New Faces in Chaplaincy April 2018

The first quarter of 2018 saw two new endorsed chaplains, Sheri Leisman and Dan Carpo, join our ranks. Sam Francart has been recommended as a chaplaincy student as she goes through seminary. We are thrilled to support them as they begin their new ministries!

Sheri Leisman

My name is Sheri Leisman. My husband Ross and I live in Ada, MI where we have raised our four children (ages 21-29, two married) and many farm animals. We continue to keep a small herd of goats. Blessed for 25 years as a stay at home mom, my original background was in Clinical Psychology where I enjoyed working with behaviorally disabled and schizophrenic populations. I graduated in 2016 with an MDiv from Calvin Seminary, completed one unit of CPE from Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus, Grand Rapids, MI, and am now serving as a part-time chaplain with Baruch Senior Ministries. This call is God’s tender weaving of my gifts as an artist and lover of outdoors into the holy and spacious place of chaplaincy.

Dan Crapo

​​​​I work as Chaplain Resident at Fairview Southdale Hospital (Edina, MN). Also, I served for over fifteen years in youth ministry, most recently as a Youth Pastor for eight years in Kentucky, 2004-2012.

My spouse, Ruthanne, and I have been married for sixteen years. We met in class as seminary students at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Ruthannne teaches philosophy and completed PhD studies at the Institute for Christian Studies (Toronto). I am in the final lap of the CRCNA’s Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy. As a family we are blessed to have two sons, Nate (10) and Zeke (8), and participate as members of Grace CRC (Inver Grove Heights, MN).

I am excited to continue learning in CPE and to continue chaplaincy work in the military and clinical settings. When not doing clinical work I enjoy riding my bicycle, hiking, playing and spectating soccer, reading works by Wendell Berry with a cup of coffee, coaching kids’ sports, and I recently joined a running club.

Sam Francart

Samantha Francart, from Muskegon, MI, currently serves as the Youth Director at Ferrysburg Community Church. She has been in the Army National Guard for two years and is going through Chaplain Candidate School as she completes her M.Div. through Regent University. After completing her undergraduate work at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2012, Samantha went on an 11-month mission trip to 11 countries, called the World Race. After returning home, she continued her studies and currently holds her M.A. in Global Studies from Liberty University. She's hoping to use her experience and knowledge, along with the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, to connect with soldiers as she serves as a Chaplain in the Michigan Army National Guard.