Green Valley United Methodist Church

Rev. Jean Newell - Associate Pastor

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I come from the “Sunflower” State of Kansas, and for my brother, sister, and me, moving was a way of life because our dad was in the Air Force.  By the time I entered college, however, we made one final move to Aurora, Colorado, and four years later, I graduated from Colorado State College—now known as the University of Northern Colorado—and began life as a high school drama and speech teacher.   Life’s twists and turns found me a few years later in Flagstaff, Arizona, where I graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Masters in Secondary Education.  Fast forward a little over 25 years later, and after graduating from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, (home of the Rose Bowl Parade and the Rose Bowl game itself!) in June of 2002, I was commissioned a Probationary Elder and began serving as an associate pastor at Red Mountain UMC in Mesa, Arizona.  Three years later in June of 2005, I was ordained a Full Elder with The United Methodist Church and was appointed solo pastor at Shepherd of the Valley UMC in the north part of Phoenix.  My next appointment in 2009 kept me in Phoenix, but this time the central part of the city at Creighton UMC where I served once again as the solo pastor.

Before becoming a pastor, I taught junior high and high school students, worked as an executive secretary and customer service agent in a tour and transportation company, and was a part-time cashier and customer service agent in a major department store.

I am a single mom with three grown children, eight grandchildren (ages 7 to 23), three great-grandchildren with another on the way . . . and I’m a child of God’s!  I came to the ministry much like Moses did—arguing all the way!!!  I first heard God’s call shortly after I went on the Walk to Emmaus.  “Yes, I know God loves me, but surely he doesn’t want me to be a pastor!  I’ve made so many mistakes!  I’m not good enough!”  I guess I sound like a certain fisherman I know by the name of Peter, don’t I!  However, just as Peter was blessed by God’s amazing grace, so have I been similarly blessed!  What I have learned and continue to learn through my ministry is that God’s grace is meant to be shared with all of God’s children!  Thus it is I believe God called this argumentative, imperfect, grandmotherly child of God’s into ministry to let God’s children know grace abounds . . . for them!