Introduction
Hi! I am so glad that you’ve found our web-site and I want to welcome you to Wesley United Methodist Church. My name is the Reverend Donald L. Godwin, I am the senior pastor and just one of our three clergy persons serving Wesley Church in beautiful, historic, downtown Dover, Delaware. I hope you will take some time and explore our site and then I invite you to join us for worship on Sundays. Blessings, Pastor Don.
Personal History
I grew up in south Wilmington attending Madley Methodist Church. My pastor was the Rev. Dr. Brooks Reynolds. I graduated from the old 'DeLaWarr School District' in 1966. I joined the United States Navy in my senior year of high school. After attending boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center I volunteered for Hospital Corps School. Upon completing the United States Naval Corps School in the spring of 1967, I was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for Fleet Marine Force training. After my tour I was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital for six months where I cared for young marines returning home from Viet Nam with amputations. This was a very formative experience in my life and would lay a foundation in caring for others that I would carry on through the rest of my life.
In October 1967, I received orders for Viet Nam. It was in early November 1967, while I was on my way to Viet Nam, that an old friend from Corps School lead me in faith to receive Christ as my Savior. Assigned to Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Division, I was wounded twice in combat during my tour of duty. I finished my enlistment at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In September 1970, I enrolled in the Nursing School of Wilmington. In 1972 I married the love of my life, Margaret Jean Smith and later that year, I graduated from the Nursing School of Wilmington.
I have worked as a staff nurse in the Delaware Division ICU, and after nearly a year I moved to the VA Hospital where I would work for the next 15 years. During this time my family became very involved in our local church. After many years of service in the local church I responded to God's call and began the journey towards ordained ministry.
In 1984 I completed my degree in Behavioral Science from Wilmington College and later that year started Lancaster Theological Seminary. The Rev. Dr. William Fitzhugh was assigned as my candidacy mentor.
I finished seminary in May 1988
and was assigned to the Moore's-Elkton Charge. It has been the greatest challenge and joy of my life to respond to God's call. I look forward to continuing that call as I serve God and God's people
at Wesley United Methodist Church.