The Point: Commemorative Edition by The Woodlands Methodist Church

THE WOODLANDS UMC

JUNE 2021

COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

THE 43-YEAR LEGACY OF DR. EDMUND W. ROBB III AND THE WOODLANDS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

THE LEGACY

OF THE WOODLANDS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The stories of Dr. Edmund W. Robb III starting The Woodlands United Methodist Church are part of a rich and familiar church heritage. The legacy begins with his journey to The Woodlands as a recent seminary graduate coming from Wilmore, Kentucky to check out a new community, thinking maybe it would be a great retirement neighborhood in need of a pastor to care for the flock. In reality, this fledgling community was thriving with young couples excited about starting a new church. The journey continues with Dr. Robb walking door to door, meeting families and inviting them to a new church in order to bring people in to hear the good news.

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And as the community grew so did the church. Dr. Robb and the church leaders planned building campaign after building campaign trying to keep up with the pace of growth. The story continues when, after months of committee discussions, the church mission statement was born from a Sunday sermon. Dr. Robb wanted to be sure the mission statement was not just a set of platitudes, but something that the church could put into practice to propel the ministries and direction of the church. It put into words his driving beliefs for building a church with members who would impact the world for Christ.

Now, 43 years later, the mission to Win People to Jesus Christ, Disciple Them in Faith and Help Those in Need has created a legacy of Christ followers who impact the community, the country and the world. Let’s explore how the vision of one man – who empowered other pastors, leaders and servants – led to a church with a rich history and solid foundation for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ today and into the future. u

WIN PEOPLE TO JESUS CHRIST 4

Groundbreaking at Panther Creek

IN THE BEGINNING According to Fred Kappel, one of the church’s first members, “Eddie” was very young, only 28 when he and his wife, Bev, arrived. They came to town pulling a U-Haul and ready to start a church. Several of those earliest members recall a skinny young man with long hair and a mustache who was kind, cheerful and full of energy and purpose. Vivian Toellner shares, “Ed was the energizer bunny! He was relentless and had great perseverance.” Her husband Bruce adds, “You could see he had vision. He was taking the church somewhere.” The Woodlands UMC began meeting at The Woodlands Information Center in 1978 with about 25 members. Ed didn’t waste any time getting to know the people in the community. As people visited the church, Ed would follow up going from one home to the next, evening after evening to meet people and begin to develop relationships.

As The Woodlands grew, the church grew. In 1980 the church was finally able to break ground on their new building on Panther Creek. More families joined, the choir grew to 50 people and Dr. Robb began to surround himself with leaders, both staff and lay, to chart the course for the church to effectively impact the community.

Jenni Reilly shared, “We visited one Sunday and on Monday, someone was knocking at our door around 9:00 at night – it was Ed Robb visiting our home! We must have been the last people on his list that night.” He visited another home late one evening and a woman opened the door and, as Ed introduced himself, she exclaimed, “Well, we’re on our way to the hospital. I’m having a baby!” Not one to be easily deterred, Ed replied, “This will only take a minute.” So she let him in, offered him some water and they visited briefly.

Fred Kappel believes “Ed showed extraordinary judgment as a young preacher and was able to select good leaders to help him with his mission from the very beginning.” He had a special talent for leading people that became more evident as the church grew. Mark Merrill, who was involved in several building campaigns, emphasized Dr. Robb’s ability to delegate. “He surrounds himself with good people that he can trust, and he delegates.”

As the church outgrew the Information Center, it moved into the gym of The Woodlands Athletic Center where members enjoyed worship among the sounds of raucous swim meets. They would set up the chairs, roll out the piano and the organ and the choir of seven people would lead them in worship. Jenni laughs, “Worship was sometimes interrupted by a loud announcement: ‘Attention please! Everybody needs to give us your attention!’ We weren’t always sure if that was the swim meet or a message straight from heaven.”

Gary Laugharn, who serves as The Woodlands UMC Foundation Chair, says what makes Dr. Robb’s leadership so effective is, “He listens, he evaluates, he builds relationships and then he makes a decision, and we move forward. A great thing about Dr. Robb is he is always looking forward for the possibilities of any given opportunity.” u

Loft Worship Center

REGIONAL CHURCH A great opportunity soon presented itself. Between 1980 and 1992 the church undertook five building campaigns to accommodate the expected growth from year to year. So, when the landlocked Panther Creek location was outgrown, a decision had to be made. Be content with the status quo or break free from the size restrictions and become a regional church. Since expanding outreach for Christ was the vision, the Moving in Faith capital campaign became the vehicle. Land was purchased in the heart of The Woodlands Town Center and in 2001, the move to the current campus on Lake Woodlands allowed for explosive growth and developing ministries. As the church continued to grow, Dr. Robb and the building committee would see a need for additional space and then begin to plan. Developing new worship venues was a primary focus.

