Through the season of Lent, we follow Jesus through the wilderness in preparation for the Resurrection. We fast, pray and work, not to stay where we are in life, but to get to the otherside.
Guest Preacher: Pastor Akanesi Tupou (First UMC of Alhambra & First UMC of San Gabriel)
Hello! I’m Akanesi Tupou, also known as Nesi, a Tongan-American woman proudly serving as a local pastor in the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church. Together with my loving and supportive husband, Michael, we share the joy of eight children and three grandchildren.
Born in Tonga and raised in Hawaii and Southern California, my faith was deeply influenced by my upbringing in the United Methodist Church. From actively participating in Sunday School and acolyte duties to contributing to the handbell choir, serving as an assistant youth director, and being involved with UWiF (formerly UMW), my family instilled a strong sense of worship in me.
Our family later joined a Tongan congregation, establishing our place of worship at First Tongan UMC of Pomona Valley. Despite initially pursuing a career in the airline industry and earning a degree in Criminal Justice, I couldn’t ignore God’s calling. Supported by my family and guided by my home church, I pursued a Master of Divinity at Claremont School of Theology (CST). Graduating in 2020 amidst the challenges of the pandemic, I received my first appointment as a Local Licensed Pastor in July of the same year.
As a sixth-generation pastor on my paternal side, making history as the first female, and a fifth generation on my maternal side, my journey into ministry has been unexpectedly transformative. Despite earlier aspirations of becoming an FBI agent, my experiences exploring diverse cultures led me to dedicate myself to making the teachings of the Gospels accessible to all. With unwavering faithfulness and intentionality, I approach my calling, embodying the loving grace of God in all that I do. My prayer and aspiration in all endeavors are to faithfully serve the teachings of Jesus Christ, guided by the boundless love and grace of God.
LetUsWorship Read the scripture and download the bulletin to prepare for Weekend Worship and Weekly Bible studies!
- YouTube & Facebook Live Worship on ***Sunday @ 9:00 am PST***!!!!!!
After-Worship Zoom Fellowship instructions @ https://inglewoodfirst.org