Sheppard Family Announces Death of Pastor Paul Sheppard

The Sheppard Family has announced the tragic and unexpected death of Pastor Paul Sheppard, head of the Destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont, CA.

Pastor Sheppard, who has been in pastoral ministry since 1982, died Saturday, January 25, 2025, according to a statement jointly signed by first lady Meredith Sheppard and the Sheppard Family.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the transition of my husband and our beloved pastor, Pastor Paul E. Sheppard, who entered into rest on Saturday, January 25, 2025,” the statement from the family read.

Pastor Sheppard has been leading the Destiny Christian Fellowship as the senior pastor since 2009. He was previously senior pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Mountain View, CA, serving for two decades between 1989 and 2009.

Following his call to ministry in 1982, Pastor Paul Earl Sheppard served as an associate psator of West Oak Lane Church of God in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, the Center for Urban Theological Studies, and the Southern CA School of Ministry, from which he earned a Master in Ministry degree and was later honored with a Doctorate of Divinity. Sheppard also hosts the widely popular podcast Destined for Victory, and has authored books including Rebuilding What the Enemy Almost Destroyed, Why God Created Dads, and Build a Bridge and Get Over It.

Sheppard is survived by his wife Meredith, who he married in 1982, and their two children Alicia Greer and Aaron Sheppard.

News of his passing stunned his congregants, most of whom left tribute messages honoring him.

“Pastor Paul laid that word down like no other and my last few times coming have been great,” one such tribute read.

“The best pastor. he taught us in laymens terms, with a sense of humor added in, always rightly dividing the Word of Truth,” another congregant wrote.