The Rev. Adrianne Coleman’s ministry has always been focused on reaching the community outside the church and her favorite theme is preaching hope in a world where hope can be hard to find.
Pastor of Highland United Methodist Church and Mackey Chapel UMC, the Rev. Coleman says ministering to Navajos at Gallup and Shiprock, N.M., gave her a perspective that has proved widely applicable.
“I preach about the connection that the church should have with the community and the connection the community should have with God,” she said. “I bring the Gospel message of hope in a world that doesn’t have a lot of hope right now.”
Coleman is a Houston native who graduated from the University of North Texas and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She has also been a pastor in Raton, Des Moines and Farmington, N.M. She and her husband Bruce have four children and six grandchildren. Coleman preaches in services at 9 a.m. Sundays at Mackey Chapel at 306 W. Clements St. and at 10:45 a.m. Sundays at Highland at 1808 N. Dixie Blvd.
Her favorite Scripture is Philippians 4:8-9: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you.”
UMC New Mexico Conference District Superintendent Pamela Rowley of El Paso said Coleman “is very engaging and relational. “Adrianne has this spark,” the Rev. Rowley said. “She is one of our most gifted, most effective and most successful pastors because of her dedication, obedience and faithfulness to God.
“She has this willingness to go where God needs her and she is a dynamic preacher, so engaging and full of energy. She is also a talented pianist and singer.”
The Rev. Linda Rounds-Nichols of Gallup said Coleman “is a wonderful lady who loves people.
“Adrianne wants to help people connect with God and she offers pastoral care when they have problems and need someone to talk to,” the Rev. Rounds-Nichols said. “She is really good at explaining things and relating to our lives today.
“She does a lot of research and plans her sermons. She wants everybody to be the best we can be in order to do God’s work in the world.”
