After receiving her bachelor’s degree in business administration over 20 years ago, Carla Ann Jepsen decided to take a different path in life.
It was five years ago when she attended a conference for the United Methodist Church and was called to the field of ministry. ‘While we were there I just spent some time reading my Bible and praying, and (God) kind of told me then that it was gonna be time to be a pastor,? she said. ‘So, here I am.?
In January, Jepsen began her new position as part-time pastor of the 114-year-old Thomas United Methodist Church in the unincorporated village of Thomas. This is the first time in more than 15 years Thomas and its sister church in Lakeville won’t share a pastor.
Although she won’t start her seminary classes through Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky until this summer, Jepsen does have a license to preach in the state of Michigan. Before she decided to become a pastor, Jepsen became a certified lay speaker at West Goodland Church, in Imlay City.
She was happy to be placed at Thomas because of the ‘family? atmosphere it exudes.
‘A lot of people here are related to one another and have been coming here for a long, long time,? she said.
She said the congregation of about 40 have been ‘wonderful and welcoming.?
‘It’s been a great fit,? she said.
One of her main goals for her time at Thomas is to bring more children into the church and create a thriving youth program, which Thomas UMC does not have.
‘We’re going to kind of grow in that way,? she said. ‘It’s just God’s timing.?
As the world gets ‘crazier? and tends to fall away from the church, Jepsen hopes to bring people back and to maintain a sense of loyalty to one church.
‘Our society is so much moving and traveling and people don’t always have the loyalty to a family church,? she said. ‘You need to come back into the church to get some sanity.?
Jepsen and her husband, Gary, reside in Imlay City with their two children, Emily, 14, and Joel, 10.
Services are held at Thomas UMC on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.