Hixson United Methodist Church welcomes Drew McCallie as its new associate pastor.Hixson United Methodist Church has a new associate pastor, Drew McCallie, a North Georgia native who previously served as minister of youth at Christ United Methodist in East Brainerd.
In addition to duties including hospital visits and general pastoral ministry, McCallie preaches each Sunday, typically for the contemporary service held at 11 a.m. As a member of the church’s ministry and outreach team, he said he also focuses on ways to reach the community and meet its needs.
McCallie said he brings a different perspective to church leadership through his non-Christian childhood and his past experience working primarily in non-white churches. Many pastors preach to concerns that aren’t real concerns for non-Christians, he said.
“Having a lot of experience not necessarily in the Christian world, I think of things that may not apply to people who may not affirm the faith,” said McCallie.
He said he comes to Hixson UMC without an agenda and is currently focusing on continuing the good work already in progress at the church.
Following church officials’ recent participation in a mental health collaborative at Duke University, McCallie said he plans to help find ways to break the stigma that mental health concerns aren’t considered acceptable topics in church.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.