Ordination connects dots for Albuquerque church’s co-pastor

Life in ministry came full circle for Sheila Klopfer Oct. 3, when Del Sol Church in Albuquerque ordained her to the gospel ministry. 

Klopfer is co-pastor of the 2-year-old congregation, alongside Bill Sloan, a CBF-endorsed hospice chaplain. With the encouragement of Fellowship Southwest and CBF West, Del Sol Church started in 2019. It worships in a theater at the University of New Mexico film school, across the street from Netflix Studios in the Del Sol Mesa residential development. 

Joining the staff of Del Sol Church marked a homecoming of sorts for Klopfer. She grew up the daughter of missionaries serving on a Navajo reservation and as Christian camp directors in New Mexico. 

For many years, she was a professor and chair of the religion department at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky. There, she was an active member of Georgetown Baptist Church and involved in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Kentucky. During the ordination service, her former pastor, Alan Reddit, appeared via video to affirm her calling and to offer a prayer of blessing on the church. Her longtime friend, Sharon Felton, associate pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Georgetown, preached the ordination sermon.

Fellowship Southwest Executive Director Stephen Reeves attended the service and brought greetings and words of affirmation and support for Klopfer and the church. 

The service capped off a weekend of celebration with Klopfer’s family and friends, which included the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a ride up the Sandia Peak Tramway and shared meals spiced with New Mexico green chilis.