Rev. Steven S. Billings
Rev. Steven S. Billings, son of Rev. Stewart and Joyce Billings, was born in Columbia City, Indiana, on November 9, 1959. He graduated from Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1978. The following year he entered the Music Education degree program of Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.
Upon graduation from IPFW in 1983, Rev. Billings accepted a position as Instrumental Music teacher at Bishop Luers High School, a Franciscan institution of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne. He taught for two years before leaving to pursue a position in the music recording industry.
After working actively as a writer/arranger and recording session contractor/conductor for two years, he finally yielded to God's call on his life to enter the seminary. Having been active in his home congregation of Emmaus Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, serving as member, and later as chairman, of the Board of Education for the Christian Day School, he believed it was time to prepare for full-time service to God in His kingdom.
Rev. Billings began his seminary training at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, in the summer of 1987. Upon graduation he received his first Call to St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, where he served for more than nine years, the third longest pastorate in the congregation's 105-year history.
In 2000 Rev. Billings accepted the Call to serve Redford Lutheran Church of Detroit. He found the inner-city setting to be both challenging and rewarding, but is glad to live in a part of the country where not so much of the world is paved.
Pastor Billings and his wife Liz live in Oshkosh and are delighted to have daughter Corey, her husband Eli, and two granddaughters (Libby and Clara) living close by in Neenah.
Rev. Billings accepted the Call to Trinity Lutheran Church and School in July of 2008 and enjoys serving in the church/school environment.
Rev. Keith E. GeRue
Rev. Keith GeRue was born February 19, 1965 in Beloit, Wisconsin. His parents Ronald (Deceased 2012) and Beverly, presented him for the washing and rebirth in Holy Baptism at Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church on March 3, 1965. Pastor GeRue attended Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran School from Kindergarten through 8th grade and was confirmed in the Faith on May 13, 1979.
Pastor GeRue graduated from Rockford Lutheran high school in 1983 and continued his education at Concordia College Wisconsin, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Theological Studies. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in February, 1994.
On June 23, 1990, Pastor married Valerie Fay Virchow of Newburg, Wisconsin. She has a teaching degree from CUW and has taught at Zion Lutheran School, in Beecher, Illinois and Concordia Lutheran School in Springfield, Illinois. Valerie is currently the 7th and 8th grade teacher at Saint John Lutheran School, in Berlin, Wisconsin.
Together Pastor and Valerie have adopted two daughters: Catherine (21) and Elizabeth (16). Catie Is attending Concordia University Chicago; Lizzy is a Senior at Fox Valley Lutheran High School.
Pastor GeRue has served at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Onida, Saint John's Lutheran Church, Agar, and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harrold, all in South Dakota. From there he served Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church in Momence, Illinois. In 2006, he was called as Associate Pastor of Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran, Hamel and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Worden, Illinois, where he also served as Headmaster of the school. From November 2008 through July 2015 Pastor served at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Girard, Illinois. In July 2015, he accepted the Call to Trinity and loves the team at Trinity, with Pastor Billings and the entire faculty and staff.
Pastor GeRue is also a U.S. Army Chaplain. In 2017-2018 he was activated to Fort Hood, Texas. He also has served a deployment to Bucca, Iraq. He currently is assigned to the 646th Regional Support Group in Madison, Wisconsin.