The West Mathews Charge of the United Methodist Church has welcomed a new pastor and St. Matthew Church to its charge.
The Rev. Kristie Askew is a licensed local pastor in the Virginia Conference of the UMC since January 2018. She grew up in Gloucester, and graduated from Gloucester High in 1994. She received her Bachelor of Science in Religion at Liberty University in 2012 and then her Master of Divinity at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in 2019. She is currently enrolled in her second unit of Clinical Pastoral Education pursuing board certified chaplaincy.
She began serving in pastoral ministry in 2016 as a part-time lay pastor at Thousand Trails Campground in Gloucester. In 2017, she was appointed as a part-time lay pastor to Shackelfords Chapel UMC in King and Queen, while working toward her pastoral license and attending graduate school. She is also a founding member and Executive Director of G.U.E.S.T. (Gloucester United Emergency Shelter Team) providing shelter to households experiencing homelessness in the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
She has been married to Johnny Askew for 14 years and has three children, Brianna Sulc, Joshua Sulc and Eliana Fountain. Her oldest daughter, Brianna, went home to be with the Lord in December 2016, a release said.
Askew is passionate about creating community where all people feel welcome and loved, the release said. “Church family has been so important in my own life, especially in challenging times like when I was a homeless teenager, when I went through divorce, and when I lost my oldest daughter. Life is messy and hard, and we all need a community we can turn to for support, encouragement and friendship, and of course, celebration when life is good. Regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in, I strive to be that safe space to come for a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on, where people can be their authentic selves.”
Emmanuel and Grace Providence also welcomed St. Matthew Church to its charge. The West Mathews Charge will hold a joint worship service at 10 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month on a rotation between all three churches. St. Matthew Church will hold worship services at 9 a.m. on the other Sundays; and Grace Providence and Emmanuel will alternate monthly worship services at 10 a.m. with Grace Providence beginning the rotation in August. For more information, call the church office at 804-725-9855 or email Pastor Kristie at kristieaskew@vaumc.org.