About Rev. Herb Schafale, Visitation Pastor

I was born and raised in Marion, Illinois as the 4th of 5 children in the Oscar & Marie (Mysch) Schafale family. I grew up in a family of active church members in Zion United Church of Christ, Marion, Illinois. I attended public school in Marion, then Catawba College, Salisbury, NC; Fisk University, Nashville, TN and Eden Theological Seminary, Webster Groves, MO where I received the Doctorate of Ministry degree in 1977.

Over the years as pastor I served Bethel UCC, Cahokia, Il (5 1/2 years), St. Paul's UCC, Freeburg, Il (15 1/2 years), St. John Evangelical UCC, Mehlville, MO (5 years), and Bethel UCC, Freelandville, IN (13 years). I retired from full-time ministry in April of 1999 and now live with my wife Bennie at 3831 High Prarie School Rd, Belleville, IL.

We have 51 years of married bliss and 4 children - Mike, a botanist of Raleigh, NC, Mark, an accountant of Columbia, IL, Connie Shook, a high school science teacher of Freeburg, IL, and Carla Morgan, a middle school teacher currently raising her 2 children full time. In addition to the children we count 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

In February of 2000 I started as part-time Minister of Visitation for St. Paul Church. In this role, I regularly visit shut-ins, make some hospital and home visits, occasionally conduct funerals, participate in Sunday morniong worship and perform other ministerial tasks as requested. I know many members of the church and relate easily to persons of all ages.

In a volunteering role, my wife, Bennie, and I have served as a presenting coupole for UCC/Christian Church Marriage Encounter Weekends since early 1983. We have helped present nearly 50 Christian-oriented and experience-centered weekends from coast to coast.