Reverend Antonieta Wyrick
Contact: [email protected] My name is Maria Antonieta Wyrick. After receiving a master’s degree at the Iliff School of Theology, I was ordained as an Elder in full connection by the Desert Southwest Annual Conference. My calling is to minister to unchurched people, also to feed the flock of the Lord, by implementing programs with the purpose of keeping the church vital and fruitful. My first appointment was at Green Valley UMC, as an Associate Pastor, and I was also the Youth Director at University UMC. While in Las Vegas, I was also charged with planting Global Community UMF. For the past five years, I have been the Pastor Leader at Christ Community UMC, in Avondale, AZ. I am also the chair of the New & Vital Faith Committee for the Desert Southwest Conference. I was born and grew up in El Salvador, to parents who raised me vigorously in the Catholic Church and its traditions. My first career choice was as a Registered Nurse. I was in the Nursing Program when El Salvador was in a turbulent civil war, and I wanted to be a nurse to help the wounded people. Unfortunately, two of my in-law’s teenagers were murdered, and my family’s life was in danger. My husband at that time had to emigrate to the U.S.A., then request political asylum status. The request was approved, and we flew with two of my kids to Las Vegas, on September 7, 1990. It was a difficult decision for me, because I was leaving my parents behind, as well as the people in El Salvador, whom I loved. When I came to the United States, I spoke no English, but I immediately started going to school, because I needed to take two examinations, one for the English language and the second for my RN license. Four years later, I succeeded in passing the examinations. I now have four adult kids and six grandkids. When the Lord called me to Arizona, I didn’t know that I was going to encounter the Covid epidemic. I didn’t get to meet my congregation immediately, as there were no in-person services until November 2020. Our services were held outside, chairs carefully set up on the walkways, with the ushers taking the congregants to their seats. Worshippers had to sign up online to get a ticket to attend, because attendance was limited to only 50 people. I was missing my grandkids so much, but when the Lord called me, my response was, “Yes, Lord.” My theology of worship is of the multi-cultural approach: to be effective in my call, I have studied different peoples’ cultures, to understand what they believe and how they communicate. I have found that every single culture has ramification in their languages, all depending on what area they have grown up in. When I visited the United Methodist Church in 2000, I really felt that I had found a home, because of the church’s diversity, inclusiveness, and its Social Principles. See you on Sunday. Blessings, Rev. Antonieta Wyrick |
Ann Heardt - Administrative Assistant - Contact: [email protected]
Ann has worked as a secretary/administrative assistant within the United Methodist church for over 20 years. Her first job as a church secretary was working with Pastor Michael Higgs in 2003. She has lived in Las Vegas for 39 years and grew up in Northern Colorado. Ann enjoys spending time with family, participating in Bible studies, and watching the Hallmark channel. She is married to Tom and has two adult daughters, April, married to Jon with granddaughter Sofia, who lives in Colorado; and Holly, who lives and works in Las Vegas. |