Hearts Strangely Warmed - Pastor Elizabeth Jackson

“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.

Pastor Elizabeth Jackson
Commissioned as a Provisional Elder in 2022

I always grew up in the church, but never liked going. When my grandfather died and I lost my best friend, I questioned everything in life, including how a loving God would take him away. I couldn’t believe a loving God would do something like that, so I gave up on God. Yet, God never gave up on me. God kept sending people into my life who showed me more of who God is. 

When my friend in high school invited me to youth group, everything changed. It brought me to a place where I accepted God as my Savior. A year later when I lost my grandmother, it brought me to a very dark place. But through my pastors at Bethany UMC in Red Lion, Charlie Salisbury and Cathy Boileau, I took that first step out of that dark place and started to believe that God had something better for me. 

Memorial Day weekend of 2003, the high schoolers of the youth group held a special event for the junior high youth. It was at this event, that I knew God was calling me to serve him, I was just unsure of how. In college, I realized that God was calling me to pastoral ministry. I started the process, but it terrified me. I had great examples of pastors, but felt that I couldn’t be like them, so therefore, couldn’t be a pastor. 

I dropped out of the candidacy process, convinced God made a mistake, and instead pursued the career of mental health counseling. My goal was to become a licensed professional counselor and serve as an outpatient therapist. Through years of hard work, I arrived. The work I was doing was valuable and necessary, but I felt unfulfilled. It felt like something was missing, but I couldn’t put it into words at the time. 

When I attended Bible study around that time, at Church of the Good Shepherd (Lebanon, PA), discussion with a retired UM pastor made me realize something; I had been neglecting my call to ministry. 

Over the years my call had never changed, even though almost a decade had passed. Still, God used this time to further prepare me and equip me to serve him. When I started the process over again to become a pastor, there was a calm reassurance that I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing. While I still questioned if I had what it would take, I held firm to the words of Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

God has grown me in ways I could have never imagined possible, and I am excited to continue serving God as pastor. It is my hope that I can help those who struggle with mental illness to feel a sense of belonging, welcome, and understanding in the church. Like I experienced in my youth, I hope to help others to find hope in the midst of whatever darkness they are facing. After all, the church is a place where we can go with all our hurts, and lay them at the foot of the cross, experiencing the healing only Jesus can bring.

Hearts Strangely Warmed

“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.

Rev. Jason Schwartzman

I had been offered a chance to pastor a church while I was a youth director at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in York. I flatly refused. I wasn’t a pastor. I was a youth director and I loved everything about that job! I was happy there and had no interest in being a pastor at all! God was patient. 

Circumstances changed and soon my family discerned a call to be missionaries in India. I wanted to go there to help foster and build a deep sense of community and care. On September 12, 2011—24 hours before our plane left New York City—Michelle (my wife) and I were making a last run or two to CVS and some other places. We passed Otterbein United Methodist Church in York. I casually said to Michelle, “Now if I was ever asked to be the pastor of THAT church, I wouldn’t say no”. We finished our errands and boarded our plane the next afternoon. God was patient. 

I can fill pages about the incredible and wonderful experiences we had in India. The stories of those children are forever etched in my heart and in my mind. Their courage, their joy and their SENSE OF COMMUNITY changed my life. It wasn’t long before I realized that I was the one who was learning while I was in India. I was learning that sense of community that I longed for so deeply was very present in that village and at that school. And that’s what I longed to bring home to the United States. God was patient…and wise. 

Upon our arrival back in the US, the first few weeks were a blur! My daughter was born just a few weeks after we got back, there were a few places of employment that I would rather forget, but there was also a life-changing phone call. “Jason, I know you said no before…but I really think that this church would be a great match for you….” I sheepishly responded “Okay, which church…?” Wouldn’t you believe, it was Otterbein UMC in York? God was patient. God was wise. I couldn’t say no. I promised I wouldn’t say no! 

Once again, I could fill PAGES with the joy that was becoming the pastor of Otterbein Church in York (RIP). I saw the sense of community that I longed to experience actually come to fruition in so many tangible ways at Otterbein! The following appointments have been equally as rewarding: East End/Fairview UMCs in Altoona and now Grace UMC in Lemoyne. It has always been, and I imagine always will be, my goal to make the church a part of the community in deep and meaningful ways. We, the church —every church—exist for the people who have not yet walked into our doors and have not yet experienced a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. This work is worth giving my life to! God was patient, even when I wasn’t. God was wise, even when I wasn’t. 

I am honored to have been ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church. There are not enough pages in The LINK to thank the people that made this day possible. I am so filled with gratitude and awe of the tremendous churches I have had the privilege of serving, my incredible family who has supported every step of this journey, and of course the amazing grace of God, who was patient. 

