Pastor William and Lisa Shifflett
William and Lisa both grew up in the Shenandoah Valley—William just outside Harrisonburg and Lisa in Page County—and they’ve been partners in life and ministry since their wedding on May 28, 1982. They are parents of three grown children and proud grandparents to four granddaughters and two grandsons. The Shiffletts began serving the Reasoning Tree Church family in September 1994, and their steady presence has become a familiar and welcome part of the congregation’s life.
Ministry and Preaching
Pastor William’s preaching has matured into a disciplined, expository approach: he teaches the Bible chapter by chapter, verse by verse, giving careful attention to context and meaning. His sermons often grow out of extended series—some studies have taken weeks or months of careful exegesis. Recent examples include a Journey Through Leviticus in the last half of 2023, a five‑month study of the Sermon on the Mount, and a three‑year walk through the Gospel of John. His wide reading and thoughtful preparation help him address the full range of questions Christians face today.
Teaching, Questions, and Mentoring
A hallmark of William’s ministry is conversation. Question and Answer Sundays and the Q&A time at Wednesday services give people space to raise hard questions and deepen their understanding of Scripture. He also delights in one‑on‑one mentoring—welcoming anyone who wants to grow, whether they attend Reasoning Tree or not. To inquire about mentoring, email pastor@reasontc.org.
Life Beyond the Pulpit
When he’s not studying or teaching, William pursues a handful of lifelong passions. He achieved a personal milestone by becoming a pilot in March 2021, enjoys flower gardening, and loves riding his Valkyrie motorcycle with Lisa. He is also an active writer—12 books in print and more in progress—mostly fiction. William prefers to describe himself as a Christian who writes fiction, rather than a writer of Christian fiction: his stories carry Christian values and are family friendly, avoiding graphic language, sexuality, or violence.
Visit Amazon.com for an overview of each and for reviews. For questions on his writing feel free to contact him at the above email.
