About Us
Learn more about what we believe, who we are and the staff at St. James United Methodist Church.
OUR PASTOR
Pastor Matt Fowler
I believe that we are all called to Build the Kingdom of God. One of the key ways to meet that call is through the community. Community is at the very heart of my ministry. Jesus built relationships everywhere he went. We are to do the same. to develop Open, Loving, Honest, and Faith-filled relationships with one another.
It is a privilege to be appointed here at St. James. I am thankful for the opportunity to be your pastor. I have been a United Methodist clergy since 1996. Each of the churches I have served has been in the state of Nebraska. I have been as far west as Benkelman and Scottsbluuff and as far east as Springfield and Ralston, with stops in-between.
My wife, Margo, is a physician at THINK Whole Person Health Care in Omaha. We have four grown children; Keegan, Koy, Aurora, and Keland.
One fun fact about Me is I LOVE Diet Coke and eat Poptarts for breakfast.
OUR STAFF
Frida Guerrero
Office Manager
Kelli Granados
Christian Education Director
Dennis Smith
Custodian
Mamie Bryan
Choir Director & Tone Chimes
Connor Mortiz
Contemporary Music Director
Kathy Liebenguth
Bell Choir Director
OUR CORE VALUES
Our mission is to help you KNOW GOD and CONNECT with others. We BELIEVE, FOLLOW, TEACH, and EMBRACE ALL with open arms and warm hearts.
7 Core Values of St. James
TIRED OF DOING LIFE ALONE? Relationships are at the core of everything we do, because we know that relationships are where transformation really happens. One of the ways we live in relationship with each other is in our small groups where we develop friendship, commit to grow together, and care for one another.
WANT A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION WITH GOD? Prayer is vital to our life as a church, but it’s just as important for our individual life. We commit to making time to pray and connect with God on a daily basis, as this is a way we can share our joys and concerns with Him and each other, and receive His peace and comfort into our lives.
WANT TO HAVE THANKSGIVING EVERY WEEK? Gathering together each week is so important for our development as people! As we come together each week to sing songs, pray, and hang out with each other, we are showing God just how thankful we are to Him for all the things He has done in us and for us! No matter what service you choose to attend, traditional or contemporary, we hope you’ll join us between services for food and friendship!!
WANT TO HAVE A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BIBLE? We believe that Scripture has authority over our lives, and that includes how we relate with one another. We also know that sometimes people interpret scripture differently, and when that happens, we encourage open discussion, motivated by love.
WANT YOUR FAMILY TO THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE? Church is for everyone. We see throughout the Bible that God really cares about family. We want to see every person in your family become the person God created them to be, because when that happens, your family becomes the family God created it to be. We offer Bible studies, small groups, mission trips, and lots of social events for people of every age! No matter what stage of life you’re in, we’ve got something for you!
WANT TO DO GOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY? The Church is not just what happens inside these four walls on Sunday morning. We are called to be the Church every day of the week as each of us has an opportunity to make a real and sustainable impact on our communities and the world. We try to live out the words of our founder John Wesley, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
WANT TO FIND YOUR PASSION? We believe that YOU have a role to play in God’s plan for the world. God has given you specific talents, gifts, and strengths, not just for you to use to make a living, but for you to leave your mark on the world. We are here to help you figure out what those gifts, talents, and strengths are, and how you can use them with open arms and a warm heart to serve the Church and the world around you! We want to empower you to leave a lasting legacy.