Pastor

The Rev. Andy Oliver (left) of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Fla., prays with Luis Blanco in front of the Tampa immigration office on Jan. 30, 2018. The congregation supported Blanco and his family during his deportation proceedings. Oliver continues to be in ministry with marginalized communities in Florida, including helping to lead weekly protests at detention centers in the state that are housing suspected undocumented immigrants. File photo courtesy of the Rev. Andy Oliver.

Pastor emulates Wesley in Florida

The Rev. Andy Oliver’s journey from burnt-out pastor to passionate activist has taken some interesting stops, including public relations and tending bar.

Immigration

The Rev. Andy Oliver (center), pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Fla., poses with other protesters outside of the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz,” a detention center in the Everglades where suspected undocumented immigrants are being held. Oliver says his goal is to “raise awareness and help amplify the stories of people that I think our city is treating with cruelty.” Photo courtesy of the Rev. Andy Oliver.

Pastors push back in Florida

The Revs. Andy Oliver and Roy Terry, both United Methodists, are committed to continue protesting in response to what they see as government overreach in Florida.

Faith Stories

The Rev. Jesse Baker preaches at First United Methodist Church of Elon, N.C. A poet as well as a pastor, Baker writes a sonnet based on the Scripture he intends to preach on each week, then uses the sonnet to inspire his sermon. His new book, “Clarity and Light: Meditations on Scripture,” is a collection of his sonnets. Photo by Patrick Abbott, courtesy of First United Methodist Church.

Grasping Scripture using poetry

A pastor in North Carolina is writing sonnets to put Scripture in perspective, which he says helps him write more compelling sermons.

Disaster Relief

The Rev. J. Andre Wilson (center) shares a message with children during Altadena United Methodist Church’s first Sunday worship service at its new temporary home on the campus of the former First United Methodist Church of San Gabriel, Calif. Altadena is one of two United Methodist churches destroyed by wildfires in January. Photo courtesy of Heather Wilson.

LA-area churches seek to rebuild after fires

The January wildfires destroyed two United Methodist churches, and many of their members lost their homes. The road to recovery remains long but hopeful.

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