Erik Sheffer

Erik Sheffer says he and his wife Jerusha “had a conviction that it was time to stake our claim” in a Sovereign Grace church. With degrees in tow (he an M.A. in Counseling; she an M.Div.), the couple left Boston and Gordon Conwell Seminary and moved to Maryland in May of 2002. They initially ruled out Covenant Life because of its large size, but “Providence and wise counsel” soon overrode their reluctance, says Erik.

Erik’s involvement at Covenant Life Church ramped up quickly in the summer of 2002 when he took a job as manager of the Audio and Bookstore ministries. In 2004 Erik was asked to oversee all of the church’s ministry teams and leaders. At the same time he led a few Beta groups and a Care Group from 2004 to 2005. Over time, however, the Lord began to make it clear that his role in the church was to change drastically.

“I realized more and more, only through the help of many, that God [was] calling me to pastor his people. Sadly, it was a long road. I didn’t heed God’s call because of sin—fear of man, unbelief, etc. But through God’s grace and the care of many people, I am here today,” Erik says. Erik studied faithfully with the Sovereign Grace Pastors College class of 2006 and joined the Covenant Life pastoral staff in June.

Erik, and the other pastors in the Family Life ministry, oversees care groups, leads discipleship groups, counsels, and develops new resource materials for the ministry. He says he is most passionate about “building with and caring for God’s people,” as well as discipleship, counseling and studying God’s Word.

Erik and his wife Jerusha married in 2000 and have six children—Karis, Jotham, Mercia, Jedidiah, Titus and Jubilee. Erik enjoys spending time with his family, the beach, games, reading and basketball.