Pastor John L. Beabout is a native of Canton, Ohio. He earned his undergraduate degree in photography and his graduate degree in Radio and Television at Ohio University. After graduating, he spent the next 31 years as a faculty member and administrator at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Kutztown State College, and Eastern Illinois University. Retiring from University life, Pastor Beabout entered Concordia Seminary St. Louis in the summer of 2001 to begin working on his Master of Divinity degree at age 54. He graduated, and then was ordained and installed as the Pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Waymansville, Indiana on July 17, 2005 where he served as their Pastor until retiring in May 2018. Then in July of 2018, he accepted a one-year call as chaplain and theology teacher at Trinity Lutheran High School in Seymour, Indiana. He also served as a Circuit Visitor for the Indiana District. In May 2020, Pastor Beabout and his wife Stella moved to Fairfield Glade and began serving Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church as their part-time Assistant Pastor. They have five children and eleven grandchildren.
Pastor Keith A. Knupp is a native of Lima, Ohio. He earned his undergraduate degree in Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University. After graduating, he worked for several companies. He was the owner/operator of Payne Pharmacy (Payne, OH) 1988-93. Pastor Knupp entered Concordia Theological Seminary Ft. Wayne in the September 1993 to begin working on his Master of Divinity degree at age 31, continuing to work as a Pharmacist while studying at the Seminary. He graduated in 1998 and then was ordained and installed as the Pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Willowick, Ohio on June 14, 1998, where he served as their Pastor for 7 years. In 2005 he accepted a Call to Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencerport, NY where he served as Pastor for 8 years. In 2013 he accepted a Call to St. Mark Lutheran Church, N. Tonawanda, NY where he served as Pastor for 11 years until retiring in September 2024. He also served as Circuit Visitor for the Rochester West Circuit and Niagara Circuit among other positions of special service in the Eastern District. In September 2024, Pastor Knupp, his wife Shellie, and mother Ginny moved to Sparta, TN. In February 2025 he began serving Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church as their part-time Visitation Pastor. In June 2025 he started taking on additional responsibilities at Shepherd of the Hills. They have two children and seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.