We are happy to welcome Stephanie Peterson as the new Lay Pastor for the Durand Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Stephanie is a lifelong Christian and Seventh-day Adventist. As a child, she learned to love Jesus and His word from her parents, and is thankful for their witness. Growing up in a Christian home and living in Berrien Springs, Michigan, afforded her many opportunities to cross cultures with people from around the world. In addition, she was provided opportunities to participate in Pathfinders, attend Andrews Academy, and interact with seminary students. As a young adult, she became interested in understanding the scriptures more clearly and found she enjoyed attending seminary Sabbath School, carefully listening to professors and theologians discuss the Sabbath School lesson. At that time, the thoughts of becoming a lay pastor did not occur to her. It was not until she began to volunteer at the hospital in Durand that she began to hear Christ calling her into ministry.
One of Stephanie’s first loves was nursing. Her grandmother was a nurse and she desired to follow in her footsteps. At first, Stephanie was an LPN working in long-term care, then became an RN, working in a Family Birthing Center and Public Health before joining the AdventHealth family in 2016. After working in nursing for many years, Stephanie began filling-in as a volunteer chaplain at AdventHealth Durand. She recalls fellow employees telling her that she seemed so happy. As she pondered their remarks, she realized that God was calling her to ministry. On April 21, 2020, she committed her life to God, then enrolled at Liberty University in a religion degree. She graduated summa cum laude in July of 2022, became chaplain at AdventHealth Durand in August of 2022, and Volunteer Lay Pastor of the Durand Seventh-Day Adventist Church in January 2023. She attributes her success to God’s bountiful love and compassion!
Stephanie is married to Douglas Peterson and is thankful for 33 wonderful years they have shared. Together, they have an adult daughter, Melissa, who is married. Aside from her family, Stephanie enjoys reading, flower gardening, and living on a hobby farm with dogs, cats, chickens, and horses. Her most favorite thing is finding peace in prayer.
Laurella Case, Communication Coordinator
with Stephanie Peterson, Lay Pastor for Durand SDA Church