Donna Barnwell

I was born in Maryland, and while growing up I lived in southern Delaware and northern Delaware.  After attending Elizabethtown College and earning a degree in Chemistry/Medical Technology, I married my husband Ron.  Ron is an alumni of University of Delware, College of Engineering.  We have lived in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania over the 28 years we have been married.  We have 2 young adult children, Steve and Allison.  Steve is married to Ashley, our lovely daughter-in-law.  We have 2 grandchildren, Layna and Jayden. 

My call to ministry took form slowly and began while we were attending Lincoln Park Church in Reading.  I have served on church staffs as Director of Youth Ministry (Peakland UMC in Lynchburg  VA), and Director of Children's Ministry (Yorkshire UMC in York, PA).  While in York, I was fortunate to be able to attend Lancaster Theological Seminary.  In 1999, we moved to Allentown and I joined the staff at Bethany as Director of Lay Ministry.   

As the Director of Lay Ministry, I help people get connected to a place of service.  I teach classes on spiritual gifts, am responsible for the welcome ministries and some worship ministries, serve as the staff rep on the Operations team, and oversee the Benevolence team at Bethany.  Every day is different and exciting but my favorite days are Saturday and Sunday when we come together as a body of believers to worship our awesome God!  I also like welcoming new people to our fellowship.

In addition to spending time with my family, especially my grandchildren, I enjoy swimming and reading, and assisting with refugee families who have moved to the Allentown area.  My favorite scripture changes from time to time.  Presently it is Romans 5:3-5..."Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."