Ron Oden

I attended the Presbyterian church I Carlsbad, N.M., and then in El Paso when I was young. I was confirmed in the First Presbyterian of El Passo at twelve years old. I began attending the United Methodist church as an early teen when some friends invited by to come to the Methodist Youth Fellowship.

After college graduation and release from active duty in the Marine Corps, we joined the Presbyterian church in Michigan. I worked for General Motors for four years while we lived in Michigan. Both of our children were baptized there.

We Joined The United Methodist Church when we moved to Waco with membership at Cogdell UMC for seven years and then Woodway UMC for 13 years. We became active in both churches with Jan playing piano and participating in vocal and hand bell choirs and I served on various committees and boards.  I spoke several times in the church after completing the Lay Speaking courses.  Both children were confirmed in the United Methodist Church.

Upon retirement from the Marine Corps reserves I became more active in the local church and an intense Bible study through Bible Study Fellowship.  Jan and I began to teach Sunday school to the early grade school aged children.  As church Lay Leader, I had the opportunity to speak to the congregation at times.

In 2000 the district Superintendent invited me to breakfast one morning and asked me to accept the appointment to pastor Perry United Methodist Church.  Perry is a beautiful old German heritage church in rural Central Texas about 20 miles southeast of Waco. After reporting to Perry UMC I attended Licensing School and each summer of the Course of Study Program at SMU’s Perkins Seminary. This program is for training Local Pastors in the Methodist Church.  I pastored at Perry for eight years and then was appointed to pastor the Lakeview UMC in a northern suburb of Waco.  After almost four years at Lakeview, I retired due to my mother's ill health back in El Paso.

I have continued to fill in for pastors throughout the Central Texas area since 2012.  In June of that year, Donald Reed contacted me and asked me if I could preach at the Abbott Methodist Church on July 1st.  I continued to fill in occasionally at Abbott until January 2014 when I became part of a regular four pastor rotation at Abbott Methodist.  Jan also continues as the pianist on alternating months.  We love our Abbott congregation and the opportunity to share the gospel through music and the Word at this truly unique church.