First Church, Birmingham, Richard Shahan resigns

Richard L. Shahan recently resigned from his position as children and families pastor for First Church, Birmingham. Shahan will serve in Frankfurt, Germany, with Bible Mission International (BMI) beginning in January 2014. He will develop teaching materials and discipleship resources for children to be distributed throughout former Soviet countries. He also will help with Hope Center, a BMI orphanage and summer camps. Shahan was on administrative leave from First, Birmingham, since August after his wife, Karen, was murdered July 23. Before serving at First, Birmingham, Shahan served as associate pastor for childhood education and family growth at Shades Mountain Church, Vestavia Hills, and churches in North Carolina and Texas. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., and Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.