Hello
Dear Union Grove Family,
In Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, he writes:
"Above all, wrap yourselves in love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your hearts and your thoughts. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:14-15)
I can’t think of a better way to begin than with those words. Over these past days as my family and I have been moving into the parsonage, we’ve been surrounded by so much love and care from this wonderful community. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Your kindness, generosity, and warm welcome have meant so much to us. We are truly excited to serve Christ together here in Union Grove.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself and my family so you can get to know us better. I earned my B.S. in Meteorology from N.C. State University and spent some time working with an agricultural consulting firm and later with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In late 1992, I felt God calling me into ministry, and by 1993 I was at Duke Divinity School, where I graduated in 1996. I have a deep love for Jesus and a passion for helping others grow closer to Him.
Over the years, I’ve led 11 mission and building teams to Armenia and currently serve as Chairperson of the Project AGAPE Board—a mission partnership between the Western North Carolina Conference and the North Carolina Conference. When I’m not serving the church, I enjoy playing tennis and golf, hiking, and reading books on faith and spirituality.
My wife, Laura, is a graduate of Meredith College with a degree in Math and Computer Sciences, and she earned her Master’s in Engineering in Computer Science from N.C. State. She currently works at Davidson Davie Community College. Laura loves hiking, crafting, studying languages, and is an avid reader.
Our oldest, Elizabeth, graduated from N.C. State University in 2014 with a degree in Wildlife Biology. She now works at Jordan Veterinary Hospital in Lexington and loves reading, British history, and caring for animals. She has also been on several mission trips to Armenia.
Our son, Ashley, graduated from UNC Pembroke in 2016 with a degree in Chemistry and now works at Jowat Adhesives Corporation in Archdale. He enjoys soccer, basketball, reading, and video gaming.
As we begin this journey with you, we are excited to see what God has in store. Union Grove UMC and this whole community have already shown us what it means to live out the love of Christ. My prayer is that together we will continue to reflect His peace, His love, and His joy in all that we do.
We look forward to meeting each of you in the weeks and months ahead. May the peace of Christ fill your hearts and guide us as we grow together in Him.
With gratitude and excitement,
Rev. Allan Van Meter
(and Laura, Elizabeth, and Ashley)