Jeff Samelson writes from an unusual vantage point: before he was a pastor, he was a U.S. Foreign Service officer, serving as vice consul at the U.S. Embassies in Singapore and Bogotá, Colombia—an experience that became the organizing metaphor for his first book, Walk This Way.

Drawn to ministry, he returned to the U.S., earned a Master of Divinity from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and pastored Christ Lutheran Church in Clarksville, Maryland—just outside Washington, D.C.—for 21 years, writing occasionally for various publications along the way. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism & Human Rights (Strasbourg, France).

Jeff now focuses mostly on writing, though he still preaches and teaches—he serves as Pulpit Assistant at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grafton, Wisconsin, contributes to Christian Life Resources’ Life Challenges Podcast, and writes the Five-Star Monday Mornings newsletter.

He is married to Charlene, who is from Singapore; their children share the couple’s love of traveling the world. Jeff enjoys finding connections between theology, history, and politics—and wishes he had more time for books and barbecue.