First United Methodist Church Welcomes Dr. Wesley Welborn
Sesquicentennial Celebration: 150 Years to Celebrate, 150 Ways to Serve
Center, Texas – July 27, 2016 – Commemorating their year-long sesquicentennial anniversary milestone “150 Years to Celebrate, 150 Ways to Serve,” the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Center welcomes Dr. Wesley Welborn on Sunday, July 31 at a combined worship service beginning at 10:15 a.m. Sunday School begins at 9:15 a.m. and a covered dish luncheon will be held immediately following the worship service.
Dr. Wesley Welborn is a Texan, born in Corpus Christi and graduated from Victoria High School. After graduation, he attended McMahon School of Stenotype in Houston. From there, Wesley was appointed Official Court Reporter of the 145th Judicial District Court in Nacogdoches. There he met Becky Lock at the Stephen F. Austin State University Wesley Foundation.
They married in Elkhart in 1970. In 1971, Wesley had a powerful experience of God’s grace and love in Christ Jesus. He prayerfully asked for and received the call to dedicate his life to preaching and teaching about that love and grace. Wesley was appointed pastor of the Smith Chapel Circuit in Mineola on February 1, 1972 and served ten appointments, including FUMC Center, Texas from 1994 to 2000.
In addition to Wesley’s pastoral responsibilities at FUMC Center, he found ways to actively minister to the community through his involvement as a member of the Center Noon Lions Club, the Ministerial Alliance, the Mallory Franks Foundation, and his weekly radio devotionals. After over 44 years of service, he retired at annual conference this year, but will continue to serve the Conference as an Intentional Interim Minister. Wesley and Becky are currently living in Elkhart and have two children and four grandchildren.
Additional information regarding FUMC’s 150th anniversary celebration plans for October 2016 will be announced as details become available or by contacting Rev. Karen Jones at FUMC (936) 598-2707.
