MIDDLETOWN >> In 1871 “The Church of the Pioneers,” now known as Middletown Community United Methodist Church, called their first Pastor. His name was Jesse Green.
“We have come a long way since those pioneer days,” the Church said. “But we are just as delighted to announce our new pastor as those 24 charter members were so long ago.”
Last Sunday, the Church welcomed Pastor Melissa Hurley. She came originally from Sterling, Illinois a small town wedged between the boarders of Iowa and Wisconsin. Hurley grew up playing a lot of sports, the saxophone, and calling church “home.”
She graduated from North Central College — a school affiliated with the United Methodist Church — with a B.A. in Sociology. After college she engaged in a year of Hands On Service/Justice Work, Simple Living in Community, Spiritual Discernment and Leadership Development through the Disciples of Christ NBA-XPLOR program. This was followed by a year as the Director of Youth Ministry at Lafayette Christian Church.
