Our Congregational Goals for 2010
 

We will make disciples by welcoming new people to Christ through:

1.) Generating welcome packets and more information in printed form to hand out to visitors concerning adult and youth programs;
2.) Encouraging greater diversity in our planning groups to increase interaction among different age groups;
3.) Promotion of expanded small group and Bible study opportunities.


We will make disciples by nurturing persons in their faith through:

1.) Offering of both a youth and an adult confirmation class;
2.) Resuming of an adult Bible study currently led by the pastor;
3.) Formation of a worship team, intentional planning, and creative services;
4.) Further support of small groups such as Cub Scouts, Teen Bible Study, Youth Group, HIS Puppet Ministry, and young adult ministries.


We will transform disciples to be Christ to others in the world through:

1.) Continuing current ministries to needy families, the Bible Bus Ministry, Operation Christmas Child, and our covenant support of missionary, Elma Jocson;
2.) Preparing for upcoming adult and youth mission trips in 2010 and/or 2011;
3.) Supporting more local mission organizations in Giles County and the New River Valley.

 

Our Pastor

 

In July 2009, our Charge welcomed our new pastor, Rob Lough, to Pembroke. Rob and Andee Lough made their way to Pembroke and Mount Lebanon from the South Georgia Annual Conference, where Andee was stationed at Robins Air Force Base, just south of Macon. There, Rob was on staff at Andrew United Methodist Church for three years. In May of 2009, he graduated from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology with a Master of Divinity.

The youngest of four children, Rob was born in Canton, Ohio; however, his family moved to East Tennessee when he was eight, and he has considered the Appalachian mountains home ever since. Rob’s lifelong love-affair with God, his call to ministry, and so many of his earliest memories were formed in a church within the Wesleyan tradition under the shadow of the Smoky Mountains. In 1997, he graduated from Sevier County High School, and in 2001, from Maryville College with a degree in religion and philosophy. Following the events of September 11th that year, Rob accepted a commission in the military. As an officer in the United States Air Force, he flew KC-135 tankers as a Navigator on Special Operations Missions. His service led him on four deployments to the Middle East in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

In 2005, Rob met the love of his life, Andrea Rhea. Andee, as she prefers to be called, grew up just outside of Clarion, Pennsylvania, the oldest of three children. Raised in the Roman Catholic Church, Andee went to Gannon University in Erie, PA. After receiving her degree in Biology, she attended the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to a residency in Family Practice. Andee concluded her practice at the Robins Air Force Base clinic on June 24, 2009. She is excited to join the community of believers in Virginia as she pursues her own ministry to the sick in Giles County.

Much to both of their mothers’ chagrin, Rob and Andee do not yet have children. However, they are the proud parents of very spoiled pup, a shih tzu named Patch. Collectively, Rob and Andee’s life stories confirm for them that God is in relentless pursuit of each and every one of us. Their appointment to Pembroke fulfills Rob’s lifelong desire to serve God in full time ministry. In short, Rob and Andee bring much excitement for what God has in store as we grow to love one another in Christian community.