Rev. Justin Williams
Senior Pastor
Your position and role at Powell UMC; What are you passionate about? I am one of the pastors here at Powell, and I am passionate about inviting people to experience the abundant life that God offers each one of us–lives filled with love, joy, peace, and hope.
What is the favorite part of your job? I enjoy gathering with each Sunday morning to worship God that we might be empowered and equipped to be the people God has called us to be.
Family: My wife Chanda and I have been married since 2009. We have two sons–Wesley (born in 2012) and Walter (born in 2015).
Where are you from? I am originally from the Portsmouth, Ohio area. I moved to the Dayton area for college and seminary. My first church was in West Milton, Ohio (just north of Dayton). In 2015, I moved to Zanesville to pastor Coburn United Methodist Church. Then, in 2021, our family relocated to Powell to serve as the pastor at PUMC.
Ministry background, degrees, credentials: I have served in various ministry areas, including music, Christian education, and campus ministry, but since 2010, I have been the pastor of United Methodist Churches. I received a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theological Studies from United Theological Seminary. Before going to seminary, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Wright State University.
What are your hobbies? I enjoy running. I have run at least one mile every day since December 31, 2016. I also enjoy music. I enjoy singing, playing piano, and exploring other musical instruments.
Your favorite quote or verse from the Bible: I have so many verses in the Bible that I love. A verse that I recently discovered as a favorite is Psalm 105:2, where we read, “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” This verse is an invitation and a command. It has a vertical aspect (to God) and a horizontal aspect (to others). We are invited to sing praise to God (vertical) and are commanded to tell of God’s wonderful acts (horizontal). Obviously, I love to sing, but I also enjoy sharing the good news of God with others. Both are important for me and I strive to do them each day.
What has God been teaching you lately? Trust…I like to be in control and have everything planned out. I am discovering in seasons when that is not possible, I simply need to rest in God’s faithfulness and love.