By Aldrich Tan/Staff writer

July 5, 2005

Among the mementos the Rev. Steve Creel brought with him to his new post at the Visalia United Methodist Church is a 4-foot wooden shepherd's crook.

A friend gave the crook to Creel when he served at a church in Longmont, Colo., after hearing Creel's sermon about being a shepherd to others.

Many connected with the Visalia church say they hope that Creel is the long-term shepherd the church needs to end the strife and division it has faced for three years.

"The church needs healing," said Mary Rogers, Visalia United's staff parish relations committee chairwoman. "I think that Steve's qualities as a pastor will allow the entire congregation to accept him."

Creel, 42, arrived in Visalia last week to take over the pulpit of the 1,000-member church at Caldwell Avenue and Akers Street. He will be the church's third pastor in three years.

In part, some say, the church is undergoing the strain of the loss of a popular, influential pastor, the Rev. Harry Wood, who served 24 years before his retirement in 2002.

Creel says one of his first moves will be to meet with individual members. He was introduced to the congregation on Sunday, but his first sermon will be July 10.

"I'm an evangelical preacher," he said, "but I will work on appealing to the broad range of members within Visalia United.

"I think that the congregation will naturally unite as long as we are attempting to fulfill our church's mission, which is to know Christ and make Christ known," Creel said.

When Wood left, Methodist Bishop Beverly Shamana of the church's California-Nevada Conference appointed the Rev. Lin

See Pastor/3C

Steve Creel

Age: 42

Raised in: Casper, Wyo.

Education: Masters degree in divinity, Perkins School of Theology, Dallas

Ministry: Bethel United Methodist Church, Boulder, Colo.; Julesburg United Methodist Church, Julesburg, Col.; Longs Peak United Methodist Church, Longmont, Colo.

Married to: Marilyn Creel, who was a parish associate for the Central Presbyterian Church, Longmont, Colo.

Children: Marilyn Creel has two from previous marriage; Maile, 24, an office manager in Young Life Ministry; Aaron, 21, senior at Pomona College majoring in women's studies.

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