Article by Bill Reynolds, Mart Messenger Correspondent, dated March 9, 2017
Amy Anderson was called to the pulpit at a young age. Perhaps, and most likely, while in the womb. The new Mart First United Methodist Church pastor hails from a long line of ministers— six generations, in all —and has thus embraced as second nature a keen ability to link scripture to the challenges of everyday life. And does so with energy and passion. Even in the toughest of times, like when she preached the recent funeral service for her father, himself a longtime Methodist pastor. “We had talked about it beforehand,” recalls Anderson, now in just the fifth month of her Mart assignment. “He didn’t want me to talk so much about his life. So I preached the message he gave me. Most of all, he wanted me tell people about ‘his Jesus’.”
Of course, there was quite a story to tell on both levels. Anderson’s dad, the late Duane Chambers, who preached into his 70s, was an accomplished civil engineer who designed bucket elevators and auger conveyors for major industrial projects. His children, including Amy, would share that zeal for using the teachings of Christ as a blueprint for life. “God gave us such a blessing,” Anderson insists, “in having him for so long. He provided us with a great foundation and framework. “He left us an incredible legacy,” she adds. “I’m humbled to be part of such a family of faith.”
Anderson has built her own ministry in a somewhat non-traditional manner. She worked in bookkeeping and accounting before going into formal training for pastoral service. The delay proved a blessing in many ways as Anderson benefited from superb mentoring along the way. She “shadowed” one of those mentors in Frost, then later served a church in the Hillsboro area. Thus far she couldn’t be happier having been called to Mart. “This is such a fantastic community,” she says. “There are so many good people here. And it’s quite a self-sustaining place. Most of the things you need on a daily basis can be found within walking distance of your home.”
Including compassion. Anderson takes pride in the “open door” policy at her church. The reader-board out front invites all to enter and come as they are. “I’m going to love whoever walks in that door,” she stresses, “because that’s what Jesus would do. We all go through life with our own baggage. So there’s no judgment here. And,” she points out, “there’s not a Sunday when I step into the pulpit that I don’t know that I’m preaching to myself.”
Her high-energy preaching style has won converts. Most notably to serving the underprivileged. In a town known for its championships, Mart still needs champions of the underdog. Anderson is proud to be counted among those. “I like taking up,” Anderson says, “for those in need.” For example, Mart FUMC has recently begun a volunteer clothes closet project. Donated clothing is displayed and made available to those attending the church’s free monthly community dinners. Another popular Methodist Church outreach is the food truck, which distributes to locals on the first Tuesday of each month. “My heart,” says Anderson, “is totally into the food truck. Like they say, you can’t save a hungry man’s soul. So I don’t ever mind helping. Food insecurity, to me, is a major issue in our country. My feeling,” she says, “is I’ll do everything I can for 50 people if it helps just one.”
By all accounts, Anderson in her short time here has helped many. She’d like to do even more. “One of my goals,” she says, “is to grow our church. And it’s not just a numbers thing. It has to do with us being able to have a positive impact on as many people in the community as possible.” Anderson is getting that word out through her sermons and as a regular Mart Messenger columnist. Her busy schedule, if anything, adds to rather than zaps Anderson’s strength. “I’m blessed,” she explains, “to get to do this every day and call it a job. There isn’t enough time in the day for me to count all my many blessings.”