Wayne he sang with the Fort Wayne Bach Collegium under the direction of the Rev. Kantor Daniel G. Reuning.
On Saturday 13 October 2012, Pastor Beffrey married Ashley, née Reinking, at Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Detroit, Michigan. Their marriage has been blessed with two children: Lydia Mae and Simeon Donald.
During Seminary, Pastor Beffrey was a fieldworker under the Rev. Daniel Dahling at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Friedheim (Decatur), Indiana. Zion is not only a charter member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, but her founding predates the founding of the Synod, being established by the German missionary F.C.D. Wyneken. During his third year of seminary study, Pastor Beffrey served as Vicar of Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Detroit, Michigan under the Rev. Fr. Mark P. Braden. Pastor Beffrey was Zion’s first full-time Vicar in over forty years.
On Wednesday 2 May 2012, Pastor Beffrey received the Divine Call into the Office of the Holy Ministry to serve as Pastor of Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He was Ordained at his home church by the Rev. Fr. Mark P. Braden on Saturday 9 June 2012, and was Installed at Mount Olive by the Rt. Rev. David P. Stechholz, Bishop Emeritus of the English District, on Sunday 17 June 2012. In Pastor Beffrey’s five years at Mount Olive, she celebrated several blessings. They returned to the Confessional Lutheran practice of receiving the Lord’s Supper weekly and saw attendance at the Divine Service nearly double. They also restored several community activities, such as Vacation Bible School and community open houses. Pastor Beffrey also led Mount Olive through two anniversaries. In 2012, they celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the merger with Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church. Second, Mount Olive celebrated her one hundredth anniversary in 2015 under the theme “One Hundred Years of Christ Crucified,” celebrating the long-standing theme of both Mount Olive and Gethsemane: “We preach Christ Crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23).
On Sunday, June 4, 2017, the Feast of Pentecost, Pastor Beffrey was Installed as the third Pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church of Dorr, Michigan. Epiphany is a vibrant congregation, and he is eager to build on the faithful foundation laid by the congregation's previous Pastors.
Pastor Beffrey has always been an active musician. He began playing trumpet in grade school and played in ensembles in high school, college, and seminary. He also learned the organ and played for several years at his home church, where he also directed the choir for a time. Pastor Beffrey also spent much time singing. He sang in the Concordia Choir while in college. While in seminary he sang in the Seminary Kantorei under the direction of the Rev. Kantor Richard C. Resch. In those years, the Kantorei released two CDs: Evening & Morning: the Music of Lutheran Daily Prayer and He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!, sacred music for the Easter season. During Vicarage he sang with The Detroit Lutheran Singers. After returning to Fort Wayne he sang with the Fort Wayne Bach Collegium under the direction of the Rev. Kantor Daniel G. Reuning.
On Saturday 13 October 2012, Pastor Beffrey married Ashley, née Reinking, at Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Detroit, Michigan. Their marriage has been blessed with two children: Lydia Mae and Simeon Donald.