Hearts Strangely Warmed: Jeffery D. Holland

“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.

Jeffery D. Holland

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, NIV

On March 20 of 2020, I experienced one of the worst days of life. I was furloughed from my job as a sales rep due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I had worked for over fifteen years to build a career and suddenly it was just gone. Without my job, I lost my sense of self-worth, I felt lost.

I had a lot of time to sit and reflect on my life. I sat at my desk in my home office and looked out the window while I considered my future. I was frustrated with the business practices of my former employer. They didn’t treat people with dignity. Their focus was only on making money. It made me sick to my stomach when I saw them taking advantage of customers. I enjoyed working with people and wanted to help them. 

I was surprised to find that being laid off was actually a blessing in disguise. It gave me the space and the time I needed to reflect on my life.

I would not have had the courage to quit my job. I did not want to lose my income or all the effort I had put into building my career. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything and I took being furloughed as an opportunity to think. I began to realize that it was not just an ending—it was a new beginning! 

 

I spent many long afternoons praying and looking out the window. I studied the tree in our front yard and watched the leaves change. I even bought a squirrel feeder so I could watch the neighborhood squirrels. I admired God’s creation and allowed God to speak to me. 

I feel God urging me to take a new direction in my life. I believe God is calling me to a new beginning and a life of service to Jesus Christ. Throughout my life, I have many times felt a little push toward serving God but I always said to myself, “No—not now.” Due the pandemic, I finally had the opportunity to really hear God and come to the realization that I want to get away from always thinking about producing a profit at the cost of other people and instead focus on serving God and truly helping others.

I feel Christ calling me to dedicate myself to a life of service. I want to help others to find the same feeling of completeness I found within my church family. I’m excited to announce that I am now on the path toward becoming a certified candidate for ministry.   

I know this past year has been hard for everyone. A lot of people are out of work and many people have lost someone they love. Our world will never be the same. I don’t know when the pandemic will end, but I do know that God can turn tragedies into blessings. I hope that you will take some time to sit and listen to the voice of God. Look at a tree, a flower, or a bird and admire how Spring comes again every year. What is God saying to you? Where is God calling you? Take time to stop and listen! 

Hearts Strangely Warmed - Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge

“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.

Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge

A Journey of Calling 

I took my first steps in the back of Harrisville United Methodist Church. I was baptized and confirmed in this church, and sometimes I spent more time at church than the preacher’s kids! However, I loved going to church. I loved the people, and I loved the sanctuary that always seemed to usher me into God’s presence. 

At a very young age, I decided to follow Jesus, and by the time I was sixteen years old, that decision was deepening. Like many teenagers, I was pondering the frequently asked question of what I wanted to do when I grew up. I considered many different paths, but I wasn’t quite sure what to select. Then, one summer, when my family and I were on vacation in South Carolina, we visited a random church we had located through the yellow pages in our hotel room. We were warmly greeted when we entered, and we found seats as worship began. 

I wish words could capture the worship experience that enraptured me that day, but as in most thin spaces when heaven and earth intersect, words so often fall short. I remember standing and singing in harmony with the people of this church whom I had never met and whom I may never know their names. We sang deep praises of worship, and still to this day, this was the clearest picture of heaven I have ever witnessed. 

After the service, a kind lady came up to my family and said she had a word for us. She asked the pastor to come over, and he anointed us and prayed over us. The word she gave us was “transverse.” She believed my family would cross geographical boundaries for the sake of the gospel. It was an incredibly powerful moment of prayer and anointing.

I remember walking out of the church back to our car reflecting on all that had just happened. In that moment, I came to a very important decision. I knew that nothing else mattered in life except following Jesus with all that I am and all that I have. This moment was the beginning of my call to ministry and led me on a journey that is still unfolding.

That moment of calling led me to attend Messiah College, now University, where I majored in Christian Ministries and minored in music. Upon graduating from Messiah, I attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. where I spent 3 years working at a large suburban church and building a partnership between this suburban church and a non-profit homeless ministry in Baltimore. The same summer I graduated with my MDIV from Wesley, I married [Pastor] Kris Sledge and moved to near Chambersburg, Pa. I served St. John’s UMC for two years and then moved to Harrisburg to begin The Journey with Kris. I now serve at Aldersgate UMC in Mechanicsburg and am so thankful for the journey of calling that continues to unfold. 

I look back on that moment of calling in South Carolina and am amazed at all that God has done! I could have never guessed where the journey would lead, but I am filled with gratefulness for the churches, family members, pastors, and mentors who have made this journey possible. Most of all, I am thankful for God’s faithful presence with each and every step. 

Hannah was commissioned as a Provisional Elder in 2020.