Rev. Lucy Robbins
I never imagined I would become a pastor. I went to college to become a pharmacist, and then an economist, and then a business woman, finally majoring in Business Administration at UNC Greensboro. After graduation, I landed a job that I loved working as an Academic Advisor for nine years at my alma mater.
My search for life’s purpose continued, leading me back to the faith community that had raised me. There I worked part-time with children and youth and fell head over heels in love with those who God placed in my life. After several more years of discernment, coupled with consistent affirmation from clergy mentors, I began to recognize the nudge of the Holy Spirit. Months later, I found myself at Duke Divinity School studying to become an ordained elder. Growing up in the United Methodist Church, I felt a deep connection to our Wesleyan heritage and knew that the UMC was the place for me!
My full-time ministry began six years ago in rural Rutherford County when I was appointed to minister alongside the good people of Caroleen UMC. It was a wonderful place to serve where poverty (and opportunity) thrives, and I felt right at home! I have a great passion for the poor and am inspired by the courage, strength, and faithfulness of those living on the margins. This is where I feel called to serve. This is what I love!
I also love Carolina basketball, gardening summer vegetables, hiking the mountains of Western North Carolina, and eating ice cream!
I am delighted to now be serving with the people of Biltmore UMC, a congregation of caring, nurturing folks who love Jesus and each other. While my ministry location has changed, the quest continues, and truth be told, it always will until we are with God. Church Father Saint Augustine says it best: “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.” We all are on this same journey to find a sense of the hope and peace of Jesus Christ which leads us forward through the ages.
I hope you’ll join us one Sunday to find out for yourself.
Steve Van Reenen
A native West Virginian and the son of a Methodist Minister (who served 45 years in the West Virginia Conference), Steve has lived in North Carolina most of his life. He is an avid West Virginia University fan. His gift is the ministry of helping the church account for its finances. His background in accounting and banking has lead him to be the Treasurer at Weaverville UMC (his home church), and Financial Secretary here at Biltmore UMC. Steve enjoys hunting, fishing, biking, running, coaching, and fast-pitch softball – specializing in pitching.
Ginna Alexander
Ginna has blessed Biltmore UMC as our Custodian for 21 years.
She loves spending time with the Father, her friends, and her family. When she is not making things shine and leaving a bit of sparkle along the way, she loves to go to the local flea markets and antique shopping.
* As we transition to worshipping at Ray Funeral and Cremation Services, we will no longer need Ginna’s services. We celebrated Ginna’s faithful care for our building with a time of recognition during our service on Sunday, August 28th, and followed it with a reception in her honor
Lauri Rickman
FYI, I am always wordy…
I have lived a very diverse life and faith journey. I was born in Western Pennsylvania (and am still a major Steelers Fan), but moved to southern California at a young age. I grew up in the United Methodist Church of Orange, where I not only grew in my faith, but also developed my lifelong love of music and theatre. I have been called to serve our Lord for as long as I can remember, even when I wasn’t actively attending church. In High School we all had to take a career aptitude test and I intended to go into theatre in some fashion, but the test came back with my number one match as becoming a Minister. Me?? A Minister?? My mind had never gone there! I served in the choir, as a Head Acolyte, did scripture readings and sermons as part of youth Sunday’s, but it had never occurred to me to become a Minister. I spoke with my Pastor, and he was very encouraging about it. I did feel a call from God, but ultimately, I decided I wasn’t ready to make that big of a commitment to the church. I loved theatre and music and wanted to make my life around it. Little did I know that God doesn’t give up that easily when you ignore his call.
My health through the years, with my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, has caused me a lot of grief, sorrow, and anger. I basically had to reinvent my life because I couldn’t do so many of the things I used to do. Medications helped, but never took it all away. Just made it less. As I became more stable with the Fibromyalgia, I finally went back to school and graduated with honors in Psychology from UNCA in 1999. I met my future husband around then and we married in July of 2000. Shortly after we married I found out that it impossible for me to have a baby. I had so much grief over the fact that I would never be able to have the “family” I had always imagined. I was so angry! I stopped going to church because I had lost the faith in everything. Yet I still prayed! I asked why my life had to be so difficult and painful? What had I done to deserve it? Why?! Just explain to me why?! I never got the answer though. My husband and I were both cat lovers, so without children, we put our passion in to cat rescue, care, and sanctuary. We specialized in taking care of handicapped or chronically ill cats. Those that nobody else wants. They are often amazing animals and they all have such a capacity to love.
Then, in 2014, I had a major Fibro flare and couldn’t function. I was out of work for months, and even with a part-time schedule could not reliably be there or accomplish all the work assigned to me. So, in January 2015 I was asked to resign my position. I was suddenly in major pain and fatigue and had lost a job for the first time in my life. Leaving us without any income. I was horrified! You’d think that was enough to pile on me all at once, but no, there was more to come. About two months after that happened my husband very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. It was after all this that I was finally led back to the church via a recovery program that was being started here at BUMC. She talked me into attending to help me with my grief. The people were so wonderful; caring and genuine. Going there each week and having the support there I feel, literally, saved my life. I started waking up inside again and letting the Spirit in. I started attending the contemporary service and then became part of the music team for it. Making beautiful music for God and his people warms me inside. I attended the Walk to Emmaus and it was there that my walls just burst. I gave up all the anger and grief I was holding onto and truly felt the Grace of our Lord, His pull, and that call, to Serve Him. I’m still trying to figure out what that means for me, but will keep listening and searching. I keep thinking back to that career aptitude test result, and although becoming a Minister is probably out of the question for me, I do feel that there is something more that he wants of me.
My love of God and belief that there is a plan for me still has grown again. I feel the “Call” to Serve, wherever He may lead me, and hope that maybe some of these hardships that have shaped my life will enable me to be of service to others, as Jesus would have us do. One big area I’m pulled to is the fight for the inclusion of all people, as Children of God, no matter what into our church. I am a Reconciled Individual and strive to have us become a Reconciled Community.
And what does the Lord require of you:
To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8