Jeff Buck
I am thankful that God directed me to Grace Presbyterian Church, and I am thrilled that the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery has approved me to serve as Grace’s Commissioned Pastor. In simple terms, this means I can serve as Grace’s pastor while I complete the final step before ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a four-month training and chaplaincy experience. I will complete this training at Mercy South Hospital this fall.
God first led me to Grace a year ago to serve as a seminary intern as part of my Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. I served for two semesters before completing my degree this past spring. I do not recall whether the church leadership asked me to stay or whether I asked them if I could stay, but however it happened, it seems to be a “match made in heaven.”
This was clearly God’s plan, not mine. My wife, Greta, and I moved to St. Louis six years ago after my company asked me to return to the United States following four years in Munich, Germany, where I served as head of the European business unit. After many years in corporate leadership, a change in the company’s leadership and direction gave me the opportunity to discern “what’s next”. To my surprise, what was next was not continuing in the corporate world, but leading a local nonprofit, Sanctuary In the Ordinary, entering seminary, and beginning the journey toward ordination.
As I look back, I can see God’s patient hand at work leading me to this point. I grew up as what I would best describe as a nominal Christian, but in my twenties, the Holy Spirit led me to discern what I truly believed. That began a process of, and passion for, theological study. Over time, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and dedicated myself to a life of discipleship.
That life of discipleship led me into many areas of church service. I was called and installed as an elder in my early thirties and served in facility, administration, finance, youth ministry, and adult education. Over time, I discovered a deep passion for teaching and helping people grow in faith. Greta has also been deeply involved in church and mission work, including organizing intergenerational mission trips to Detroit and serving in leadership with a local nonprofit that provided free health care and services.
After decades of personal study, lay teaching, and serving, it was in Germany that God piqued my interest in something more. The pastor of the English-speaking congregation offered me opportunities to preach and lead worship, which I did many times over four years. That experience prompted me to consider a change in “career” in 2022. I hesitantly enrolled in seminary, unsure whether a mechanical engineer, thirty years out of graduate school, could handle the demands of an M.Div. degree. I learned along the way that when God wants something done, the Spirit provides the means.
Seminary was challenging, but it was also an amazing experience that deepened my faith and fueled my passion for preaching and teaching. After leading Sanctuary In the Ordinary for four years, I turned over leadership so I could dedicate myself more fully to serving at Grace and completing the final requirements for ordination.
I am thrilled to share this passion with the congregation of Grace. Greta and I, and at times our dog, Hazel, have been welcomed with open arms. Grace is a delightful group of people who embody Christ’s call to love one another as Christ loved us. This congregation cares deeply for one another and for the surrounding community, and it is committed to worshiping together, growing through lifelong discipleship, and serving in Christ’s name.
One of the gifts of my first year at Grace was helping prepare for the celebration of the congregation’s 100th anniversary. Through that work, I learned more about Grace’s history and came to appreciate the faithfulness, resilience, and generosity that have shaped this church for generations. It was a joy to celebrate the centennial anniversary on May 31 with nearly 200 people in attendance. I am excited to see what God has in store for Grace’s next 100 years, and I am honored to be part of it.
I’ll conclude with a few family details. I grew up in Indianapolis, where my mom still lives. Greta grew up in Minneapolis, and together we have two daughters, one son-in-law, two grand dogs, two grand cats, and one grand hamster. One of our daughters lives in Pittsburgh, and the other lives in Denver. Greta and I are grateful to call Grace our church home and look forward to continuing to serve, worship, and grow alongside this congregation.