family impressed Garcia to serve - Odessa American: local news

In her sermons as pastor of Highland United Methodist Church, the Rev. Karen Garcia emphasizes the teachings and instance of Jesus Christ to inform how people should relate to 1 an extra.

The 27-yr-ancient native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, says Jesus “is our teacher, our healer and our chief.

“He all the time concentrated on people and tried to train us by using his illustration of serving, teaching and curative,” the Rev. Garcia noted. “He showed mercy, forgiveness and caring for others and we should still do the identical.”

She took a divinity diploma at Juan Wesley Seminary in Monterrey and changed into pastor of Casa de Oracion UMC in large Spring from 2013-15. Her husband Raul is affiliate pastor of St. Luke’s UMC in Midland. they have three infants.

Garcia’s 1808 N. Dixie Blvd. church averages 60 people at its 10:30 a.m. Sunday services.

Her father, the Rev. Lorenzo Resendiz, is the Methodist district superintendent in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico, and her brother, the Rev. Caleb Resendiz, is a minister in Columbus, Ohio. Her mom, who become additionally a minister, died six years ago.

“i admire to evangelise about specializing in God’s love and his grace for us and the way we are able to reply to that love through going to church and being faithful,” Garcia pointed out. “i really like going from side to side from the historical testomony to the brand new.”

The pastor pointed out she is specially enjoying her affiliation with the Odessa Ministerial Alliance, noting that she and her husband are living here. “the entire churches stay together in decent instances and unhealthy,” she said.

“My father and mom marked my lifestyles with their example, always caring for americans,” she observed. “Taking us with them anyplace they went, they were always preaching the notice of God, touring and educating. So we acquired to be trained from them.”

Like most area church buildings, Highland UMC changed into communicating with its contributors and preserving worship services in mid-March by means of ability other than the normal in-grownup gatherings. “We proceed to be the church backyard our constructing so that we will worship God with our hearts and display his like to the people around us,” Garcia spoke of.

Sonya Aycock is a member of St. Luke’s in Midland but has heard Garcia preach and has gotten to understand her well. “Karen is a stunning grownup who has a coronary heart for missionary work and is good with toddlers,” Aycock pointed out.

“She created her own vacation Bible faculty together with her own materials. She wants to evangelise the love of Jesus with everyone she knows.

“Karen has the reward of spreading the notice in English or Spanish and is a pleasant woman to be around.”

Bob Campbell is a reporter for the Odessa American covering religion and way of life within the Permian Basin.