Comforting Grieving Mothers
It isn’t often that career paths cross for the Rev. Lindsay Kirkpatrick (M.Div. ’10) and her sister, Andrea Wursche, a registered nurse at Houston Methodist Hospital. But when inspiration struck, the two launched a program to comfort women after a miscarriage or stillbirth. The idea emerged over a Tex-Mex lunch in 2021, when the two talked about the challenges facing labor and delivery nurses. Kirkpatrick, senior pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Pasadena, Texas, had recently visited a church member suffering after a miscarriage and felt called to help grieving families. With help from the Texas Annual Conference, the two women found a way. Read the story in the Houston Chronicle here.
Rev. Dr. Challis Bradford Appointed Chaplain
Rev. Dr. Challis Bradford (M.A.M. ‘16) is the newly appointed TX/NM State Chaplain for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The historically Black sorority was founded in 1913 by 22 women at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The sorority is one of the largest sororities founded in the U.S., with more than 350,000 initiated members and more than 1,000 around the world. Bradford also serves as Servant Leader Pastor of Greater Garth Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. Haynie to lead St. Nicholas
The Rev. Amy Haynie (M.Div. ‘09) has accepted the rectorship of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Midland, Texas. “As the new priest in town, I’m looking forward to getting to know my new community through parishioners, colleagues and community leaders,” she said. “I am curious about what God is up to in Midland right now and how to partner in whatever that work may be.” Haynie, who lived in Odessa from 1977-1984, comes to the new assignment from Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, where she had served as associate rector since 2016. Prior to that she served the Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls and the St. Martin in the Fields Church in Keller. Haynie graduated from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and worked for a decade in nursing, then earned an M.Div. at Perkins. Read the story in the Odessa American here.
Obit: The Rev. Peter Soens
The Rev. Peter M. Soens (Th.M. ‘76) passed away at age 83 on January 4 in Farmington, Mo. Soens served as a United Methodist Minister for 32 years in several churches in Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Services were scheduled for January 10 at Memorial United Methodist Church in Farmington with Rev. Ron Beaton officiating. Memorial donations may be made to either the Farmington or Park Hills Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry. View obituary and share condolences online here.
Obit: The Rev. John Winkler, Jr.
The Rev. John “Jack” H. Winkler Jr. (Th.M. ‘63) died January 8. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he attended Perkins and began his ministry in 1958. During his long career he served numerous United Methodist churches in cities across the state of Oklahoma, including Lexington, Sulphur, Leedey, Hominy, Muskogee, Oklahoma Conference Youth & Camps, Mooreland, Del City, Kingfisher, and Oklahoma City. Jack retired from ministry while serving the Methodist church in Blanchard. Funeral services were held January 16 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Oklahoma Methodist Foundation: Turpin UMC WINKLER ENDOWMENT FUND #6587 4201 N. Classen Blvd OKC, OK 73118-2415. Read his obituary here.