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Winfield UMC-- Pastors
Pastor Bruce Anderson
Pastor Bruce Anderson is a life-long United Methodist. As a lay person he was involved with music as well as youth and adult education, and worship at Palatine, Quincy (Vermont Street) and Arlington Heights UMCs. He was also active with Barrington UMC in adult and youth education, attended mission trips and was part of the Praise band. He has also been active with Salem UMC, in Barrington, IL, as an adult education leader, liturgist and part of the Outside the Walls ministry in Chicago. He has done pulpit supply in the Elgin district, Chicago and Horton Bay Michigan. He has also been part of the Elgin District Lay Speakers Academy committee.
He is recently retired from the Village of Hoffman Estates, IL where he was Cable TV Coordinator and a past-president of the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) as well as a past treasurer and board member of national NATOA.
Bruce has an M-Div. from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and an MFA from Columbia College, Chicago, and is also pursuing certification in chaplaincy with first responders through the Salvation Army. He is married to the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Anderson (Sr. Pastor, Batavia UMC). They have grown children: Stephen and Katherine.
In his free time, Pastor Bruce enjoys reading, running, music, biking, motorcycling and wood working.
Rev. Avani Christian
Pastor Avani believes that God called her to connect people to God and to transform lives through personal relationships and community. She believes that Church is the place that can bring unity in diversity. She loves preaching and Bible Study and is committed to shepherding individuals to Christ through counseling, education and mentorship.
Born and raised in India where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History with English as a second language and her Masters in American History. She came to the United States as a student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois where she earned her Master of Divinity degree. Her father is a retired Bishop of the Methodist Church in India and her mother is a retired deacon.
She previously served as Student Pastor at Hemenway United Methodist Church in Evanston, Student Pastor at Friendship United Methodist Church in Bolingbrook, Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Dixon and Pastor of Kaneville United Methodist Church in Kaneville. In addition, she continues to lead worship services and give pastoral leadership at Hope United Methodist Church (a new people of Indian origin congregation) in Naperville. Her husband Sachin Christian works for American Airlines as an Information Technology Consultant and they have two sons, Milan will be attending college and Shaan in Middle school.