Pastor Jesse was ordained and installed as the pastor of our congregation on Saturday, June 20.  Please join us on Sunday as he leads us in worship at 11 p.m. 

 Short Bio of Pastor OShell and familys
Pastor Jesse and Joy have been blessed with almost 19 years of marriage and seven children: Faith, Ryan, Molly, Sarah, Lucy, Jack, and Lewis. The first six were born in Colorado and baptized at Hope Lutheran Church in Aurora, the congregation they called “home” until now. Lewis was born in Fort Wayne and baptized at Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church, where Jesse was assigned to field work when he began seminary studies at CTSFW in 2022. Joy homeschools the children, and they in turn help with household chores and educating one another.

Jesse was born and baptized in Tacoma, Washington, grew up mostly in California and
Colorado, was also home-schooled, and earned a Bachelor of Music in voice and violin
performance at the University of Denver. He worked as a freelance musician and then in
payroll, HR, and software administration before finally getting the nerve to pursue pastoral studies at CTSFW. He served as a vicar at Faith Lutheran Church in Churubusco, Indiana, before completing the final year of the seminary’s Master of Divinity program.

Joy was born and baptized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; her father, Rev. Rudy Kampia, was
pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, and Joy attended school there. Her father then
answered a call to Redeemer Lutheran in Hyattsville, Maryland, and Joy attended other
Christian schools there and earned a Bachelor of Arts in studio art with an emphasis in textiles from Messiah College in Grantham, PA. Shortly thereafter, she met Jesse on Lutherans Online and they were married by her father at Redeemer in Hyattsville, but made their home in CO. Joy worked as an interior design seamstress until Faith was born, and has sold many unique crocheted art pieces over the years.

Generally, the O’Shells enjoy games, music, reading, LEGO, movies and shows, cooking and baking, and a little exercise and yardwork in good weather. Joy likes baking with sourdough and fresh-milled grain; Jesse and Ryan like to run and play video games together; Faith plays several instruments, sings, and composes her own music; Ryan is interested in math and theology; Molly loves reading, writing, drawing, and music; Sarah has many interests, from running and crochet to art and piano; Lucy is a great reader and loves playing with her siblings; and Jack and Lewis enjoy playing “church,” singing, constructing with DUPLO, and generally being the center of attention.

The O’Shells are so excited and thankful to make their home in Emporia and join the
congregation at St. John the Baptist. God grant that Pastor and his whole family will be a great blessing to you all, as you have already begun to be for them! And may he keep us all in his grace through Christ our Lord.

---