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Mr. Bill Shishko
Bill Shishko was born on December 18, 1951 in
Putnam, Connecticut, the rural northeastern corner of that New England
state. He was raised in a nominal Greek Orthodox home, although he received
some early religious instruction at a local Episcopal Church.
Bill went through the turbulent period of the 1960ís and, as a result,
became enamored of the Marxist ideology that was then common among young
people. He began working in radio at the age of 15. Through a Christian
radio program (which was aired on the Sunday morning in which he worked
at radio station) Bill heard the Gospel presented and was converted in
February, 1970.
On the advice of a local pastor, Bill changed his plans to attend Clark
University and, instead, attended Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
beginning in August, 1970. It was there that he first learned the Reformed
faith. He became a member of Shannon Forest Presbyterian Church (RPCES),
led the youth group of that congregation, and also taught the churchís
large adult Sunday School class. He graduated University in 1974, and
remained on for two years as a teaching assistant in the history department.
During that time he met Margaret Reader, the woman who would become his
wife in June, 1976. It was also during that time that the Session of the
Shannon Forest Presbyterian Church encouraged Bill to attend seminary
and pursue a call to the Christian ministry.
Bill attended Westminster Theological Seminary from 1976 ó 1979. During
the time of his studies he served for one year as an apologetics teaching
assistant under Professor John Frame. He also did an internship at a local
Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He was licensed to preach the Gospel in
1978.
Bill was called to serve as an organizing pastor for a Reformed Presbyterian
Church, Evangelical Synod congregation in McClellanville, SC. While he
was ordained in October, 1979, he served the mission church from July
of that year through early February, 1981. In January, 1981 Bill was called
to serve the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Franklin Square, on Long Island,
NY. He began his labors there in February, 1981, and remains as pastor
to this day. During his time as pastor of the Franklin Square congregation
the church has been blessed with significant numerical growth, and has
overseen the formation of two mission churches, one in Mount Vernon, NY
and the other in Bohemia, NY.
During his time in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Bill has been privileged
to serve on various presbytery committees, and also on the denominational
Committees on Coordination, Ecumenicity, Home Missions, and (currently)
Christian Education. At present he also serves on the Subcommittee on
Ministerial Training, and is one of the homiletics instructors for the
Ministerial Training Institute, OPC. He has written numerous articles
for the OPC publications NEW HORIZONS and ORDAINED SERVANT, as well as
magazines such as The Banner of Truth.
Bill and his wife, Margaret, have been blessed with six children, Nathaniel,
Jonathan, Christopher, Timothy, Stephen, and Elisabeth. They count it
their greatest privilege to be servants of their Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, and to serve Him in the Church of which they are a part.
Email: wshishko@juno.com