When space became available across the campus in an old warehouse, they decided to build The Loft Worship Center for people who might be new to the faith – a seeker church. The Imagine Campaign started with the goal of building The Harvest Worship Center to accommodate contemporary services. In addition, the leadership had decided to plant a church in the newly developed Woodforest community. The REACH building campaign came out of the need to expand the children’s space and provide better children’s security. It was also time to build a worship center for The Church at Woodforest. It was also a priority to find entry points to bring the community inside the church. The committee decided to build the Safari Stop to bring in families, the Fireside Cafe to bring in business people, and a Recreation Center and

gym. Space was created so the church could provide programs to people with Special Needs, culminating in a recent partnership with The Brookwood Community. The hope was that people outside the church would come in and see the church as a place where people share life together and talk about difficult things. And they would come back to learn more. After 43 years of planning and building, and building again, the church currently has a membership of 14,000 people. That’s thousands of people who can now develop a closer relationship with Jesus because Dr. Robb and the members of The Woodlands UMC had the vision and the passion to plan and create a place where the love of Jesus could flourish. u

Raising of the Dome

IMPACTING A COMMUNITY

Easter at the Pavilion

Shortly after he first arrived in The Woodlands, Ed Robb became involved in the civic leadership of the young community. He was one of four pastors who wanted the church to have a hand in building the more loving and caring community that George Mitchell, founder of The Woodlands, had envisioned. He served on the Interfaith board from its inception as he worked with others to ensure The Woodlands was true to its promise as a place where people could live, work, play and pray. Dr. Ann Snyder, who has served in the community with Dr. Robb for many years, describes him as a skilled consensus builder. She believes, “Dr. Robb’s leadership in the community was really unprecedented because he helped us see things that could be. He enabled the community to see everything we could accomplish if we worked together.” Vicki Richmond served on The Woodlands Township Board with Dr. Robb and she adds, “He is a charismatic leader, strong listener and decisive decision maker. He could be the voice of calm when needed.” Building consensus led to the development of the community enjoyed by everyone today. Through his leadership on the Town Center Improvement District (TCID), he and State Senator Tommy Williams negotiated an agreement that allowed The Woodlands to become a Township and avoid annexation by neighboring communities. He was also instrumental in leading the TCID in partnering with private developers to build the Convention Center, develop Town Green Park and expand the Waterway. He was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2008 and served in various positions until he became the Chairman of the Board in 2015. He also served on the boards of the South County YMCA and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. He currently serves on the Houston Methodist Healthcare System Board. Through building consensus, he dramatically impacted the development of The Woodlands and illustrated the importance of faith-based leadership. u

Bexley and Palmer Ed’s Grandchildren

Interfaith of The Woodlands

Bev and Ed Robb

Ann Snyder and Ed Robb

EARLY LESSONS BY REV. ROB RENFROE

In 1977 a very young Ed and Beverley Robb arrived in The Woodlands to begin a church. It would be his first church to pastor. It would be the only church he pastored. A district superintendent led Ed down a dirt road to a muddy field and told him this is where the church would be. The first service was held in January, 1978, and at the end of that year the church boasted 160 members. Today, The Woodlands United Methodist Church is the second largest congregation in the denomination with over 14,000 members. Each week it offers ten live worship services on two different campuses. Its members give more money to missions annually than any Methodist church in the country. Its school for students through the eighth grade is thriving. Its ministry to special needs families is a model for other churches. During Dr. Robb’s tenure, over a hundred young people have been called into full-time ministry. As Dr. Robb’s ministry and life are celebrated much will be made of his visionary leadership, his risk-taking nature, and his faithfulness to the Gospel. And rightfully so. One does not leave a legacy that has so impacted a church, a community and the world in the name of Jesus without vision, determination, tenacity and perseverance. Before we have concluded honoring our pastor, if we do it right, one of us will also talk about what I refer to as his “Ed Robb charm.” That’s his ability to make you feel wanted, valuable and capable of doing great things. But there’s another trait that Edmund possesses which I have seen up close and admire as much, maybe more, than any other. It’s his humility. Dr. Robb doesn’t have to be the star. In fact, he’s purposeful about recruiting the most gifted people possible to our team (including people who have gifts he does not possess), giving them opportunities to shine and bragging on them when they do. He doesn’t need the limelight, and he doesn’t have to get his way. While Edmund is strong enough to say, “this is where we’re going and

