I am the newest one here, having been appointed to Utica United Methodist Church effective July 1, 2011, and I am grateful for the warm welcome we have felt as we begin to learn more about one another. And we do need to get to know each other in order to be the close family God would have us be to enable us to support one another as we grow in our faith and outreach on his behalf.
I was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, middle child among 3 brothers and 1 sister. Following graduation from Delta College and Ferris State University, I worked in retail management for a time. I completed my education at Asbury Theological Seminary and found that we don’t move as frequently in the ministry as we did in retail! I have served churches in Caro, Sandusky and St. Clair, Michigan.
My wife and I have one daughter who was recently married to a wonderful young man. They have moved to Georgia where my daughter is studying law and her husband is going to seminary. We have another ‘daughter’ whom we claimed as a result of her living with us as an exchange student from Brazil. She is now married and continuing her education to become a psychiatrist.
My wife and I have been active in the Emmaus Community. I also have a heart for mission work in Haiti, both participating in and leading mission teams. Currently I am the Chairperson of the Michigan Area Haiti Task Force and will be going back again soon. My other area of passion is roller coasters, and my daughter and I have each taken over 300 rides on the Millennium Force coaster at Cedar Point! Life is good – God is better!
Grace and peace to you all.
Rev. Don Gotham
