Area Methodist churches welcome new pastor

LAUREL — The Laurel and Logan Center Methodist Churches are welcoming a new pastor Pastor Darren Timberlake and his family to the area.

He has been appointed to this pastoral service and Pastor Isaac Chua who has served the churches for two years has been appointed to the Methodist Church in Wellington, Kansas.

Pastor Darren has spent his lifetime in the ministry of service and faith.

He grew up the son of Pastor Bob Timberlake who devoted his ministry to mission work, directing Omaha’s Open Door Mission for 14 years.

Pastor Darren has been involved on mission teams to Mali, West Africa, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Hungary, and Romania.

He graduated from Millard High School in 1992 and from Grace University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Broadcast Journalism.

He met his wife, Holly, while they were in college and they have been in ministry together since as youth leaders, taught as house parents at the Omaha Home for Boys and served Faith Westwood UMC.

Pastor Darren was the Director of Missions for the church for almost three years until being licensed as a Local Pastor.

Holly continues as Director of Adult and Family Ministries at Faith Westwood UMC.

Currently, Pastor Darren is enrolled in on-line classes at Sioux Falls Seminary, working toward a Masters in Divinity degree with anticipation of eventual full ordination in the Methodist Church. Pastor Darren has been serving a half time appointment at the Johnson UMC and Brock UMC in Nebraska.

For the last six years he has also maintained a full time position as the assistant manager of Quick Trip in Omaha.

He enjoys outdoor activities, especially hunting and fishing.

He is also a huge Nebraska Cornhusker fan but also cheers for Michigan.

His sense of humor and easy going style mark his outgoing personality.

Pastor Darren and Holly have three children: Eleora, 17; Jonah, 15; and Micah, 12. For the coming school year, Pastor Darren and his boys will reside in Laurel, while Holly and their daughter will remain in Omaha so Eleora can complete her senior year at Millard South. They will commute between Laurel and Omaha until Eleora graduates.

The family is excited for this move to Laurel. Pastor Darren and Holly have a very Christian-based faith, proven leadership and communication skills, and value family, church and community involvement. They are eager to serve the Laurel-Logan Center congregations and will relocate to Laurel near the end of June after living in Omaha the last 17 years.

He will begin his ministry here July 1, and his first Sunday services will be July 5 at both Laurel and Logan Center Churches.