The Rev. Shari L. Rates

Denomination: United Methodist Church (UMC)
Organization: Rock Springs United Methodist Church, Lawrenceville, GA

The Rev. Shari L. Rates is Senior Pastor of Rock Springs United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville, GA, and Chairperson of Parish Life for the North Georgia Conference through Connectional Ministries.  She has been a seminar participant through the World Methodist Evangelism Institute, and continues to serve in various leadership roles through church, social and scholastic settings. 

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Shari was the second of two daughters born into a household of faith.  As a "preachers kid" she learned much about the power of God in her life, yet recognized early on that there existed both an individual and corporate journey of faith. 

Reared in the Atlanta area, Reverend Rates matriculated at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the area of Mass Communications.  Reverend Rates has worked in the Atlanta area at WGNX-TV 46, Erdas Inc., United Way and Spelman College. 

 

After a five and a half year stint in Micronesia where she worked with children and youth through the Peace Corps and a local government contract, Reverend Rates entered Candler school of Theology at Emory University in 1998 and earned the Master of Divinity degree in 2001. 

 

Within her ministerial call, she has served as a chaplain at Gwinnett Medical Center, as Minister of Children and Youth at Ousley UMC, Director of Programs at Stone Mountain First UMC, an Associate Pastor at Cascade UMC, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Georgia Conference, and Senior Pastor of Jones Memorial UMC in the Forest Park corridor.

Day1 Weekly Programs by The Rev. Shari L. Rates

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What's Love Got to Do With It?

Tuesday April 24, 2012
In her sermon on 1 John 3:16-24, the Rev. Shari L. Rates shares how the Holy Spirit can work through us to offer God's love to the world.

Video by The Rev. Shari L. Rates

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Restorer of Our Souls - Shari Rates

Monday August 25, 2014
The Rev. Shari Rates encourages us to open ourselves to God's love once again so our souls can be restored.