ABOUT US | pepperellumc

Here we will share the story of where we've been, the central ways we've seen God at work in our lives... as well as where we find oursleves today and the new things God is calling forth in our midst. Stay tuned!

OUR HISTORY

AUBURN WESLEY COOPERATIVE PARISH

For the last 4 years Pepperell UMC has been a part of a group of four (now five!) United Methodist Churches that partner with the Auburn Wesley Foundation. The Wesley Foundation is the campus ministry that seeks to make disciples of Jesus and to open up all kinds of opportunities for those disciples to lead and serve and grow. One of the ways this has played out has been through the Auburn Welsey Coooperative Parish - where college students from Wesley, discerning calls to serve the local church, perhaps through pastoral ministry, have the chance to really get their hands on ministry in these local churches - through helping to plan and lead in worship, to preach, to visit the sick, to plan and lead studies, to help the church to reach out beyond herself.

More than 15 student pastors have served over these four years! Many of them are now in seminary or pursuing vocational ministry, having been sent well from our parish churches into what God has in store for them!

Pepperell UMC & Gold Hill UMC (north of Auburn, near Waverly, AL) are paired together in what we call "the east side of the parish", so that they share student pastors.

This year we have two new student pasotrs. Let me intorduce them...

Meet Wesley Rhodes...

He just graduated with a degree in Sociology at Auburn University. He is an intern at Wesley as well as serving in the parish at Gold Hill & Pepperell UMCs. His dad is a United Methodist pastor serving in Mobile, AL. So he grew up in the UM church and is excited to be able to serve the local church in this way because of how much it has invested in him throughout his life so far! Also he's friends with Cam Newton!

Meet Leo Gonzalez...

Leo is finishing up at Auburn University this year. He's studying sociology and intends to enter Law Enforcement upon graduating next spring. He is from a military family and so has traveled all over the world but calls Enterprise, AL home. That's where he graduated High School. Serving others has always been a passion of his and is something that he has been able to do through the Wesley foundation here in Auburn and through his years of experience with Alabama Rural Ministry - which has it's office space at Pepperell UMC. He is really excited to have the opportunity to serve as a student pastor and look forward to the experiences and relationships that will be formed in the year ahead!

Pepperell United Methodist Church

200 26th Street

Opelika, AL 36801