Photo Provided Pastor Jerry Wenger stands at a podium at a past event in his Ohio State Highway Patrol chaplain gear.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Pastor Jerry Wenger, 70, dedicated more than 30 years of his life to his church, being a chaplain for different organizations, running men’s Bible studies and developing a ministry to provide food for children.

Now, he is moving on to the next chapter of his life. Wenger retired from his ministry at East Richland Evangelical Friends Church in St. Clairsville on June 30 after 36 years of service.

“The whole role of a pastor is to be a servant, a servant of Christ to the people,” Wenger said. “That’s who we are. And we are just blessed to have been a part of that great church.”

The church bestowed many different titles on Wenger throughout his ministry, including assistant pastor, associate pastor, executive pastor and finally senior pastor. While Wenger served the church, it completed multiple building projects, including a sanctuary, children’s wing and family life center.

He ran two men’s Bible studies for more than 30 years in his time at the church. Wenger has also been a chaplain for the Union Local football team for many years, providing encouragement to the players and teaching character traits through a ministry of presence.

Volunteering through the chaplains at Belmont Correctional Institution, Wenger taught incarcerated individuals anger management and other philosophies.

While Wenger served the church, the congregation took mission trips to places, mainly Jamaica, to do short-term mission work. The congregation also performed disaster service work, providing relief to places that needed it.

For children who were not able to eat, the congregation developed a backpack ministry that was able to feed over 150 children on weekends, with meals being distributed through their schools. People generously gave, he said, and the congregation helped deliver the food to those who needed it.

Every Sunday he preached to the congregation, glorifying Christ.

“Our goal was to help people have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” Wenger said. “It wasn’t about religion. It was about a relationship. We want them to have a relationship with Christ.”

Before pastoring at East Richland Evangelical Friends Church, Wenger pastored at a church in Gahanna for seven years. He has two kids who are both in ministry as well, one of which is in West Palm Beach in Florida, and the other is in Willoughby Hills.

Although his ministry with the church has ended, Wenger still plans to continue with his other ministries during his retirement, such as being a district chaplain for the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Belmont County Sheriff’s Office. In that role, he provides support and encouragement to officers, usually after a troubling experience such as dealing with a shooting or an accident. He sometimes also provides support to the victims’ families, staying behind the scenes but being there if needed.

Wenger does not know what is going to happen with this big change, but he will continue to do ministries and pray about his next adventures, he said.

“I think it’s going to be, you know, it’s going to be a whole new excitement about the possibilities that are ahead for us,” he said. “You know, I’m going to keep busy — keep busy trying to help churches and help Christians grow in their faith.”

Wenger has done an amazing job, according to his staff, giving his heart to the church. And although the congregation is sorry to see him go, it is excited for the next season of his life, said Pam Skivolocke, executive director of East Richland Evangelical Friends Church.

“We want to honor Jerry in the fact he has just done a really good job,” she said. “Jerry’s favorite scripture is John 3:30, and it’s just more of him, less of me. It’s just where he wants to glorify God and make it more about God than Jerry.”

Wenger expressed his gratitude for the church, saying the congregation and leadership team were some of the greatest people he’s ever been around. Describing its members as loving, supportive and encouraging, he said the congregation loves the Word of God.

Wenger has been helping Pastor Aaron Szloboda, the new pastor at the church, for the past six months, giving him guidance and teaching him. Szloboda came from Southern California, where he pastored at a megachurch. His new role is his first senior pastor position.