Knowing that she heard God’s call to ministry at age 15, Pastor Amy Miller of First United Methodist
Church in Bowling Green fully understands the importance of ministering to all ages.
Miller began her work as lead pastor at this church last July. She has found it to be a great experience
for her. She loves the intergenerational aspect of the ministry as she reaches the older generations as
well as the college students and youth.
Though she admits such a diverse mix of congregants can be a challenge, she said, “I view the
intergenerational mix as a gift more than a challenge.”
Helping her along are the assistant pastor Chris Walter; Stacy Kerr, the director for family ministry;
and Nate Kester, contemporary worship leader.
“The people of this church have a great commitment to mission,” Miller said.
She noted the more than 200 people who receive food each month from the church’s work, as well as its
partnership to have volunteers work at nearby Crim Elementary, as well as the church’s donation of a
Buddy Bench at the school. She also noted the presence of the Learning Center housed at the church.
Those are only some of the numerous outreach programs through the church.
The church also has great partnerships with Bowling Green State University, which is where Kester enters
the picture. Starting at FUM just three months prior to Miller, Kester is a BGSU music student in the
College of Musical Arts pursing a degree in music education with a jazz emphasis as well as music
business. He would love to become active in artist management primarily in the jazz realm
The Rochester, New York, native also plays saxophone (primarily the tenor sax) with two area bands and
also teaches private lessons.
Until then, he is quite happy working at the church and its music ministry.
On Feb. 19 at the 8:45 a.m. service only, the church present a program called Music Sunday.
Kester said, “we will be singing songs of praise as we get down to the core of praising God and Jesus
with our music.”
He said the message being delivered will focus on the importance of music in worship. He said some people
just take the music in church for granted and not think about “why we have music in worship?”
Miller praised Kester for what he brings to the church as well as Walter and Kerr.
“Our worship for me has been very devotional. We really need to do it well and we do,” the pastor said.
“Stacy does an incredible job for our families and discipling our children.”
Miller was born and raised in the rural Paulding and Defiance area. After hearing her call as a teen
while attending a non-denominational church, she eventually connected with Greater Works Ministries out
of Minneapolis. She then partnered with a United Methodist Church in Booneville, Arkansas. She pursued
her ministry degree at St. Paul School of Theology before getting her degree at the United Theological
Seminary, just 150 miles south down Interstate 75 in Dayton.
She noted how many mainline churches are losing members as the congregations as a whole are aging.
“Here we try to keep everything vibrant. It’s very difficult trying to engage everyone, but my preaching
style is focused on being engaging and relational. I always try to relate with our worship ministry,”
she said.
Her goals include encouraging the ongoing focus on missions and enriching the programs with the music and
art along with using all the talents of the congregation.
“I am a firm believer in the fact you can only do so many things well. We’re going to focus and follow
that,” Miller summarized.