PASTOR 

Reverend Michael Ahlemeyer
pastor@vestavialutheran.org

Reverend Michael Ahlemeyer attended Concordia University in Ann, Arbor, Michigan in the pre-seminary program and went to Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  His vicarage – pastor intern year - was spent at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Waterford, WI which is a suburb of Milwaukee. 

Pastor Ahlemeyer's first assignment out of seminary was to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Terryville, CT.  Pastor Ahlemeyer received the call from Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills to serve as our pastor in 2010.  At that time, he was serving Faith Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

Get to know Pastor Ahlemeyer

PASTOR EMERITUS

Reverend Clifford Hellmers
vestluth@juno.com

Reverend Clifford Hellmers is a native of New Orleans.  His pre-seminary training was at Concordia Junior College in Austin, Texas and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri where he graduated in 1972.  His vicarage year was at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Hickory, North Carolina.  Pastor Hellmers’ first Call was to be Mission Developer for The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olney, Maryland.  In November, 1976 he received the Call to be Pastor at The Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills and served there until he retired in August, 2008.  In retirement Pastor Hellmers coordinates foreign mission projects and substitutes as teacher and preacher.  He and his wife, Dee, have two sons and three grandchildren.

DIRECTORS

Ruth Johnson
Childrens Ministry
ruthinbham@gmail.com

Ruth Johnson is a 1987 graduate of Concordia University, Chicago.  Ruth taught middle school students for 5 years in Florida, Alabama and Texas.  During that time she was also the Music Director for 2 years at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School.   In 1992 Ruth became a stay-at-home mom. 

Ruth moved back to Alabama in 2000.  The following year she began serving as the Director of Children’s Ministry for the Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills.  In 2010, Ruth was named the Music Director for the church.  Ruth’s passion for teaching and leading kids to know God while serving others resonates with her continued service to LCVH in both roles today.

Ruth is married to her husband Keith and enjoys reading, hiking, biking and traveling.  Together, they have 5 grown children and a grandson, Gus, who attends a Spanish immersion school in Minnesota. 

Brooke Heisler
Pre-school and Mother's Day Out
bheisler@vestavialutheran.org

LCVH is excited to welcome Brooke Heisler as the new Mother's Day Out and Preschool Director.  Brooke is a graduate of Auburn University and holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a registed dietitian and began serving as the LCVH Preschool Director in 2018. 

Brooke is excited to bring her background in administration and leadership experience with other church school partnerships to LCVH.  Brooke has a passion for helping churches extend their programs into the community.   Brooke and her husband, Daniel, have two children.

ADMINISTRATION

Leigh Walter
Church Administrator
lwalter@vestavialutheran.org

Amy Alvis

Assistant Administrator
aalvis@vestavialutheran.org

Melanie Goodson

Book Keeper

bookkeeper@vestavialutheran.org