Pitman United Methodist Church

I believe God has called me to pastor and I humbly have taken this mantel for 24 years of fulltime ministry. God works powerfully through Bishop Devadhar (Bishop of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference) as he has appointed me to be the Senior Pastor of Pitman United Methodist Church.

 

We never move forward without knowing where we have been. Just as Pitman UMC was established in the Camp Meeting in 1885, so I first came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the age of 12 through a series of youth events. Within months of my commitment to Christ, I felt a call to ministry. God confirmed this call through my family, youth group, and the support of my home church, Trinity UMC in Ewing Township, NJ. I believe God further confirmed the call when I started dating Carol while we were both attending Lebanon Valley College. In 1982, we graduated college, married, and started seminary at Drew University at the Theological School. In 2003, I received my Doctor of Ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary with a dissertation based on prayer and church growth.

 

Carol and I are blessed with three wonderful children: Elizabeth (age 24) a graduate from Lebanon Valley College and a medical student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Daniel (age 22) is a senior at American University in Washington, D.C. in the School of International Relations. Matthew (age 20) is a freshmen at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York City as an Architectural student.  Carol, an actuary, is the Director of Health Care Economics at Health Partners, a non-profit health insurance company serving the poor of Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties.

 

This will be my seventh appointment in 27 years of ministry (one church during seminary years). I have served tiny churches and large churches. I have planted a church and now I am blessed to serve Pitman UMC. Through all this history, I have proclaimed Christ as the way, the truth and the life. I believe God is actively working in our life through the Holy Spirit. God’s Word, the Bible, is my daily reading book, guide book, source book and most important book.

 

I am both humbled and honored to continue the great tradition of God actively bringing new people to faith in Jesus Christ in Pitman UMC. I love serving my Savior and connecting laity into active ministry!  I believe that the work of all God’s people convince others of the reality of Jesus Christ through our actions, beliefs, and sharing.  The more we can lead others to the Cross of Christ, the more selflessness we discover, and the more life we live. May we continue to add to the church triumphant as we lead a new generation to Christ!
 

In Christ’s service,

Pastor Larry