Jeff Paschal, a native North Carolinian, received a B.A. (cum laude) in music education from Limestone College, Gaffney, S.C. in 1982, and was the recipient of the W.B. and Louise Camp Award for Academic Excellence. Upon graduation, he taught band and music appreciation in the S.C. public schools for two years.

1984-1987 Jeff served as a member of the U.S. Army Band of New York City and received the Army Certificate of Achievement and the Army Commendation Medal during his enlistment.

In 1987 he entered Union Presbyterian Seminary where he received the Master of Divinity degree and was co-recipient of the E. T. George Award for excellence in homiletics, worship and public speaking. 

In 2006 he completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Jeff has served congregations in Lancaster, PA, Greensburg, PA, Willoughby, OH, Wooster, OH, and Greensboro, NC.

He contributed essays to Feasting on the Gospels: Luke, Volume 2 and Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary (Year A, Vol. 2; Year B, Vol. 2; Year C, Vol. 3) published (hardcover) by Westminster John Knox Press.

Since 2012 Jeff has written a monthly column for the Greensboro News & Record newspaper. His writing has also appeared in The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper and the O. Henry magazine.

In 2013 he received the Service to Church alumni award from Limestone College.

His sermon “God of the Underdog” was awarded first place in the 2017 Hosanna Preaching Seminar.

Jeff and his wife, Beth, have five children (as well as seven grandchildren, with another on the way) and enjoy long-distance running, reading, dining out, spending time with family and friends, and playing with their deeply disturbed cat, Shelley.