“While the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” — John Wesley, May 24, 1738
God calls us to tell our story so that others may come to know Jesus Christ. “Hearts Strangely Warmed” was created to share these stories about transformational encounters with the Living God.
Allison Francesco
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| Bishop Jeremiah Park affirmed and commissioned Deaconesses Allison Francesco (center) and Fawn McCallister at the 2019 Susquehanna Annual Conference |
A United Methodist Deaconess takes a vow of love, justice, and service; it is a consecrated position of laity within the United Methodist Church. Allison’s consecration as Deaconess was affirmed at the 2019 Susquehanna Annual Conference.
Allison enjoys teaching and advocates for education, health and wholeness for all, particularly in the area of addiction.
As the parent of a child with dyslexia and an auditory processing deficit, Allison learned that she had to be ever-persistent in advocating for her daughter while navigating through the sometimes exasperating educational system; it was a tiring yet rewarding experience, and she felt God calling her to be an advocate within the educational system as a teacher. She has been an educator with Wallenpaupack Area School District since 2005, and currently teaches eighth grade English Language Arts and serves as the Volunteer Club advisor as well as the track and field announcer.
Allison is also certified in elementary education, English as a second language (ESL), and in middle grades social studies, math, and science. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in criminal justice, and has two masters from the University of Scranton in marketing and elementary education. She formerly worked for Wayne County Human Services, the administrative agency for the Area Agency on Aging, Children and Youth, and the Drug and Alcohol Commission.
Working with children and youth is her passion. Allison and her husband served as an intensive treatment family for foster children for nearly a decade, and Allison recently retired as youth director at her home church, Beach Lake United Methodist Church, after fourteen years. She believes every person has value and worth, and that children are indeed our future. Her mantra is “Education is Power”(from her Schoolhouse Rock days!), and believes God has called her to be a missionary in her community, teaching, empowering, and advocating for those without voice.
In July of 2017, Allison completed her Health Ministry Certificate through Wesley Theological’s “Heal the Sick” program. For over five years, Allison has been a co-leader of Beach Lake’s First Place 4 Health ministry, a Biblically-based health and fitness program which focuses on Christ as the center of the balanced four-sided person. Through participation and training in this program and by the grace of God, Allison was able to move past her disordered eating to achieve peace and better health. She is a Networking Leader through the National First Place 4 Health Program and is now serving as the facilitator for BLUMC’s new Health Ministry.
Allison also serves as a Lay Leader for Beach Lake UMC, and as a certified Lay Speaker within the district. She is a proud member of United Methodist Women and has served as an officer locally, and at both the district and conference levels. She is also completing her third term as dean of Susquehanna Conference’s annual Mission u, a school of Christian mission for children, youth, and adults. Currently, she is president of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton United Methodist Women.
She is excited to see what the Lord has in store for her in the future, and relies on his Word to guide her: “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
Find out more about the ministry of Deaconess at www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/dhm
