District News

United Women in Faith’s Reading Program is designed to help women of faith to achieve five key goals: lean into our spiritual growth, strengthen our leadership skills, equip ourselves for local and global mission, take faithful action for the common good, and build community in ways large and small. The books are current and cover a wide variety of topics.

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The Greater Southwest District welcomes Sara Wolfsen as its Treasurer. Sara has over 25 years of finance and office administration experience with non-profit organizations and also serves as the Treasurer for the Western Waters District.

Sara is a Certified Lay Speaker and is active in district and conference leadership roles for Lay Servant Ministries and United Women in Faith. She also enjoys serving as Lay Leader and is a Bible Study teacher at Fremont UMC.

In her spare time, Sara likes to read and write, escape to Mackinac Island, and operates a Yard Card business from her home. She and her husband Ben have been married almost thirty years. They have two young adult-aged boys and share their home with two cats and two rambunctious Cavapoo puppies.

Sara can be reached by email at [email protected].

District Lay Leader, Lori Roof, introduces ways lay people in local churches can serve at the District and Conference levels.

Feeling called to serve? Fill out the District Leadership Application.

To all who are part of the Greater Southwest District, I joyfully send to you greetings and blessings this day. I am looking forward to getting to know you and celebrating the amazing ways you are responding to the love of Jesus Christ. What a journey this will be, as we travel the road of faith together.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Dean. I was born and raised in Troy, Michigan. I am the youngest of nine children. My mom (Phyllis, 88 years old) and dad (Hugh, 93 years old) live in Wyoming, Michigan in the house next to the church I have served for thirteen years, Wesley Park UMC.

My son’s name is Will (William Manuel Alexander Parada Salvador Prentiss). Will is an amazing person. He turned 19 on June 27. Will was born in Guatemala, where Adrianne and I moved for five months to complete his adoption. When I had to return home, members of Williamston UMC flew down to help. Will is deaf and on the autism spectrum. He has a great sense of humor, an incredible connection to God’s Spirit, and an intuitive way to sense what others do not sense. Adrianne and I are no longer married, but are deeply committed to raising Will. This requires some understanding and even flexibility by all on the District as we work on the best ways to keep Will safe and cared for. I will be staying in my home in Grand Rapids, which will help Will during this time of transition. While this may limit my availability for evening meetings, I will be in the office, visiting as many churches as I can each week, and will be reachable by phone, text, and online to be present with you.

I find joy in simple things. I love a good story. I bring my glove to baseball games with the eternal hope that a foul ball might come my way (I caught two on August 5 several years ago at Comerica Park). I don’t have a TV but do my best to stay connected and informed. I try to close the exercise rings on my watch as often as I can. I thank God for grace, forgiveness, and for opportunities to grow in love each day. Luke 10:27 is one of my favorite verses.

I care about you. Dwayne and Mandana, along with Bishop Bard and the Cabinet, have helped me and are entrusting me with this beautiful privilege of prayerfully being United Methodists in the Greater Southwest District together. Let us love God with heart, soul, strength, and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves.

Peace,
Dean

My name is Cesar Garcia-Rodriguez, I am appointed to the new Latinx Church Plant of the Greater Southwest District. Working in the mission of The United Methodist Church is the most exciting work and purpose of life; to be witness of the transformation that the grace of God brings to our community as we visited the migrant camps and the Hispanic families who are already established in Van Buren County.

One of the most impactful moments of this past year, was when leading a Spanish Bible study at the parsonage, God working in the unity of the families, by studying about the grace of God working in every person and how to bring families together; even through games and a dinner we could experience the Holy Spirit restoring the bonds of parents and children.

And the ministry is just beginning; we are so excited to announce that this summer even more things are going to happen with the Hispanic Ministry in our district.

Miriam Peralta De Garcia is appointed to work full-time along with me in the new Latinx Church. Thanks to the support of the Michigan Conference and generous donors, this will be possible starting the first of July; along with the establishment of the Hispanic Community Center in the facilities of Paw Paw United Methodist Church who has opened their doors to host this ministry.
 
Through this Center we will be offering classes and services to the Spanish-speaking community. We are currently in need of equipment: such as 15 padded folding chairs, a whiteboard, and office supplies (white paper, printer ink, pencils, tape, etc.).

This summer once again, we are working closely with the Van Buren Intermediate School District’s Migrant/Multilingual office, which offers a summer program to migrant children. This year again we will support them with 300 reusable plastic water bottles that they need during the summer school hours.

Along with that, we continue the partnership with the Department of Labor of Michigan State, Migrant Agricultural office to support the Bienvenidos Event, which welcomes migrant seasonal workers and their families. Several agencies come together to offer services; we are going to put together a welcoming kit, which includes hygiene products for the entire family: shampoo, soap, deodorants, sunscreen, etc.
 
If you or your church wants to support or donate to the community center, the summer program, or the welcoming kits, please contact me (269-569-4962 or [email protected]) or send a check to the district office.