Mount Gilead Trinity United Methodist Church members enjoyed a family retreat with their new pastor, Jeff Canankamp last week at Lutheran Memorial Camp.
Canankamp became Trinity’s pastor this summer in July. Pastor Jeff grew up near Wooster, OH and gave his life to Christ at the age of 17.
He received a call to ministry within a year of his conversion and attended Asbury College and Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
At Asbury he met his wife, Denise and the two settled in central Pennsylvania where they lived for 27 years. Jeff was a pastor at several United Methodist churches there.
They have three sons, Chris (30), Jonathan (27) and Jordan (25) and three granddaughters. Pastor Jeff and Denise decided to come to the East Ohio Conference and were called to Mount Gilead Trinity.
They are happy to be here serving the Lord near Jeff’s parents who live on a farm in the Wooster area. Canankamp spoke about the experience he and Denise had going without a television for three weeks when then moved to Mount Gilead last month. He said they missed the connection with the outside world, but it was “a refreshing change.”
Canankamp added, “Our connection with the outside world of local and national news was different. I don’t know about you, but watching the world news can get depressing. And yet as I said in the first sermon I preached here at Trinity, what can the righteous do?”
“When the world seems to be falling apart, we must remember that God is still God and He rules and reigns from His throne. He has everything under control even though we may not understand everything and be tempted to be dismayed. God is the judge of all and in the end will settle all scores. It is up to us to do all we can to help our society look to God and live righteously. And we pray for revival in our land. But this is not guaranteed. We look to God and we worship God.
That’s what the righteous can do,” Canankamp said.
Pastor Jeff welcomes all to the two worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about Sunday school, Bible studies and Trinity activities and events you can visit their website at www.mgtrinity.com.
