"I'm a West Coast Kid" says Pastor Allison Mattocks who has also lived in Wisconsin and Arkansas as well as various places up and down the West Coast. "I am grateful for the opportunity to live in so many different places. I'm also grateful to be closer to family." Moving around so much prepared Pastor Allison for moving careers after receiving the call to pastoral ministry. She is excited about the move to pastoring at Castle Rock UMC.
"This is a congregation with quite a history, and I love history" says this former secondary history teacher. Allison also loves water, being near it, on it, in it or drinking it. Her water interests include sailing and kayaking. But her interest doesn't stop there. She is also interested in the equitable access of clean drinking water to all people everywhere. In fact, one of her favorite scripture verses comes from the book of John: “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Pastor Allison is appreciative of the water motif of the Three Rivers Circuit. "This model of ministry has some great opportunities that come with it and it will be a joy to see how the Spirit of God moves among us as we learn to flow together" she says. "I look forward to this adventure with Pastor Vonda and the congregations of Castle Rock, Longview and Kelso."
Pastor Vonda began her ministry at Castle Rock UMC and she will end her ministry here as well. While she has been serving another church for 9 years, she returns with Pastor Allison as part of the Three Rivers Circuit, also serving Kelso and Longview. Pastor Vonda was born and raised in Oklahoma. She came to the Pacific Northwest with her husband Tom in 2007. The PNW is definitely home. Pastor Vonda began her ministry in Virginia when she received a call to ministry while on a mission trip to Slovakia in 2004. While the road has not always been easy, God is always faithful.
She is happy to join Pastor Allison in serving here again and looks forward to ministry once again in the lovely community of Castle Rock.
