Spiritual Journey Brings Pastor Home

Jared Lathem admits that he's spent a good part of his adult life running from the call to preach. As the son of Dr. Warren Lathem, an influential and well-known Methodist minister, the young man wanted to establish his own identity.

"My father took a church with an average attendance of 75 and grew it to be among the top five largest Methodist churches in the country," Lathem said. "Preaching was his thing. I never thought I could fill those shoes. I was also not very interested in it. And so I ran."

The 34-year-old tried his hand at many things. He majored in media communications at Asbury University, thinking he would go to Hollywood to make movies. Everything he tried was an attempt to avoid the truth: He was called to preach.

The turning point came in 2008 on a visit to Venezuela.

"I had run as far away from God as I could possibly go," he said. "I was not a healthy person spiritually, emotionally or physically. I wrestled with God, had a knock-down, drag-out fight with God. I knew God had called me to ministry at an early age but I had run from it for so long. In Venezuela, I was surrounded with the church, which was on fire, and I surrendered to the call."

Lathem later realized that God was at work long before he gave in to his calling. When he returned home, he was asked to become pastor at Ball Ground United Methodist Church, only a few miles from his residence. He's served there for three years as a part-time local pastor while he continues his seminary education.

A family tragedy also played a role in shaping the young pastor’s future. In 1996, Lathem's 20-year-old brother went to Venezuela with Hispanic leaders of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church to explore possibilities for ministry there. On the way back, Ray Lathem's plane crashed and he was killed. Jared was 19 at the time.

A few years after Ray’s death, Lathem's father began exploring ministry in Venezuela. In 2002, he began the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela, a seminary that provides an undergraduate theology degree to pastors and lay leaders in that country. During a visit to Venezuela, Lathem met Lim, who later became his wife.

"It's pretty amazing how God has redeemed such a horrible accident," he said. "My dad started a seminary there, and it continues to grow. The United Methodist Church is exploding there. And I met my wife. It's an amazing testimony to God that even in the midst of what looks like hell itself, God is present."

The Ball Ground pastor is busy making his own way in the Methodist denomination. Church attendance has grown from 35 on Sunday mornings to close to 100 now. The service is a blend of traditional and contemporary worship elements.

Members have started a food pantry and senior adult ministry. The youth group is "on fire for God," said Lathem, who describes himself as very down to earth and approachable. "They put me to shame in the sense of how willing they are to serve.      

"It's been wonderful to watch the transformation at Ball Ground from a quiet church to a church that is passionate about worshipping our Savior and reaching the lost. Every week I try to encourage them to take our worship out into their week.”

About Pastor Lathem

Family: Jared and Lim have been married for six years, and have two children: Zoe, 4, and Elijah, 1.

Hobbies: The pastor describes himself as a media buff, with more than 300 movies in his collection. He unwinds by watching movies and reading.

About The Church

Ball Ground UMC is at 3045 Canton Hwy., Ball Ground. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. Worship starts at 11 a.m. For more information, call 770-735-6247 or go to www.ballgroundchurch.org. On Facebook, search for Ball Ground United Methodist Church.