Whitmire United Methodist Church has welcomed a new face to the pulpit.
Pastor Amie Shaver was appointed to the Whitmire church in June. She is also a pastor for Carlisle which is in Spartanburg.
Even though she pastors two churches, she is technically considered part-time but does not deal with the appointments as part-time.
Pasturing a couple of churches in addition to working full time for the Department of Mental Health as a clinical counselor is just something that she feels called to do.
“It is just an extension of who I am and who God has called me to be,” says Shaver, in regards to pasturing two churches.
“What I love about being a pastor are the people,” says Shaver, “I have always had a passion for people and love to hear their stories, their life experiences that have made them who they are today.”
Shaver stays in Spartanburg with her husband, Jim. Whitmire U.M.C. is considered in the Spartanburg district which is how Shaver was appointed to this church.
Since Shaver has been appointed, she says she loves the small town lifestyle.
“I love the fact that people still are friendly and wave at passersby and have not been jaded by the times,” she explains.
As for what she hopes to bring to Whitmire, as well as Carlisle, she wants to bring a sense of hope.
“The areas have been hit hard by the loss of industry and jobs and it has taken a toll on people’s lives, their pride and their sense of self-worth,” explains Shaver, “The younger generations are packing up fro college and are not returning after graduation.”
Shaver wants the people at Carlisle and Whitmire to still have hope amidst a down economy.
As to why she went into the ministry, she says she started out in mental health because she wanted to bring a better quality of life to people.
However, she learned that over the years, she explains, “I have learned the value of human life, that we are all equal at the foot of the cross, and the things that used to be important to me really don’t mean a lot any more. I have seen coworkers come and go over the years and my paycheck drop because of the economy but it never caused me to lose sight of my role. I want to care for people. Several years ago I felt God calling me to expand my role as a caregiver to include caring for people in the church, people hurting, addicted to drugs, abused, abandoned and in need of a Savior.”
Shaver graduated from Winthrop University and is currently attending Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.
Carlisle has service at 9:45 a.m. and Whitmire is at 11 a.m.
Post a Comment
