The Incredible Shrinking Pastor

The Woodridge United Methodist Church is shrinking its new pastor.

At least, that's the goal of one of the church's fund-raising programs.

A group of churchgoers will make a service trip to the Philippines in February. To help finance the trip, the Rev. Dr. James Galbreath issued his congregation a challenge:

Pledge to donate money for every pound the senior pastor can lose.  

The challenge began Aug. 15 and will run until Oct. 3, Pastor Jim said.

"I had a weigh-in to start it," he said. "I had to go and be there in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and had witnesses check my weight at that time."

On Oct. 3, Pastor Jim will face the scale again. He said he's been trying to eat less and exercise a lot more. He's averaging 12,000 steps a day on his pedometer, he said.

Pastor Jim started working at the church in July. But that hasn't stopped UMC members from having some fun with him as he focuses on losing weight.

"A fellow brought me a big bag of M&M's," he said. "M&M's are my weakness."

Pastor Jim won't tell anyone how much weight he's lost so far, though. But he said everyone — including his wife — has noticed a change.

It may seem like an unusual way to raise money. But churchgoers said United Methodist Church is a unique place in the community.

"It's the best church ever," said Kessler Kerr, 17, of Glen Ellyn. "It's like a clique, but everyone's in it."

Kerr likes to skate on the church's blacktop. Welcoming skaters to hang out is part of the church's philosophy to welcome people instead of chase them away, said Pastor Dave Buerstetta.

It's been that way for decades, said churchgoer Mark Minter, of Bolingbrook.

"It's a supportive, caring community," said Minter, who has attended the church since the 1980s. "It's a place my parents, (myself) and my kids can all meet at."

And they all can check out how much weight Pastor Jim has lost when Oct. 3 arrives. Check back to Woodridge Patch to see how the pastor did and how much money he raised in the endeavor.