this is what we’re doing,” beforehand he solicits, welcomes and listens well to other ideas and points of view. And when he’s convinced there’s a better way, there’s no pride present that keeps him from acknowledging that someone else is right. His humility speaks loudly that we are respected, and his heart is about our mission, not his ego. The result is a team that is loyal to him and committed to our mission. I witnessed this humility when I came to The Woodlands UMC as its first associate pastor in 1982. The church was only five years old, but it was growing. Already the stories were legendary about the young pastor who spent four or five nights every week knocking on doors, inviting people to come to service on Sunday. Many people told me about the first time they met Ed. They would smile and shake their head and say, my first encounter with Rev. Robb began with my wondering to myself, “Who

His humility speaks loudly that we are respected, and his heart is about our mission, not his ego. could possibly be at my door at 9:30 at night?” And the first time they ever visited the church was the next Sunday. Ed continued to visit at night after I arrived. Following up on visitors was my responsibility, but he was still out two nights a week, every week. For years. Ed told me that on Sundays he got to the church early before anyone else to make sure everything was right. So, I started coming when he did, and I followed him around. We’d open the main building and turn on the AC. Then we’d go to the children’s buildings and to the atrium building, and we would look inside each room to make sure the chairs had been set up just right. Then we’d get a cup of coffee, take our jackets off, and go outside and pick up the trash in the parking lot. All the while, Ed would be thinking about the sermon he was going to preach in an hour.

When that wonderful day came that we needed and could afford some portable buildings, we would go inside each one and make sure the trash had been taken out and the air conditioners were on. When it rained, the carpets would get soaked. One of us would get down on the floor with some paper towels and get the water out of the carpet. The other one would find a broom and sweep the leaves and the pine needles off the steps. Thinking back, I’m surprised that I wasn’t amazed that Edmund did these things. That the pastor of a church that was becoming one of the largest in our conference was willing to do, these rather menial chores on Sunday. Every Sunday. But I wasn’t. It’s just what he did without complaining or even commenting. So, it’s what I did. Without meaning to, Ed taught me some of ministry’s (and life’s) most important lessons. You’re at your best when you forget yourself. So, don’t become impressed with your position. Don’t believe anything is beneath you because you’ve had some success. Remember that the mission is more important than you are. And there’s nothing better than having a friend and a brother to serve our Lord Jesus with. So, thank you, Ed, for the lessons you have taught me about life and about ministry. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, and lifting me up. And thank you for being a friend to me. Like so many, my ministry and my life are much better and richer because of you. u

Rev. Rob Renfroe and Ed Robb Hurricane Harvey Response

GREECE Where Paul Baptized Lydia

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DISCIPLE THEM IN FAITH

EMPOWERING LEADERS Getting people in the doors was not the only focus of the church. While it was growing outwardly, the leadership was also focused on discipling people once they came to the church. Dr. Robb began building a staff of faithful preachers who shared his passion for God’s Word. He then empowered the pastoral staff to minister to people and hire staff to build solid, biblical programs.

Linda Wilmoth, Executive Director of Child Development, says “I love that he gives the people that report to him the power to grow their ministry and touch base with him as needed.” That sentiment is echoed by church staff and lay leaders. His ability to delegate and empower others to lead has helped the church effectively disciple the large membership. u

Directors of Children of The Woodlands

A Class of Students

YOUNG CHILDREN Early on, Dr. Robb realized that The Woodlands had so many young families that a strong nursery and preschool program would meet an important need in the community. It served the purpose of not only an entry point for new families to come to the church, but also a way to begin introducing young children and families to the Christian faith. Linda shares, “Children of The Woodlands was started in 1981 and soon became a much beloved place for families to enroll their children. The preschool started with only three- and four-year-olds, but over the years added toddlers, twos and later Transition and Kindergarten.” From the start, their mission was to provide a faith-filled, joyful environment for young children. Linda explained that as enrollment grew, parents wanted the preschool to expand grades. They started with Kindergarten and with the parents encouragement and support, they continued to expand. And now that simple desire to share Christ with children while providing a strong education and caring environment has grown into The Woodlands Methodist School and includes Elementary School for PreK – 4th grade and the Upper School for grades 5 – 8. u

