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March 2007 |
Wakarusa pastor named North missions secretary
By Gina Riendeau
He is a vital link among mission leadership, local churches and Global Ministries. |
The North Indiana Conference has named the Rev. Ed Geleske, pastor at Wakarusa United Methodist Church in the Michiana District, Conference Secretary of Global Ministries. In this position he is a vital link among mission leadership, local churches and Global Ministries, mission agency of United Methodists.
He will work to schedule missionary speakers, is part of the conference Mission and Outreach Ministry Team, and leads the District Mission Chairs in Mission Education. Geleske says he believes God calls everyone to be in mission, that becoming active in mission is a natural outgrowth of abiding in Christ.
One of Geleske's formative experiences was participating in a three-month international study program in Belize during his college years at Goshen. Part of the time there he studied culture and part of the time he worked. He and a fellow-student joined a pastor in a remote village to finish building the only church in the town. He admits his efforts at building pews and installing windows in the church were amateur efforts. However, his memories of the village people are especially warm.
"The people of Belize were gracious and loving hosts. They blessed me in so many ways," Geleske said. He remembers how they sacrificed to provide Coke and chicken every Sunday for the two, luxuries their families rarely enjoyed in their very poor homes.
"That experience showed me the vast number of blessings that I have taken for granted as an American," he said.
Ed has served as the Michiana District Mission Chair for several years. He also chaired a Mission Celebration event in the Michiana District in 2003, as well as a major training event there this past November. He is president of the board of directors of the Family Christian Development Center in Nappanee. Under his leadership the Center grew from a food pantry to include prescription support for the poor and elderly, home construction and rehab, well-baby healthcare and a marriage mentor program.
Geleske graduated from Goshen College in 1977 and from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1980, becoming ordained in 1981. He is married to Jo and has two sons: James, 21, and Benjamin,19. His hobbies include astronomy, computers, photography. He has served churches in Dyer (Calumet District) and Roanoke Seminary (Huntington District) before going to Wakarusa.
For more information, contact the Rev. Ed Geleske, Wakarusa UMC, by phone 574-862-2863 or by e-mail at Edwakarusaumc@verizon.net.
Gina Riendeau serves as associate director of Connectional Ministries of the North Indiana Conference Board of Global Ministries. Her e-mail address is gina@nicumc.org or call her at 800-783-5138.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008