I look forward to serving with you as we seek to further God’s work in the community that surrounds us. I come to you after serving in rural churches, a university church, 3 city churches, and 2 suburban churches. Prior to my professional ministry I worked in higher education for 23 years. Sandy and I have been married for 30 years and have two sons. In my free time I enjoy camping, hiking, running and reading.

I studied at Southern Methodist University, the University of Maryland at College Park and United Theological Seminary. Holding degrees in psychology, counseling and divinity.

I serve the broader church by serving on district and conference committees, including the Council on Finance and Administration, the Board of Ordained Ministry, registrar for the District Committee on Ministry, chair of the District Committee on Superintendency. I also served as facilitator of the conference wide Hands To Plow church revitalization program and a graduate of the Leadership Academy.

My life as a Christ Follower is best understood as a story of relationships and music. To tell the story I would tell you about Winnie Couchman, or Greg and Eric Jones, or Dr. Sargent, and certainly my wife. Each of these relationships has served to deepen my relationship with Christ.

I was given my first guitar by some of my Methodist Youth Fellowship friends. The gift of that guitar gave me my principle way of expressing my faith and drawing near to God. Since that time my guitar has allowed me to worship with many people, in many different settings.

I must confess that I do not often use the term “Christian”. The label is far too easy to claim. I find that a much more difficult name to claim is that of Christ Follower. I feel the name is indicative of the commitment required and the process to which we are called.

I have spent so much of my time like most people living as the main character of my own small story. Through the struggles of growing and maturing through the years, God has allowed me to see that He is inviting me to take part in His larger story. One where He is the main character and the focus, and where I play a smaller yet crucial role that He wrote specifically for me.

Bless you, Pastor Hoyt