PASTOR LIZ WHITFORD

Hello Columbus & Fall River UMCs,

I am so excited to be appointed as your new Pastor! To better get a head start on our relationship, I wanted to give you a little background of who I am?

I began pastoring in 2011 at Whig UMC in Platteville while attending the University of Wisconsin – Platteville for Music Non-Teaching (Piano).  Upon graduating with my Bachelor of Science, I attended the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Most of my seminary education, I continued to pastor at Whig UMC as their only pastor, while also being the Associate Pastor at Platteville UMC for Vacation Bible School, Youth Group, and Campus Ministry.  I have since served full-time as the Interim Pastor of Reedsburg UMC and served 3.5 years as the Pastor of Discipleship at Appleton: First United Methodist Church.

While I am passionate about quite a few things in ministry, I love equipping people so that they have “Ah-ha” moments in their faith to help them grow in their spiritual journeys. My spiritual gifts are listening, empowerment, teaching, preaching, and giving.

 Currently, my parents reside in Beloit where my mom, Brenda, is the Pastor at River of Life UMC, while my dad, Dan, is the Pastor at Darien UMC. My brother, Adam, lives in Springfield, Illinois with his wife, Korie, daughter, Ilah (5), and Rogan (almost 1).  

Adam is a therapist/counselor for at-risk youth, and Korie is a telehealth nurse.

For fun, I like to bike, kayak, fish, play music, read, knit (still a beginner), and snuggle with my cats, Quinn, and Pumpkin.