NEWS BULLETIN
First United Methodist Church of Michigan City
06-25-12
OUR NEW PASTOR

Greetings!
A very warm welcome to our new Pastor Gwen Roberts!
She starts formally on Sunday, July 1, 2012.  
Let's all be at church for her first sermon.  (Please wear your name tag.)

Below is her personal message to all members of our church and her very impressive background.
 

Blessings of Faith, Eternal Joy and Hope in Christ Our Lord,

 

My brothers and sisters, I look forward to the connecting of our spiritual journeying serving the mission of Christ in the world.  Every day of life is a renewing opportunity to be an encourager; to share a story of hope; to witness God's faithful love; to be graciously hospitable in opening our hearts; merciful in observing and making decisions of others; to persevere in the study of the Word; persistent in prayer; grateful to God in all things. 

 

Hear the words in Hebrews 3:1-2, "Therefore brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession was faithful to the one who appointed him."  Likewise, I am called to be faithful to the one who made my appointment in life.  We are called to a heavenly calling therefore; the question before each one of us is "What will I do for the Kingdom of God". 

 

Among my assets for the kingdomisa faith in the transformational power of God to fulfill that which humans consider the impossible. My theology of leadership is grounded in the value of team ministry.  Strategic team development promotes productive outcome. My education and experience have taught the value of an unwavering faith in God's faithfulness is the path to walk. Therefore, I offer the knowledge of formal education:  Doctorate of Ministry in Church Administration; Master of Divinity; Master of Arts in Planning and Public Administration; Bachelor of Arts Degree.  God given opportunities have taught me to be equipped for service understanding the ratio of faith to effort.

 

Also, I am recognized as a gifted preacher and pastor, one passionate about the Lord and serving with love and wisdom the people of God.  My joy in working with people is celebrated in providing instructional learning internationally, taught at the seminary and university level and worked with people from pre-school age to senior ages in life.

 

Director-Administrator is my dominant leadership style for the Kingdom. In the process of leading in this style combination, it is important to identify the gifts and strengths of others; promote team building; serve as instrumental in the development of leadership; create an environment of collaboratively developed plans necessary for continuous growth spiritually and organizationally.  This style incorporates the tools necessary for harmonious community.  The value of identifying the interactive styles of the leadership team participants and beyond is to promote harmonizing efforts across paths of stress in relating. This style is intentionally proactive in addressing potential in conflict. 

 

Let us learn and grow in faith always making room for those who want to be saved.  May our Lord bless our journey, continued growth in faith, and obedient servant ministry is my prayer.                                            

 

Jesus' Joy Always,

Pastor Gwen

 
Pastor Gwen Roberts

 

 

I am a doer of the word of God

I am willing to grow for the Kingdom

 

 

STRENGTHS AND GIFTS

  • Preaching and Oratorical prowess
  • Analytical process of information
  • Strategic planner and thinker
  • Connector-public relations
  • Teaching and Coaching
  • Leadership. training and management abilities
  • Program Development

     

My strength to an organization is to analyze systems and procedures considered as established practices or norms.  In this process, each component is evaluated for its value in accomplishing the desired outcomes which include the following: productive organizational environment; effective time and energy allocation; efficient flow of information; a convergence of dominant work style with strengths creating productive synergism.  Analytical processes reveal the functional health of the organization systems.  Systems effective or ineffective become the stabilizing forces.  The effective strategy has been to create synergism between the destabilization of ineffective systems while promoting an environment of receptive participation in stabilizing productive systems and procedures which promote consistent process improvement.

 

EDUCATION:

 

Continued Education:

  • CRM Re-focus Mission Focus Church
  • Natural Church Development
  • Bill Dillon Fund Development
  • Seminars and Webinars on Leadership Development
  • Readings:  Mission Theology, Reactivating The Missional Church, Systemic issues of education, relevance to cultural identities, leadership processes Congregational Development and spiritual renewal with the themes of  evaluations and assessment strategies, policy implications on the church, Kaleidoscope Institute training, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural ministries
  • Children's Defense Fund - Samuel D. Proctor Institute
  • Dual Certification in Survival Skills for Women and Youth

     

Verses homogeneous community. 

 

The members and constituency of the organization (church) and material resources engage to the point of a shared vision and work with the extended leadership in designing ministry systems for effective ministry.  As a person whose strength is "achiever" and must be productive, yet methodology must be consistent with the theology of being the church.