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LEWISTOWN - Sometime you have to go out on a limb to find your true calling in life. That is exactly how Teresa Fink's journey to the ministry began.
Fink has been named the new pastor of Grove Memorial United Methodist Church in Lewistown. She accepted the post in July, when the previous pastor retired.
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Sentinel photos by MICAIAH WISE BILGER
Mifflin County native Teresa Fink is the new pastor of Grove Memorial United Methodist Church in Lewistown.
The Mifflin County native has had a successful music ministry in the area for the past several years. In addition to singing at local churches and events, Fink writes her own music. In 2007, she recorded a praise CD titled, "Out on A Limb."
Throughout her faith journey, Fink has been very active in the churches she attended. At Church Hill United Methodist Church, her most recent church, Fink was a lay speaker, worship leader and song leader and was involved in several different outreach projects.
Her love for community outreach is already taking hold at Grove Memorial where she started a "Couponers for Christ" program that does coupon shopping and donates the items to the local shelter service. Anyone who is interested in getting involved in the ministry may call the church at 248-8722.
"I have a passion for outreach and believe the church's mission is to reach people for Christ," Fink said.
The transformation from lay speaker to local licensed pastor has been a speedy one. She and her husband, Tod, attended a vision leadership meeting at Church Hill UMC in July 2010. It was a defining moment in her walk with God.
"That was the 'Ah ha' moment for me, when my husband said after that meeting, 'It is pretty obvious you are being called into the ministry,'" Fink recalled.
After deciding to follow the call, she completed licensing school in Selinsgrove and received her license in June. Beginning in 2012, she will begin a minimum of five years schooling in the United Methodist Course of Study for local licensed pastors.
Fink explained a local licensed pastor is a designation for people who have been called to the ministry later in life (over age 35). She is not considered an ordained elder of the church.
Although she is the sole pastor of Grove Memorial, Fink said she is considered a "half-time pastor."
Before becoming a pastor, the Kishacoquillas High School graduate worked at several local businesses including Kish Bank, CareerLink and Corvette America. Recently, her job was being reduced to a part-time position, which freed her to pursue her ministry.
"I'm surprised at the speed of which things happened from the moment I decided to pursue the call," Fink said. "It confirmed to me that it is truly God's call. You just know. It's a calling. The way things happened and the way they fell into place, you can't deny He is leading you."
Grove Memorial UMC is located at 611 S. Main St., Lewistown. Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m.; with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday services include a prayer meeting at 6 p.m. followed by Bible study at 6:30 p.m.
