I was born in Douglas, and raised mostly in Bisbee. I did spend 7th grade in Nogales, and the first half of eighth grade at Pistor Jr. High in SW Tucson. I graduated from Bisbee HS in 1979 (30 years ago!) It was during my senior year in high school that I first sensed a call to ordained ministry through the UMYF.
However, after high school, I attended Colorado Institute of Art to study photography. I realized I had made a mistake during my second academic quarter there. I returned home and enrolled at Central Arizona College for the fall of 1980. While attending there, I served as Youth Director for Coolidge UMC.
I then transferred to Northern AZ University, preparing for seminary. While there, I was asked to serve as a Licensed Local Pastor to El Divino Redentor UMC, a Hispanic congregation just off of the NAU campus. I served for a year and a half before resigning, dropping out of college, and leaving the church. I rebelled against God’s call.
During my “time away”, I worked as a waiter, a security guard at Skyline Country Club in Tucson, and as a Detention Officer for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department. I had worked my way up to sergeant in three years before I heard God’s call again, and returned to school.
I attended Walk to Emmaus #26, the one and only Walk held in Coolidge. During a moment of silence, I heard an audible voice say, “I’m still waiting.” With the help of a Spiritual Director, I discerned that was God’s voice. 5 months later, I was enrolled at the dreaded ASU to finish my Bachelor’s degree and proceed to seminary.
I graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1997. I served Shepherd of the Valley and Epworth UMCs in Phoenix before being moved to Shepherd of the Pines in Overgaard. I was there when the Rodeo-Chediski fire burned through the Rim Country in 2002. I spent the following year helping the community recover. I then served Heritage UMC in Las Vegas before my most recent assignment as an Associate Pastor at First UMC of Gilbert.
I see God’s hand in my being appointed to St. James. I was in need of an assignment, and St. James was in need of a pastor, and we seem to be a good fit. I lean conservative in my theology and I believe God has called each Christian to be part of the work of the church, to make new disciples for Jesus. I look forward to seeing how we will live this call together!
In a sense, this is like a homecoming. My father, all three sisters, and a brother live in Tucson. I truly enjoy the Huachuca Mountains, and am especially fond of the area around Parker Canyon Lake, so I am closer to that area as well. My mother has lived with me since 1997, and enjoys visiting friends and family in Bisbee and Douglas, so she will be closer as well
Looking forward to meeting all of you and enjoying out time together.
Con el amor de Christo
With the Love of Christ
Laszlo
