Pastor Teresa Whetsel
Flame of Faith UMC, is a great place to come and learn about God's hope in our lives. What a great joy to share together, worship together, learn together and serve together. Flame of Faith UMC is ready to change the world, would you like to join us?
Are you familiar with the phase that small children go through where they ask “Why? Why? Why?” at least a thousand times a day? Well, I am not sure I ever really grew out of that phase. I have been searching for answers, for deeper meaning, for truth, for understanding my whole life. This is especially true in my faith.
I grew up in a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska in a household where questions about matters of faith, about things found in Scripture were discouraged. I was taught that “the Bible says it. Just believe it. Don’t question it.” The dismissal, and discouragement of my questions left me feeling as though God were distant, and unknowable.
When I married my husband, Virgil, and we had our children, we attended church in the denomination he grew up in, the United Methodist Church, and I found a church home where my questions were welcomed and encouraged. Re-igniting my faith, becoming active in the church, it was not too many years before I began to discern a call into ministry.
I have been serving churches in South Dakota since 2013 in the communities of Arlington, Lake Preston, and Miller.
With you at Flame of Faith, I look forward to continuing to wrestle with Scripture, with the hard questions life brings, and discovering God’s truth for us together. As a part of this community and this congregation, it will be my great honor to do both faith and life together with you.
Blessings,
Pastor Teresa Whetsel
Are you familiar with the phase that small children go through where they ask “Why? Why? Why?” at least a thousand times a day? Well, I am not sure I ever really grew out of that phase. I have been searching for answers, for deeper meaning, for truth, for understanding my whole life. This is especially true in my faith.
I grew up in a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska in a household where questions about matters of faith, about things found in Scripture were discouraged. I was taught that “the Bible says it. Just believe it. Don’t question it.” The dismissal, and discouragement of my questions left me feeling as though God were distant, and unknowable.
When I married my husband, Virgil, and we had our children, we attended church in the denomination he grew up in, the United Methodist Church, and I found a church home where my questions were welcomed and encouraged. Re-igniting my faith, becoming active in the church, it was not too many years before I began to discern a call into ministry.
I have been serving churches in South Dakota since 2013 in the communities of Arlington, Lake Preston, and Miller.
With you at Flame of Faith, I look forward to continuing to wrestle with Scripture, with the hard questions life brings, and discovering God’s truth for us together. As a part of this community and this congregation, it will be my great honor to do both faith and life together with you.
Blessings,
Pastor Teresa Whetsel
