News Photo by Darby Hinkley Former Air Force Chaplain John Shipman is settling in as the new pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alpena.

Pastor John W. Shipman has a heart for the hurting, and he wants to give them hope through Jesus Christ. He especially feels drawn to helping veterans, having served 30 years in the military himself.

Shipman is the new pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alpena, where he took the reins in April. His focus is building relationships and serving others to help them grow closer to God.

“I have served in over 30 congregational settings,” Shipman said, “but we don’t call them congregations in the military. We call them worship opportunities, if you will.”

Shipman served 30 years in the Air Force — “9-1/2 as an enlisted man down here at Wurtsmith, and the rest of the time as a chaplain all over the world.”

He knew God was calling him to St. Paul, through “prayer, reflection, and the people of God calling me here.”

His leadership style is “relationship-based with a servant vision.”

Shipman’s personal philosophy is based on five words beginning with V: Vision, Visible, Viable, Valuable, Victory.

“Each word reflects life in Christ, love of God and love of neighbor,” he said.

Starting with vision, Shipman explained the value of these V words.

“You certainly have to have vision to be able to do things,” he said. “The scripture says people without vision perish. So, if you have no vision, your congregation will be blind and of course, they will perish.

“The next one is to be visible,” he continued. “To be out in the community so people will see you and know what you are about, how you are, and how Christ is reflected in you.”

He went on to describe what it means to be viable.

“Taking care of yourself, ensuring that things are working out for you,” he said. “And then, you need to be valuable, not just be visible, but doing something that people see that is of value.”

Shipman said good leaders have to get out of their comfort zones and be with people “in the struggle.”

“Last week we were out there picking up trash,” he noted. “That’s just one of the ways you show that you’re just one of the people of God doing the work of God here in this place.”

Shipman explained what victory means to him.

“We talk about victory in Christ,” he said. “For me, victory is when I help a veteran not commit suicide. Or I help a person who has been sexually assaulted find justice. Or someone who is struggling with their humanity, help them to find how Christ calls them to be in this world.”

He said many people may not be aware that there is an epidemic going on in the U.S. with suicidal veterans.

“There is a horrible, horrible epidemic in our nation,” he said. “Eighteen to 25 veterans every day kill themselves. Eighteen to 25. And for me, I am boggled by that. And yet, having been a combat veteran, I understand that being in combat is so much different than life, in real life. It’s surreal and it’s something that will stay with me for a lifetime. So, I’ve told people, if you run into a veteran, give them my card. If they say they won’t come to me, I tell them I will come to them. Because I do not want another death. … I hopefully would save someone from doing a tragic thing,” and from losing their God-given gifts, he said.

He also lives by the statement, “Be great, and help others be greater.”

But he said it’s not arrogant. It’s from the Bible.

Shipman said Jesus in the 10th chapter of Mark, says, “If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all.”

He said to serve others, he is not focused on whether or not they are Lutheran. He is just thinking, “Christ resides in me, and I want to help. There’s a different vision there.”

He and his wife Nena were married on Sept. 28, 1985. They have five grown children — two that are biologically their own, and three that they adopted through social services in California — a sibling group with the same mother, and three different fathers.

“Deployed in Saudi Arabia, John Shipman, an Air Force chaplain, had an airman come to his door looking for help. He told Shipman that he was in charge of the armory, had access to weapons and was thinking about taking his life. Maintaining confidentiality, Shipman worked with the man’s commander to help him get out of the situation, and the airman was allowed to leave,” an excerpt states from livinglutheran.org.

Shipman and his wife are originally from Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Air Force where he earned an associate’s degree from Alpena Community College while stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saginaw Valley State University, a master’s degree in pastoral theology from Trinity Lutheran Seminary and a master’s degree of professional studies from the Air Force University. In the Air Force he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Shipman left the Air Force to attend Trinity University and served as pastor at St. John Lutheran in Grayling and St. Paul Lutheran in Au Gres. He then re-entered the Air Force and will retire with the rank of Lt. Colonel and was most recently Wing Chaplain at Whiteman AFB in Mo.

He has served in many different settings around the world. While stationed in Turkey he led during an attempted coup, the ordered departure of dependents, working with NATO Forces. He served on five deployments, with his last being to Afghanistan in 2018.

His preaching skill is based upon a multicultural approach and preaching in a variety of ecumenical settings. He has led services in nations such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Portugal, and Kuwait as well as many different churches here in the States. His presentation of sermons is without notes and among the congregation.

As a servant leader, he will intentionally unite congregational, pastoral and ELCA leadership within a dynamic process, seeking God’s will for that unique location.