After serving for nine years as the pastor of Peakland United Methodist Church, the Rev. Dr. Tim Gerde is leaving Lynchburg behind for northern Virginia. He said that he will miss the strong, religious foundation within Lynchburg.
“Most people are not going to church on Sunday morning in northern Virginia, but in Lynchburg, people are still inclined to do that,” said Gerde.
Nevertheless, Gerde said that serving in Lynchburg, where churches are in abundance, has also presented a challenge.
“Being in this environment, I’ve been called to think about my own spiritual growth and bring excellence to worship,” said Gerde. “(There’s) always a church right around the corner.” Gerde’s ministry with Peakland UMC has been far from calm.
“There was a lot that happened while he was here,” said Barbara Nelson, business manager of Peakland UMC.
Gerde has worked and traveled with the Central Virginia Medical Mission Team, a group of local doctors who work to treat underprivileged patients in Kingston, Jamaica, on multiple occasions.
“We never had any mission trips until he got here,” said Nelson.
His first year at the church, 2001, Gerde had to retain faith amid the horrors of 9/11. In 2007, Gerde was confronted with an even more intimate disaster, the shooting at Virginia Tech.
“I drove up to Tech the day after the shooting,” said Gerde. Several members of Peakland UMC were students at Tech at the time. Amid the devastation, Gerde felt that his congregation was able to stay strong.
“Those are ways we all get clear about who we are,” he said.
According to Gerde, meaningful, spiritual growth “takes place in the shadow of significant loss.” Despite these hardships, Gerde says that he and his family have enjoyed their time in Lynchburg.
“It’s incredible how fast these nine years have gone by,” he said.
Gerde feels his daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah, have benefited from Lynchburg’s artistic scene.
“One of the gifts of this community is music,” said Gerde. “My children’s lives were blessed through their education and opportunity to play music.” Both of Gerde’s daughters began taking violin lessons as students of Paul Munro Elementary School. Along with preaching, Gerde was also able to teach himself guitar and played for the Peakland UMC congregation on several occasions.
“Music has gifted our home,” said Gerde.
Gerde has been reassigned to Fairfax United Methodist Church in Fairfax, where he will begin preaching on Sunday. Gerde’s successor at Peakland UMC, Edwin Clever, will also begin on Sunday.
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