Hello! My name is Forrest Garrett, and I am honored and excited about my recent appointment to serve as Associate Pastor to “The Texarkana Parish“.
“The Texarkana Parish” is an exciting experiment in which we hope to see our United Methodist connectional system at its best as three Churches in the Texarkana area (Williams Memorial, First UMC, and Saint Luke’s) seek to truly be The UNITED Methodist Church by sharing clergy and resources in order to better fulfill our mission to make disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the step of faith that each of these Churches are making by participating in this project, and look forward to what our great God has in store for us in the coming year.
A lifelong Methodist, I was born and raised in Texas City, Texas, but left home at the age of 16 to attend “Interlochen Arts Academy” and later “Westminster Choir College.”
At the age of 22 I began my journey in Ministry by joining “The Covenant Players,” which is an international Christian drama ministry that travels the world performing in Churches, Prisons, Schools, with the American Military, and in many other places. “Covenant Players”uses drama and music as a means of communication: to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. During my time in Covenant Players I met my wife Eva. Eva (who was also serving in CP) is from Sweden.
Eva and I have been married for 20 years and have three children (Robin (18) , Peter (14) and John (7)). Eva is an accomplished singer and a candidate for Ministry in the United Methodist Church.
During our life together I have been privileged to serve as a Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church in the United States as well as in Sweden, and as Director of “Nynashamns Ungdoms Teater” (a theater ministry within the Church of Sweden) and as “Director of Contemporary Worship” at The First United Methodist Church of Lufkin, Texas.
Our latest appointment has been to The First United Methodist Church here in Texarkana, Texas, where we have been serving for the past four and a half years.
As a part of our ministry here in Texarkana we began “The Downtown Youth Theater.” The DYT is a community Theater outreach program that produces two productions per year. The idea is that through, and during the creative process of preparing a dramatic production, that we are given a myriad of opportunities to serve people, and to share the good news of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the past four years, the theater ministry has done eight productions and involved hundreds of people. The most recent production: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” has a cast of sixty-five, and just finished 9 performances at the end of May. “The Downtown Youth Theater” will continue its ministry through drama as part of the work of “The Texarkana Parish” and is making plans for its Fall production.
Once again, I would like to thank you for participating In “The Texarkana Parish,” and I look forward to the opportunity to serve as your associate Pastor.
God Bless,
Forrest Garrett
