Our focus is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) making disciples of Jesus Christ, Baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching obedience to the commands of Jesus.
We proclaim the Word of God as found in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament.
We proclaim the Word of God as found in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament.
- For a sampling of what we preach, visit our Sermon page
STAFF
Pastor - Barbara Dyke
Pastor Barbara is a 4th generation San Antonian. Her grandfather, mother and Barbara all graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Pastor Barbara loves traveling with her husband Rick and loves visiting her daughter in Austin. She has a degree in Business from UTSA and received her Masters of Divinity from Austin Theological Presbyterian Seminary. In 2007 she was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church.
Her heart in ministry is to share the love of Christ with all people. Celebrating as people grow in faith and claim themselves they are beloved children of God and precious in God's eyes. The church is the body of Christ, and we are called to be His hands and feet of this world. I believe one of the most important ways to show God's love is to serve our community. She looks forward to exploring how we might dance together sharing in the love of Christ into the community of La Vernia.
Contact Pastor Barbara at (830)779-2621,ext 3304 or at [email protected]
Pastor Barbara is a 4th generation San Antonian. Her grandfather, mother and Barbara all graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Pastor Barbara loves traveling with her husband Rick and loves visiting her daughter in Austin. She has a degree in Business from UTSA and received her Masters of Divinity from Austin Theological Presbyterian Seminary. In 2007 she was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church.
Her heart in ministry is to share the love of Christ with all people. Celebrating as people grow in faith and claim themselves they are beloved children of God and precious in God's eyes. The church is the body of Christ, and we are called to be His hands and feet of this world. I believe one of the most important ways to show God's love is to serve our community. She looks forward to exploring how we might dance together sharing in the love of Christ into the community of La Vernia.
Contact Pastor Barbara at (830)779-2621,ext 3304 or at [email protected]
Director of Child Care Ministries - April Burns
April grew up at La Vernia UMC and was married in our sanctuary. She and her husband, Jeremiah, have a daughter Mckenna.
Before joining us in 2018, April was the director of La Vernia Academy.
Contact April at [email protected]g
Child Care's direct phone number: (210) 307-0057
April grew up at La Vernia UMC and was married in our sanctuary. She and her husband, Jeremiah, have a daughter Mckenna.
Before joining us in 2018, April was the director of La Vernia Academy.
Contact April at [email protected]g
Child Care's direct phone number: (210) 307-0057
Business Manager - Kim Santos
Kim Santos graduated from UTSA with a business degree specializing in human resource management.She began working for La Vernia UMC in 2016.
Kim has been married for 22 years and has 3 kids, Sam, Sophia, and Ian. Her husband Cesar works for HEB.
Contact Kim at (830) 779-2621, ext 3301 or at b[email protected]
Kim Santos graduated from UTSA with a business degree specializing in human resource management.She began working for La Vernia UMC in 2016.
Kim has been married for 22 years and has 3 kids, Sam, Sophia, and Ian. Her husband Cesar works for HEB.
Contact Kim at (830) 779-2621, ext 3301 or at b[email protected]
Administrative Assistant - Monica Kennedy
Monica Kennedy has lived in La Vernia for over 15 years and comes to us with a strong background in administrative and property management. She spends her time off with her two daughters, Ashling, and Lucia.
Contact Monica at (830)779-2621 or at [email protected]
Monica Kennedy has lived in La Vernia for over 15 years and comes to us with a strong background in administrative and property management. She spends her time off with her two daughters, Ashling, and Lucia.
Contact Monica at (830)779-2621 or at [email protected]
Pianist - Linda Summerfield
Linda plays the piano for the 8:30am worship service.
Linda plays the piano for the 8:30am worship service.
George Adkison - Worship Leader
George leads our Contemporary Worship Service Praise Team and directs the choir for our Traditional Service. He is the son of a United Methodist who served here in La Vernia in the 1950s. He majored in Music Vocal at Colorado State University and then at the University of North Texas. George also has a BS in Education and an MA in Performing Arts; he has taught in public and private schools for 30 years. He has also sung in numerous choirs as well as men’s and opera choruses. He has been playing and singing praise and choral music almost his entire life. He was a member of the Community
Bible Church’s praise team for eight years and a praise and worship leader at Floresville UMC for over 10 years. He enjoys working with others in music to glorify God. He is supported and helped with
his music ministry by his wife Sheryl and their daughter Sarah Middleton Jay.