Children Of The Woodlands Construction

The Woodlands Methodist School Students

SEMINARY STUDENTS A unique aspect of this church is the number of members God calls into vocational ministry. According to Gary Laugharn, “Dr. Robb noticed over the years that the experience in our church has motivated people to be interested in some sort of pastoral role – not always as a pastor – but also in a discipleship or missions capacity.” Based on this realization, The Woodlands UMC Foundation established the Seminary Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to those enrolled in seminary. Mark Swayze, a current seminary student, recalls, “Dr. Robb brought me on a trip to Israel in 2017 that forever changed my life. I felt a call to pastoral ministry on that trip, and Dr. Robb affirmed it by allowing me to start my Masters of Divinity at Truett Seminary the following year.” Along with attending seminary, he now serves at the church Youth Pastor. Additionally, Dr. Robb serves on boards that strengthen evangelical seminary education. He served on the board of Asbury Theological Seminary for 20 years. He also serves as the chairman of A Foundation for Theological Education (AFTE), an organization that strives to revitalize theological education through providing grants to qualified applicants who are pursuing theologically strong seminary degrees. Asbury Theological Seminary President, Dr. Timothy Tennent, writes “Ed Robb has long served as a catalyst for renewal in the United Methodist church and beyond. We celebrate his 43 years of ministry, as a church planter, an effective pastor and a leading voice for renewal in the UMC through his work with Asbury and AFTE.” u

Rev. Mark Swayze Harvest Worship 16

GREECE Where Paul Baptized Lydia

TRIP OF A LIFETIME Sometimes discipling people means leaving the walls of the building behind and going on an adventure. A trip to the Holy Lands with Ed and Bev provides just that opportunity. People who have traveled with the Robbs to walk where Jesus walked, are forever changed by the experience. Their faith becomes richer and deeper as the Bible comes alive.

little olive wood crosses to give them to remember the prayers. One of our friends asked for God’s perfect healing. Throughout her battle with cancer, she would hold onto her cross. We all knew that healing would come either here or when she went to be with the Lord. When she passed away with her whole family around her, she was still clinging to that cross.”

Members go for all kinds of reasons. Some go because it’s something they have always wanted to do, while others may go just to see Dr. Robb attempt his famous headstands in special locations. Along the way, Dr. Robb makes a point to connect significant places with biblical passages to make the whole experience come alive with meaning. Preaching on the Sea of Galilee, communion in the Garden of Gethsemane, baptism renewal in the Jordan River, all make deep and life-long impressions on the faith of those who go.

John and Nancy Faucheux went with the Robbs on a different “holy land” trip following the travels of Paul across Turkey and Greece. John recalls, “Seeing Ed standing in places where Paul very likely stood and hearing him teach on the messages Paul delivered while in each of these ancient towns, are some of our favorite memories of traveling with Ed and Bev –maybe even better than the headstand with the bear in Latvia!”

And the impact is not short-lived. Travelers come home with a renewed interest in Bible study and a desire to share the experience with others. Rita Thysell shares a meaningful story, “I asked a group of friends if they wanted to have a prayer tucked into the Wailing Wall, so they each gave me their prayers and I took them to the wall. As we were leaving, I bought

Story after story about the generous hospitality of the Robbs adds to the feeling of community and bonding that make these trips so memorable. Their desire to connect with each person and make everyone feel special creates a wonderful environment. Those who travel with them are inspired and impacted, not only by the adventure, but also by the love and grace Ed and Bev so easily share. u

HONORING DR. ED ROBB BY REV. JESSICA LAGRONE

reach around the world in missions. I looked around and saw that there was a deep love for Scripture apparent in the laity of the church. I saw men and women being discipled and growing in their faith and marriages and families being transformed. When I traced the values I saw being lived out in this church, every single one of them could be connected back through leadership and vision casting to Dr. Ed Robb. I marveled that he had time to invest in as many people and ministries as he did every single week. Providing strong leadership for such an active and large church could have exhausted the gifts and time of a single leader, but I watched again and again as he empowered leaders among the laity, pastors and staff to do great ministries beyond the scope of what he could ever dream of alone.

came to The Woodlands UMC as a young associate pastor just a couple of years out of seminary. I remember standing in the wide main hallway on my first Sunday and watching all the people pour in. I was one of the pastors at this magnificent church and I had trouble even finding my office! In one of my first meetings with Dr. Robb, I remember him asking me to take a look around the church “with fresh eyes” as he put it, and tell him what I saw. Over the years I would hear him make this request of many new employees. He knew that after being somewhere for several years it was hard to see things as they truly were. Often it’s our first impressions that reveal hidden insights into how a church or organization operates. This was one of the first of the many lessons I would learn from Dr. Robb over the next eight years. My “fresh eyes” told me that The Woodlands United Methodist Church was a remarkable place. Somehow it balanced a value for beauty and excellence with an incredible heart for the marginalized and a commitment to

