First Evangelical Methodist Church in Irvington, Alabama just recently commissioned a new pastor to lead their congregation.
First Evangelical Methodist Church in Irvington, Alabama just recently commissioned a new pastor to lead their congregation.
Had the joy of speaking with the new pastor of First Evangelical Methodist Church this past week and he agreed to share a bit about himself for the paper. Here is a little bit about Pastor Byron Wilmoth.
I am from Danville, Virginia. Danville is a city located at the bottom of Virginia on the North Carolina border. Population of about 45K people. Mostly working class families and a church on every street corner. I am the youngest of two boys. My brother Jason and I were born to Richard and Marianna Wilmoth. My father is a retired Captain from the Adult Detention Facility and my mother a retired Registered Nurse.
My wife Stephanie is an Alabama native born in Huntsville. She moved to Virginia when she was a child. We attended school together growing up although we did not know each other. We met again while in college. We have been married for 14 years and have one child, Marabella Nicole who is 12 years old. We are a family that enjoys spending time outside together, making each other laugh, and serving our community. We have grown closer and stronger as a family through being the hands and feet of Jesus in the cities we have lived.
I was raised in church. My family was at church every Sunday, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. When I was 10, I made a decision to follow Christ, however, I do not believe the transforming work of Christ had taken place. I always believed, but I never surrendered. I spent years of my life being a rock musician, an artist, a sous chef, and registered nurse. It wasn’t until I was an adult when God changed me. I experienced an amazing and unforgettable encounter with God and from that moment on, I was never again the person I used to be. In an instant, He changed me and reminded me of the calling He had put on me when I was 14, to be a pastor. I have spent over a decade in ministry. I have been a worship pastor, youth pastor, and now a senior pastor. I have a bachelor’s of science from the University of Virginia. I attended the Haggard School of Ministry and next year I will finish up classes at the Evangelical School of Ministry with full Elder’s orders from the Evangelical Methodist Church.
God has given me a specific vision of revival in the Southern Mobile area. I believe strongly that His body of believers are being burdened to abandon the old comfortable and safe ways of church and step out in faith to be the church that was established in the first century. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to encourage, empower, and equip believers to live remarkable lives in service, love and commitment to this community and the world. I believe that the work of Christ must be done outside of the walls of a church building. I believe that all ages, all colors, all nationalities, and all cultures should be able and willing to worship together. My prayer for this community is that the Holy Spirit saturate each and every church and believer and that we will all grow in love, peace and unity together as we enter into a revival unlike any that has been seen.
Here at First EMC Irvington, we are working hard at creating an environment that is culturally relevant without sacrificing the unchanging truth of God’s Word. We are planning and implementing programs and events that will serve our community and the next generations. We are creating a worship environment that offers modern and traditional worship. We are a growing body of believers and our commitment is refreshed and stronger than ever. We are so very excited to have been given the opportunity by God to be a part of this community and to pastor this wonderful church of amazing people.
