Meet Your Coach

Rev. Tom Schaeffer is a seasoned pastor, visionary leader, and church consultant with over three decades of experience guiding congregations through seasons of change and renewal. He currently serves as the senior pastor of Faith United Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio—a vibrant congregation formed from the merger of three historic churches. Tom brings firsthand insight into the spiritual, emotional, and practical dynamics of church mergers, drawing from his own leadership in shepherding that unification process with grace, strategy, and faith.

In addition to his pastoral role, Tom serves as a coach and consultant with Church Doctor Ministries, where he helps churches across the country navigate revitalization, strategic change, and missional clarity. His leadership philosophy is rooted in the biblical call to make disciples who make disciples, and he is passionate about equipping everyday believers to live out their calling in the world.

Tom is known for his engaging teaching style, his ability to cast hopeful vision amid uncertainty, and his deep understanding of the Kingdom potential that can emerge through transitions like mergers. Whether working with small congregations or large ministry teams, Tom combines spiritual wisdom with practical tools to foster unity, trust, and long-term fruitfulness.