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.
- For a sampling of what we preach, visit our Sermon page
- For a listing of our events and activities, visit our Calendar page
STAFF
Pastor - Wesley Craig.
Wesley was born in Dallas, but mostly grew up in Edgewood, a small town east of the city. Soon after high school, he began serving in the church as a Sunday school teacher and youth volunteer.
He attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in Religion. Then, he moved to Waco to study at George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor University where he graduated with my Master of Divinity degree in 2005.
Wesley and Susan have been married for almost 16 years and have two children; an almost seven-year-old daughter named Meadow and our five-year-old son is named Ellison (Ellis). He enjoy hobbies such as reading, traveling, CrossFit, hiking, camping and especially spending time with family.
Contact Pastor Wesley at Wesocraig@gmail.com
Wesley was born in Dallas, but mostly grew up in Edgewood, a small town east of the city. Soon after high school, he began serving in the church as a Sunday school teacher and youth volunteer.
He attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in Religion. Then, he moved to Waco to study at George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor University where he graduated with my Master of Divinity degree in 2005.
Wesley and Susan have been married for almost 16 years and have two children; an almost seven-year-old daughter named Meadow and our five-year-old son is named Ellison (Ellis). He enjoy hobbies such as reading, traveling, CrossFit, hiking, camping and especially spending time with family.
Contact Pastor Wesley at Wesocraig@gmail.com
Youth Minister - Phillip Higginbotham. Phillip and his wife, Diana, moved to South Texas from the Dallas area in 2006. They have three daughters; Courtenay, Abigail and Elizabeth. Phillip has served in youth ministry in both volunteer and staff capacities for the eight years before coming to La Vernia UMC in 2015.
Contact Phillip at LVUMCYouth@Hotmail.com
Contact Phillip at LVUMCYouth@Hotmail.com
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 LVUMCChildCare@Hotmail.com
Child Care's direct phone number: (830) 779-5117
Contact April at LVUMCChildCare@Hotmail.com
Child Care's direct phone number: (830) 779-5117
Administrative Assistant - Cheryl Cardenas. Cheryl previously worked for La Vernia United Methodist Church as our Wesley Nurse. She returned in 2015 as the Administrative Assistant working in the church office. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a nursing degree. Cheryl and her husband, Ricco, have two sons, Brennin and Scott. Rico is a firefighter for the San Antonio Fire Department.
Contact Cheryl through the main church e-mail address: LaVerniaUMC@Hotmail.com
Contact Cheryl through the main church e-mail address: LaVerniaUMC@Hotmail.com
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: LVUMCFinancial@Hotmail.com
Contact Kim at: LVUMCFinancial@Hotmail.com
Pianist - Linda Summerfield. Linda plays the piano for the 8:30am worship service.
Worship Leader - Emanuela Arghir
Emanuela was born and raised in Europe, Romania. From a young age she was called and drawn to music. She attended Ioan Sima Classical School of music until she relocated to the U.S. with her family.
Emanuela teaches voice, piano, and music lessons. Her passion lies in worship, however. She previously worked at The Fount Methodist Church of California where she was able to grow and learn more as a leader. She loves working with the youth and previously conducted a 35 member Romanian youth choir, ages 14-22, that was the high-light of her week.
Emanuela is thrilled to be part of the community at La Vernia United Methodist Church and hopes to be a vessel for Gods work and blessings as she diligently works for His kingdom.”
Emanuela was born and raised in Europe, Romania. From a young age she was called and drawn to music. She attended Ioan Sima Classical School of music until she relocated to the U.S. with her family.
Emanuela teaches voice, piano, and music lessons. Her passion lies in worship, however. She previously worked at The Fount Methodist Church of California where she was able to grow and learn more as a leader. She loves working with the youth and previously conducted a 35 member Romanian youth choir, ages 14-22, that was the high-light of her week.
Emanuela is thrilled to be part of the community at La Vernia United Methodist Church and hopes to be a vessel for Gods work and blessings as she diligently works for His kingdom.”
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