Pastor Donald T. Plock

I was born into a Christian family as one of two identical twin boys in 1957.  I was the surprise! 

My family attended the German Valley United Methodist church regularly, where I grew up in the church and joined after confirmation classes on June 6, 1971.  I had always been active in Sunday school and our MYF Fellowship, as it was referred to then. 

Loving God, serving Him and the church was important all through my high school days and after.  I graduated from Forrestville Valley High School in 1975 and attended Highland Community college.  Later I attended Illinois State University and majored in music and elementary education.  I worked throughout my college years at different places. During my junior year I lost my financial aid due to federal budget cuts…..I remember, shortly after returning from my junior year in college, giving a message in church on laity Sunday.  It was about the parable of the sower. I had plants as illustrations and I was dressed in bib overalls.  Only in a small country church do you see that. 

Later, I worked at a craft store and became a picture framer.  When the business was sold after two years, I and a partner purchased the business which we operated for four more years.  During an economic slowdown we were forced to close the business and I remember how devastated I was the day I left for the final time.

But God opened a door and I became an assistant manager at the JC Penney Co. which lasted 10 years.  But during those ten years I lost touch with God.  He was there for me, but I was not there for Him.  Figuring I had it made and I could take care of myself, I didn’t rely on Him; didn’t reach out to him.  Mind you, I still went to church every Sunday but out of obligation, not worship.

In November of 2002 my life changed. Thinking I had an abscessed tooth, I lay on the couch Thanksgiving Day and on Friday awoke with the left side of my face so swollen that my eye was shut.  We discovered I had mucormycosis in the left sinus cavity.  I was flown to UW Madison for emergency surgery.  Many do not survive that disease, but God spared my life and after a very lengthy hospital stay and recuperation I began life anew.  Thanks be to God, for he is the one and only healer!

At the end of 2003, I began working in our church office as a volunteer.    I have now been the administrative assistant for the church for over 12 years.  I work daily at the church and my ministry for God has been to volunteer in His house in the office and in many other jobs as well.

Through the guidance of Pastor Rick Neblock and Pastor David Decker, I started taking classes at the Lay Academies offered by our district and became a Local and then a Certified Lay Servant of the United Methodist Church in 2010.  I have been serving our church as well as the Winnebago United Methodist Church in that aspect ever since.

I now feel God’s calling to ministry changing again.  I feel I am being called to step out of my comfort zone and reach out and touch people’s lives as I spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  I feel I am being called to minister as a licensed local pastor - to serve God by pastoring his people.  I know I have much to learn and much yet to experience.  I only know that God has worked in my life, and he has saved me for a special purpose. I know I am ready to now ask “Is it I Lord?” And if so, to answer, “Send Me!”