Welcome to the
La Vernia United Methodist Church

Worshiping Christ
in La Vernia, Wilson County, Texas
since 1876

The Vision of La Vernia United Methodist Church is to Love God, Self & You.
The Mission of La Vernia United Methodist Church is to Serve, Share and Offer Christ.

Home | Worship Services | Childcare Ministry | CrossFire Youth | Sunday School | Bible Studies | Healthcare | Ministries Directory | Search | Calendar | Our History | Meet the Staff | Quick News | Wall of Honor | Links | About Us | Newsletter | Memories | Twice Blest Thrift Shop

MEET THE STAFF

Pastor Harry Kahl - Pastor Kahl became our pastor in June of 2006.  He has been the Director of Congregational Growth for the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church since 2002.  He and his wife, Belia, live in China Grove, east of San Antonio.  From 1991 to 1996 Harry served as the Coordinator for the Council on Ministries of the Southwest Texas Conference.  There's much more!  Click here! 
 

Associate Pastor - Jerry Goodridge.   Jerry was appointed to our church in 2004, by the UMC Bishop Joel Martinez. Jerry has a BA degree from St. Leo College and a Masters of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He was born on the Island of Barbados, met his wife, Vickey, in New York City and married her in Del Rio, Texas.  Jerry and Vickey have two grown children, Gerald, Jr. and a daughter, Darice. You can email him at click here!

 

Youth Director - Javier Rios. Javier Rios has served as our Youth Director for eight years. He has been the talented blessing behind our dynamic youth ministry, CrossFire, which is known throughout South Texas as one of the premier youth fellowships.  Rios also leads our Contemporary Worship Service and music.  Javier is married to Kathy.  They have two sons: Cody and Gabriel.  You can email him at click here!

Administrative Assistant-Kathy Balcar. Kathy has served in our church office for over thirteen years.  She is a great blessing and a wonderful resource to the church. Kathy is married to Larry and has three children: Troy and his wife Karen; Keith and his wife Noel; and Kristin. You can email her at click here!

Financial Secretary, Sandra Ingle.  Sandra has served LVUMC in the administrative office for two years.  She and her husband of 21 years, Jim, have  two sons, Ryan and Sean.  

 

Choir Director-Randy Cobb. Randy and his wife, Janice, have seven children:  Kristen, Sandra, Brandon, Bethany, Megan, Brook and Zachary. From Odessa, Texas, Randy graduated from Southwest Texas St. Univ. in 1990 with a degree in Music Education. He has taught choral music in East Central ISD for 15 years.  He has served as Music Director of Rolling Oaks Christian Church, Blanco UMC, Shepherd King Lutheran Church and Alamo UMC. 

Annette Gracy - Custodial Mgmt.

 


Childcare Ministries
Director - Kim Bachman

 

Cheryl Cardenas, R. N.
Wesley Nurse


Cheryl graduated in Canada from the University of Manitoba Health Science Center School of Nursing in 1992 (at the age of 21) and moved to San Antonio to begin working as a nurse.  She worked in various city hospitals, mostly in the Emergency Rooms or Intensive Care Unit’s (including the Trauma ICU and burn unit at BAMC).  She had 14 years of hospital experience before staying home with her young kids for 2 years.  Now she is a Wesley Nurse for Methodist Healthcare Ministres and works at both La Vernia UMC and Stockdale UMC.  She is married to a  firefighter for the city of San Antonio, and has 2 boys.
More about Pastor Harry Kahl:

     From 1996-1999 he served as Pastor at Jefferson UMC in San Antonio.  From 1991-1996 he served as Coordinator for the Council on Ministries of the Southwest Texas Conference. From 1983-1991 he was Campus Minister at the University of Texas at El Paso, as well as Pastor of St. James-Myrtle UMC in El Paso from 1983-87.  From 1969-1983 he served at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso.  He was part-time Associate Pastor at Grace UMC in El Paso from 1970-73 and part-time Pastor at Iglesia Metodista Unida Del Valle in Mesquite, New Mexico in 1982-83.  Harry served at various times as Interim Pastor at United Methodist Churches in Ft. Davis, Balmorhea, Cling, Fabens and Dell City. 
     Harry and wife Belia met at Burbank High School in San Antonio in 1960.  They were married in 1962 at Riverside Methodist Church.  Harry attended San Antonio Community College in 1960-61.  He served in the U. S. Army from 1961-64.

     He graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1966 and from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 1969.  He also has a Master in Education from U. T. El Paso.  Belia has a degree in Elementary Education from U. T. El Paso. 
     Harry enjoys fishing and photography.  He and Belia enjoy serving on teams for the Walk to Emmaus, Kairos Prison Ministry, and Volunteer in Missions projects.  They also enjoy traveling and have visited many places in the USA, including Hawaii, as well as Italy, Austria, Germany Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada and England.  They presently live in a small home on a beautiful three acre place in China Grove, east of San Antonio.
     June 18th, 2006 was Harry's first Sunday to preach at LVUMC. 
website by  E.M.S. webshepherd@laverniaumc.org Copyright © 2005 La Vernia United Methodist Church
Last modified: 04/16/2009
Web site hosting by Alacrity Internet and La Vernia Online, both divisions of Oasis Computers
www.laverniaonline.com