University Blog

It is a great privilege to introduce myself to you. I am Pastor Liliana Padilla, director of the Impacto Comunitario or Impacto community Program. I am the mother of two sons, Marcos and Isaí, and Pastor Miguel Padilla is my husband.

I have been a Pastor for 31 years, I studied at the Juan Wesley Seminary (1991-1995) and I was ordained as elder in full connection at CANCE (North Central Annual Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico). In 1997, I emigrated to the United States, and since 1998 I have worked for the United Methodist Church. My Ordination was recognized, after completing the Basic and Advanced Course of Study at Perkins SMU and couple probationary years, as Elder in Full Connection in 2010 in the former Rio Grande Conference. Now I am part of the Rio Texas Conference

I am the third generation of Methodists in my family. I love to remember how our family was blessed by the work of the Methodist Missionaries who at the time of the revolution protected and educated my grandmother who had been orphaned. The Methodist Missionaries were not only the protectors and keepers for many orphaned children in times of war but also planted the seed of the Methodist faith in those boys and girls who would later become doctors, nurses, teachers and lawyers and pillars of the Methodist Church in Mexico. Today, I feel blessed to be able to serve in the United Methodist Church and give back for what the church did for my grandmother and my entire family, more than 100 years ago.

4 years ago, I had the privilege of being invited to participate in CLI (TMF Program), which gave me the opportunity to believe in the possibilities that can exist in our Church. And I began to dream of ideas such as sharing resources, empowering women pastors, making connections with churches for ministry and especially ways that we can change the world, one family at a time. That's where we started to dream of Impacto Comunitario, as the force that can be created between small churches to serve the community, as we work together, we create more possibilities to find new ways to serve our neighbors.

During the last two years in 4 churches on the west side, and thanks to the support of TMF, the Conference, Las Misiones district and you, University UMC, we were able to serve the community in many ways such as Diaper programs, free laundry services, second-hand clothes (Divine Boutique), backpacks, toys, guitar and piano classes for children and youth, and English classes. We also shared hot meals, snacks for children, and drive-thru food pantries. We had a presence online: producing Bible studies, classes for parents, fasting and prayer events, celebrations as well as worship services. We hosted community banquets for thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother’s Day, children's celebrations, and family camps. And lastly, we have been working to refurbish a new building, formerly Divine Grace, today Impacto Comunitario Center (in front of the HEB on Nogalitos) and it is our desire to offer this space as a meeting place with the community for learning, transformation and service; a place where we find family and love together!

It is a new adventure with God every day, and we do not know how He will surprise us next. But we do know that all of this is for bringing comfort and joy to many people. This new conference year, we ventured to consolidate Impacto's work in two areas: Impacto Comunitario Center and Wednesday nights at University. Our goal is to connect with the community, serve it and be the instrument that God wants to use to support many families who are around us.

Blessing, 
Pastor Liliana