NEWS: Sue Haupert-Johnson to preach on Day 1
District superintendent of the North Central District of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Sue Haupert-Johnson, district superintendent of the North Central District of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, is the featured preacher Nov. 23 and Nov. 30 on "Day 1" with host Peter Wallace, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org.
Haupert-Johnson was appointed to the district by Bishop Ken Carter in 2013 after serving as co-pastor with her husband, Allen, of First United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla. She had a career in law before responding to her call to ministry. Previous pastoral appointments include churches in Tampa, Cape Coral, and Lakeland. As district superintendent she oversees 83 churches in north central Florida, a diverse area of very large and very small churches, urban, suburban, and rural, a Native American ministry, a large camp and retreat center, and a vibrant campus ministry.
She is a graduate of the University of Florida, the University of Florida College of Law, and Candler School of Theology at Emory University where she serves as chair of the Candler Alumni Board.
Her sermon for Christ the King Sunday is drawn from Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24. "Today's Hebrew Bible lection describes the reign of God without king imagery," she says. "God comes as a shepherd. God's shepherds have failed to do their job. God's shepherds have not sought the lost or healed the sick or done what God called them to do... God takes off and joins the search. God has left the building."
"Waiting in Lag Time," Haupert-Johnson's sermon for Nov. 30, Advent 1, is based on Mark 13:24-37 which describes the return of Jesus the Christ in power and glory. She asks, "What do we do with this in-between time, this lag time? How do we handle the waiting, especially when things seem to be falling apart all around us?"
The program includes interviews with Haupert-Johnson conducted by Wallace, who is also executive producer.
"Day 1" has been broadcast every week for 69 years, formerly as "The Protestant Hour." Featuring outstanding preachers from the mainline denominations, "Day 1" is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations across America and overseas. The program is produced by the Alliance for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, call toll free 888-411-Day-1 or check the program's website, http://day1.org.