Pastor: Connie Locke
Connie was born in Nevada, Mo. Her family moved to Paola, Kan. when she was 3½. Connie attended grade school through the Fifth Grade in Paola. Then her family moved back to Nevada. High School graduation was in Nevada. After working a couple of years at Nelly Don, Connie attended 1½ years at Cottey College. Connie then transferred to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. There Connie returned later to finish her Bachelors of Science majoring in psychology and sociology with a minor in philosophy. Connie’s first recollection of attending a church service was while she was in grade school. Connie remembers attending a baptismal service at the local Christian Church. One summer Connie attended a Vacation Bible School at a local Baptist Church. It was then Connie received her first Bible.
When her family returned to Nevada, her father’s parents were members of the First Baptist Church. They started attending there. Connie accepted Christ as her savior and became faithful in attendance. While attending camp at Baptist Hill near Mt. Vernon one summer Connie felt God was calling her to minister in some way. Accepting a call at that time had to be as a missionary, nurse, teacher, social worker, pastor’s wife, etc. for a woman. When returning to Bolivar to finish her BS at SWBC (at that time it was college) Connie had been married and divorced. A local Baptist pastor told her that a divorced woman could not hold a place of leadership in the church.
Years past and Connie experienced several detours in her life.
In the early 80s Connie met a United Methodist pastor in Humansville. He helped her rediscover what was missing in her life. While a member of that church, Connie entered the candidacy program. Connie’s call from God was stronger than before. Connie was accepted at St. Paul School of Theology and attended there until illness prohibited her from finishing her master’s degree. In 1985 Connie was ordained as a deacon in the process of becoming an elder. Connie turned in her credentials when Connie did not accept an appointment because of health reasons. For a number of years Connie devoted time, money and effort in getting health issues under control.
In 2002 while a member of the UMC in Nevada, Connie was approached in regard to being the pastor to the Horton/Metz charge. After a lot of prayer and thought, Connie accepted that appointment. Connie served that charge for 5 years. Now Connie believes God has placed her here at Schell City/Harwood for the next phase of her journey. Connie does not know what is in store for us. God has a plan. We have the choice of following the plan or doing our own thing. Connie prays we follow God’s plan.
Whatever that may be for us.
Please notify Web Site Manager of any broken links or errors
Copyright © 2003 Schell City United Methodist Church All Rights Reserved.
The space for this page is provided by the
General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist ChurchThe Cross and Flame is a registered trademark and the use is supervised by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church. Permission to use the Cross and Flame must be obtained from the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church - Legal Department, 1200 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201
