May 18, 2024

New pastor is ready to preach God’s word in Newton

First United Methodist pastor will start July 1

By Dustin Teays

Rev. Paul Smith at his desk inside of the First UMC where he will being his preaching time after the retirement of Rev. Gary Marzolf. (Dustin Teays)

Paul Smith became the new pastor at the First United Methodist Church and is ready to spread God’s word throughout Newton.

Originally from Nodaway where his father was a second-career minister, Smith moved all over the state of Iowa in his youth. He graduated from Nashua and has spent 26 years in the pastoral ministry at various places throughout the state.

Smith is replacing the Rev. Gary Marzolf who retired from the church after 15 years of service. Smith is eager to join the Newton community, meet the people in the congregation and get to know their stories.

“Getting to see how God is at work in their lives,” Smith said.

The path to becoming involved in ministry was different for Smith as it originally wasn’t what he wanted to do. He was serving in the United States Air Force as explosive ordinance disposal, rendering explosive devices and other hazards safe, when God called him to ministry.

“I did not want to do this but God has a way of being very persuasive and very persistent and finally I broke down,” he said.

Smith spent from 1978-82 in the USAF where he got to travel all around the country and the world to do his job while spending time in Turkey.

“Thats where God really started working on me,” Smith said. “I enjoyed it because it was challenging work and to blow things up wasn’t all bad.”

Smith is coming to Newton after being the district superintendent for the South Central District of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church. The bishops decided Smith should bring his gifts and graces to the First UMC.

While Smith is a new face in town and within First UMC, he wants people to know he wants to get to know them.

“I want to get to know them, I want to get to know their story. Because I just find that God is at work in your life even before you know it and sometimes it just takes someone that can help point it out,” Smith said.

The staff at First UMC are welcoming of Smith into the church and are excited to get to work together.

“This guy is so ready to work, he is just so eager and he is very personable,” Joy Osborn-Daniels administrative assistant said as she recalled Smith calling the leadership board and telling them how much he looks forward to working with them.

Smith will provide his first official sermon on July 14 at the First UMC.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com