West Lafayette United Methodist Church

Pastor John Bramley

email:: j.bramley@sbcglobal.net

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Introducing Pastor John Bramley

 

Effective July 1, 2025, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of the East Ohio Conference has appointed John Bramley to be the pastor of West Lafayette and Canal Lewisville United Methodist Churches.

 

A few notes about John:

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Educational Background

• 1981 Willoughby South High School

• 1985 Lakeland Community College (AA Business)

• 1988 Journeyman Electrician with IBEW

 

Service Record

• 2015-2021 Mesopotamia UMC (Western Reserve)

• 2020-2025 Southington UMC (Central Valley)

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Skills and Gifts for Ministry

• Messages are informative and focused with a purposeful, teaching format.

• Administration and church management.

• Outreach and mission.

• Music and Worship.

 

“My call story is one of stops and starts. When I was five and my dad was in the hospital, I told my mother not to worry, "Someday, I will be a pastor and can pray for him." I felt a call to ministry in high school, but my pastor encouraged me to reconsider, as it was a hard life. In college, I considered a career change. But my fiancé, now wife, looked at me like I was insane, so I did not pursue it then. Years later, while attending a men's retreat, I recognized that familiar 'call' but again I did not pursue it. While attending Annual Conference at Lakeside, the bishop offered an invitation for those who felt called to ministry. I wanted to go forward, I could feel every heartbeat, but something held me in my seat. Wendy could sense my struggle. We discussed my call into ministry the entire drive home. The next day, I contacted the bishop who counseled me to work with my pastor. I read the book "Christian as Minister" and started my "first" candidacy.

I moved slowly and just before certification; I dropped out of the process. Family and financial struggles were interfering with my focus, and my wife was not keen on me continuing. The mounting financial problems were distracting me and the construction job market dried up. With no job prospects I was forced to seek employment elsewhere. Our Financial situation worsened to the point of losing our home. After moving into a rental, Wendy and I were discussing our faith journey. She said she felt something needed to change, and I agreed. But this time God was calling us both. I was called to pursue Licensed Ministry, and Wendy felt called to stand beside me. We started the process again. That was over ten years ago, and it has been our blessing to serve the local church since.”