George leads our Contemporary Worship Service Praise Team and directs the choir for our Traditional Service. He is the son of a United Methodist who served here in La Vernia in the 1950s. He majored in Music Vocal at Colorado State University and then at the University of North Texas. George also has a BS in Education and an MA in Performing Arts; he has taught in public and private schools for 30 years. He has also sung in numerous choirs as well as men’s and opera choruses. He has been playing and singing praise and choral music almost his entire life. He was a member of the Community
Bible Church’s praise team for eight years and a praise and worship leader at Floresville UMC for over 10 years. He enjoys working with others in music to glorify God. He is supported and helped with
his music ministry by his wife Sheryl and their daughter Sarah Middleton Jay.
Statistical Summary
The United Methodist Church is an open records church. Statistics for all churches in the Rio Texas Conference are available in the Annual Conference Journals available on-line or in print form available from Amazon. The following numbers were submitted in January of this year and will appear in the 2019 journal when it becomes available later this summer:
Membership: 198
Average Worship: 134 (86 at 8:30am, 48 at 11:00am)
Sunday School Attendance: 75
Annual Finances (excluding Child Care): $305,413 (income), $305,007 (expenses)
2018 Apportionment: $36,904 ($30,487 Paid, 83%)
Apportionments support the denomination beyond the local church
The United Methodist Church is an open records church. Statistics for all churches in the Rio Texas Conference are available in the Annual Conference Journals available on-line or in print form available from Amazon. The following numbers were submitted in January of this year and will appear in the 2019 journal when it becomes available later this summer:
Membership: 198
Average Worship: 134 (86 at 8:30am, 48 at 11:00am)
Sunday School Attendance: 75
Annual Finances (excluding Child Care): $305,413 (income), $305,007 (expenses)
2018 Apportionment: $36,904 ($30,487 Paid, 83%)
Apportionments support the denomination beyond the local church
Brief History
The earliest records show that Rev. John S. McGhee, a Methodist Circuit Rider, held worship services in the area as early as 1853. La Vernia Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was officially established in 1876 with Rev. John E. Vernor as the pastor. The first church building was constructed later that year.
From 1876 to 1881, the congregation met at the Brahman Masonic Lodge (which still stands at the
corner of FM 775 and D.L. Vest. The first chapel was constructed on Chihuahua Street across
FM 775 from La Vernia City Hall.
On August 20, 1886, the Indianola Hurricane of 1886 hit the Texas coast. A tornado spawned by the storm struck La Vernia destroying the church. A new chapel was constructed on the same site on Chihuahua Street and dedicated in 1887.
In 1968, the Methodist Church and the the Evangelical Brethren denominations merged to form the United Methodist Church. In 1970, Post Oak Evangelical Brethren Church merged into La Vernia UMC.
On July 26, 1996, a new church building was consecrated at the current location Bluebonnet Road (FM 775). The next year, the 1887 Chapel was relocated from the site on Chihuahua street to its current location, a distance of about a quarter mile. In 2003, a Family Life Building was added.
On August 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast. The roof of the 1887 Chapel was torn off. The building was repaired and restored. Rededication was held March 23, 2019.
Founding Members of La Vernia Methodist Church, 1876
Mrs. B.S. Leach
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wolf
Dr. and Mrs. G.H. McMahon
Mr. and Mrs. Billie Newton
Dr. and Mrs. Graves
Mr. and Mrs. Camp
Mr. and Mrs. George Washington Suttles
The earliest records show that Rev. John S. McGhee, a Methodist Circuit Rider, held worship services in the area as early as 1853. La Vernia Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was officially established in 1876 with Rev. John E. Vernor as the pastor. The first church building was constructed later that year.
From 1876 to 1881, the congregation met at the Brahman Masonic Lodge (which still stands at the
corner of FM 775 and D.L. Vest. The first chapel was constructed on Chihuahua Street across
FM 775 from La Vernia City Hall.
On August 20, 1886, the Indianola Hurricane of 1886 hit the Texas coast. A tornado spawned by the storm struck La Vernia destroying the church. A new chapel was constructed on the same site on Chihuahua Street and dedicated in 1887.
In 1968, the Methodist Church and the the Evangelical Brethren denominations merged to form the United Methodist Church. In 1970, Post Oak Evangelical Brethren Church merged into La Vernia UMC.
On July 26, 1996, a new church building was consecrated at the current location Bluebonnet Road (FM 775). The next year, the 1887 Chapel was relocated from the site on Chihuahua street to its current location, a distance of about a quarter mile. In 2003, a Family Life Building was added.
On August 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast. The roof of the 1887 Chapel was torn off. The building was repaired and restored. Rededication was held March 23, 2019.
Founding Members of La Vernia Methodist Church, 1876
Mrs. B.S. Leach
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wolf
Dr. and Mrs. G.H. McMahon
Mr. and Mrs. Billie Newton
Dr. and Mrs. Graves
Mr. and Mrs. Camp
Mr. and Mrs. George Washington Suttles