Coastal Virginia District

08/31/2026

What wonderful shared ministry!!!

08/24/2026

Friends on the Shore- have you seen this free screening day from Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital? Spread the word as you can!

Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital is an acute care hospital with Emergency, Inpatient and Outpatient services, as well as imaging, surgery and much more.

08/18/2026

Introducing the new UMC Solar and Battery Pilot Program! ☀️

Designed to help United Methodist churches serving vulnerable communities across the U.S. procure and install solar and/or battery systems, this Global Ministries and UMCOR program will build resilience, reduce emissions and energy costs, and keep the doors of these critical community service ministries open.

Up to 20 churches will be selected for the program, with applications accepted through Nov. 2, 2026.

Learn more and see if your church is a good fit for this program: https://bit.ly/45yplsg

08/18/2026

It's 'Back to School' season across our conference the latter half of this month. Would you pray with us?

God of learning
God of community
God in joyful spaces
God in challenging places

Be with and amongst our students, teachers, school staff and volunteers, mentors, parents and guardians as the school supplies are opened from their packaging, as excitement opens up new routines, and as a new year gives way to the future.

Amen.

08/14/2026

We'd like you to meet Rev. Cesar Lodiha, pastor of First United Methodist Church Norfolk.

Cesar has this to say about his new appointment: "I am most excited about building relationships with the people of First United Methodist Church and with the wider community around us. I look forward to listening to the stories, hopes, and dreams of the congregation, offering pastoral care, and walking alongside people in both joyful and difficult seasons.
I am also excited about helping First UMC embrace its future with faith, courage, and vision. I believe God is already at work in this church and community, and I am eager to help us discern where the Spirit is leading us next.
Another deep joy for me is teaching, preaching, and creating spaces where people can grow in their faith and discover how God is calling them to serve. I am especially passionate about empowering the next generation of young people in the church, helping them know they are loved, valued, and needed in the church’s life and future.
Most of all, I am excited to serve alongside the people of First UMC as we grow together in Christ, strengthen our relationships, and share God’s love beyond the walls of the church."

He is married to Clarice Ndaya and is the proud father of a son.

Cesar is passionate about empowering the next generation of young people in the church to know Christ deeply, love boldly, and serve faithfully.

He comes to us out of seminary at Wesley Theological Seminary where he worked helping in the Development Office.

A fun fact: at one point in his life, he wanted to be a soccer player.

Welcome to the Coastal VA district.

08/12/2026

Today's new clergy introduction serves Oaklette United Methodist Church. We'd like you to meet Rev. Carla Warnock.

Carla comes to us from Ray City UMC. She grew up in NE Pennsylvania, likes Hershey's chocolate and mysteries, and has been married to husband Ted Warnock for 54 years. They have 2 daughters & 3 grandchildren (2 boys & 1 girl).

She is excited to be back in Virginia Beach and names she is looking forward to engaging the people and helping them grow.

Carla's ministry passions are engaging the people spiritually and in growing in their faith and mission and helping them resume some things they feel they missed.

Some fun facts: her first "required" and unpaid job was working in her parents' country store. Her firs paid job was as an RN. The first car Carla learned to drive was a 1931 Model A Ford.

Welcome back to VA Beach, an to the Coastal VA District, Carla!

08/10/2026

Today we'd like to introduce you to Rev. Mike Mayton, pastor at St Andrews United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach.

Mike comes to us from Bon Air UMC in the Three Notch'd District with his wife, Cheryl. They have an adult daughter, Meleah.

Mike is excited about the proximity of his new appointment, noting "St. Andrews is adjacent to Kempsville Greens GC, 8 miles from Chick's beach, and very near VA Beach Town Center." Which ties into his ministry passion for expanding the footprint of the church in the community.

When asked to share some fun facts about himself, Mike said: "I'd rather preach than eat. If I'm not doing either of those things I like to play pickleball, golf, fish, and/or whitewater raft." He also shared that his very first job was as gatekeeper at the Edgehill neighborhood Pool.

Welcome to the Coastal VA District, Mike!

08/07/2026

Hatching Faith Cohort registration for year 3 is now open!
If you or your church is interested in finding ways to more fully engage Christ's youngest disciples in worship and prayer, Hatching Faith may be for you!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQoKjaU5t-9JUJ_fWxFPpNXRG3UTmKsx-hXrrGwQXq947WNA/viewform

For more information, register for an informational session below:

Aug 4 @ 7pm: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/WS-fwrsYRQK5uaKsZft64Q
Oct 13 @ 7pm: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/gu4HY4mwS6SMBq6TluIGuw

Email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information. They are willing and available to answer any questions or help a church discern if now is the right time for them to join Hatching Faith.

08/07/2026

Today we are excited to introduce you to Rev. Rena Finney. While not new to the district, Rena is new to the Northampton Charge, who she began serving in July.

Rena is married to George Finney. When asked about her family, Rena said "We are the parents of two adult kids and 6 grandkids, two of which we are raising. After being empty nesters for a number of years, we are keeping up with two teens ages, 14 and 15. Needless to say, they keep us on our toes."

She is passionate about having the opportunity to serve through humility and love, noting "I am excited about this newly established charge (Northampton Charge) and witnessing how God will bring five unique churches together and merge them through the spirit of connectionism into a powerful charge full of grace and love."

Rena's first job was a cashier and stocker for a convenience store. When asked to share a fun fact, here's what she writes: "As a child I was quite the storyteller. I shared exaggerated stories to those that came into my grandparents country store. As the locals enjoyed my stories, I would go home and created fresh material for the next day. My grandmother would not allow my aunts and uncles to discourage me, but instead told them I had a vivid imagination and one day I would be a gifted writer. Seven published books later, I think she was right."

We are glad to welcome you [back] to the Coastal VA District, Rena!

08/05/2026

Are you enjoying our WELCOME NEW CLERGY series? We are enjoying introducing you to this great group of new Coastal VA District pastors!

Today we'd like you to meet Rev. Gary Shaw of Miles Memorial United Methodist Church . Gary comes to us out of retirement from the New England Conference. He and his wife of 41 years, Melanie, have two adult children and two grandchildren all living in the general area.

He is excited about meeting new people, engaging in a lay driven strategic plan, and encouraging a deeper trust in God and one another. When asked about his ministry passions, Gary named "The "aha" moments, the folks are touched by the Spirit in such a way that the path/vision is clear and forward movement is energized."

Some fun facts about Gary: his very first jobs were picking field beans in the morning and a paper route in the afternoon. And he went to caddy camp for two years (run by the YMCA) which he notes has "similarities to Caddy Shack."

Welcome to the Coastal VA District, Gary!