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Jan 21, 2018 | Posted by Pastor Brad Beeman | Faith | 0 comments |

On Sunday we welcome Rev. Thomas Yang into the pulpit. Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky appointed Pastor Thomas to start a Pan Asian multicultural expression of United Methodism in Bellevue, Washington beginning July 1, 2017. He is an ordained elder from the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. Please give him a warm welcome.

More than anything else, Pastor Thomas enjoys a serene morning with a coffee mug in hand. He’s a Chicago native, a fitness fanatic, loves Jesus, and his humor is tinged with a spontaneous, unapologetic irreverence. He moved here six months ago (along with his 6-month newlywed wife and 2-year old pitbull puppy!) to start a new faith project that aligns with the Pacific Northwest Conference’s mission to Create New Places for New People, particularly for Asian-Americans in the greater Seattle and Bellevue areas. Even though he is an introvert by nature, it only takes a Kit-Kat bar to have him open up to you! Pastor Thomas is looking forward to building relationships and partnering with the people of the Pacific Northwest, discipling all to be Jesus’ hands and feet to the world.

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About Pastor Brad Beeman

Our pastor, Brad Beeman, brings a varied background to ministry. He started his first business at twenty-one and ended up building log homes over the seven years. Throughout most of those years he also worked in youth ministry. In 1989, after moving to the Bay Area and witnessing that so many of the youth in his youth groups were using drugs, he began to wonder why. Out of discussions with area parents, schools, law enforcement, businesses and religious leaders he put together a forum that became a CBS “For Kids Sake” special. It received national attention and changed the focus of Brad’s life and ministry. Brad became involved in the Bureau of Drug Abuse Services in Santa Clara, California. He then became the National Director of Community Support for Developmental Research and programs – an organization closely tied to the leading researchers in the world around what places children and youth at risk. That work led him to two Washington DC task forces; one on Parenting and Prevention, and another on International Drug Abuse and Drug Violence. That led him to a call to ministry. While holding a cocaine-addicted baby Brad felt God’s call to serve in a place that would not only surround the addicted child with love and care, but would allow that child, the family, the community and even the world to understand the love of God and the power of transformation in Christ. Brad entered the ministry in the United Methodist Church in 1992 and has served churches in Southern California and the greater Seattle area. He has been here at Aldersgate since 2011. Brad is married to Dorothy. They have four children. He loves all things outdoors: hiking, swimming, cycling, kayaking and continues to enjoy working with wood. He loves to draw with charcoals and pastels. He loves to teach. He and Dorothy love to sing, particularly together. All of these things combine in ministry here at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

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