When I traced the values I saw being lived out in this church, every single one of them could be connected back through leadership and vision casting to Dr. Ed Robb. Because of a shared excitement for developing themes for worship and preaching, Dr. Robb invited me to work with him on developing worship and sermon series. Once he got really fired up about doing an Advent series on the impact of the Christ Child on the world. I remember him pacing in his office and sharing ideas about how big an impact Jesus had even as a small baby. He said “I’ve got it! I know what we can call the sermon series. We’ll call it: ‘JESUS WAS A BIG BABY!’” He looked over and asked why I was giggling under my breath. “Dr. Robb, it sounds a little bit like you’re insulting Jesus,” I said. “How about we tweak the title a little bit?” He heard what I was saying and I think we called

the series “How Big Was the Baby?” I learned so much in the countless hours I spent listening to him reflect on the Bible and dream of ways to communicate the depth of Scripture in creative ways to the congregation. Being among great preachers at TWUMC made me a better preacher myself, and I’m thankful for it. I was blessed not only to be one of the leaders he empowered time and again, but to have the distinction of being the first female pastor on the TWUMC pastoral staff. Dr. Robb led the way in welcoming me among what became my “band of brothers” on the pastoral team and modeling for the congregation that my leadership and voice were just as welcomed and honored there. Now, of course, that has led to a number of wonderful female pastors who are serving and have served at The Woodlands UMC over the years. Because of Dr. Robb’s support and encouragement, The Woodlands UMC continues to send remarkable students to Asbury Theological Seminary where I now serve. There are churches over a hundred years old that have not sent as many people total to seminary as TWUMC sends every year. I’m thankful for the continued relationship with TWUMC since Jim and I still consider it our “home church” in Texas. I no longer have fresh eyes when I reflect on the incredible ministry of TWUMC, but I can see even more clearly now how the leadership and vision of Ed Robb have blessed me and countless others through the years. u

Rev. Jessica LaGrone FLC Groundbreaking 21

HELP THOSE IN NEED

Zoe Ministries

Habitat for Humanity

THE HEART OF THE CHURCH Anyone who has been around the church for any length of time knows that the very heart of The Woodlands UMC is missions. The focus really covers all areas of the mission statement. Mission teams and those who support them know that their work leads people to Christ, provides discipleship and helps meet their needs. God planted the seeds for missions early in Dr. Robb’s life. He was introduced to dedicated missionaries as a young boy, and it impacted the focus of his ministry at The Woodlands UMC. u

Rwanda

A HERITAGE

Rwanda

Conroe

Dr. Robb’s father, Rev. Edmund W. Robb Jr., was a pastor and later became an evangelist for the United Methodist Church. During Dr. Robb’s formative years, he remembers his father having a Missions Conference each year and, over the course of the weekend, a young Ed would hear the inspiring messages of great missionaries who were spreading the gospel of Jesus to other countries. Dr. Robb recalls, “My family would host the missionaries for a meal, and around the dinner table, I would be enthralled by their stories and the work they were doing to share the gospel.” J.T. and Ruth Seamands were well known Methodist missionaries from India who spent time with the Robb family. Asbury College always had a strong emphasis on missions and some of Methodism’s famous missionaries, like E. Stanley Jones who served in India, attended the college. Dr. Robb continues, “So when I went to Asbury College, I was exposed to these great missionaries. After Bev and I got married, we rented a garage apartment from Alexander and Hazel Reid who were missionaries in Africa in the 1920s and spent their lives in the heart of the Congo. I got to know them well.” Certainly bringing in Dr. John Hull to lead the church’s Mission Ministry was an important ingredient in the development of the powerful missions influence of the church. Dr. Robb’s ability to empower leaders and the support of the church, enabled John to build strong missions teams, partners and programs locally and across the world. Dr. Robb understood that capital funds campaigns and a strong missions program go hand-in-hand – they work together. A strong foundation provides a solid platform from which to launch passionate missions work. u

Honduras

A VISION OF FAITHFULNESS John shares a story about his recent trip to Honduras and the vision God shared with him during a worship service. While visiting a church located on the very spot of a brutal gang killing field, the pastor of the church, Pastor Melvin, told those attending that when God gives you a vision you need to act on it – need to do it and make it happen – be faithful to God. The pastor then shared about his church building and how it had come to be. He began to show pictures of John Hull and the men from Quest building his church. John says, “While he was preaching, I put down my head and began praying and God began giving me a vision revealing to me how much Dr. Robb’s desire for missions to be the heartbeat of our church had impacted peoples’ lives. I was sitting there, and I was thinking about this Honduran church, and I saw this building that is now sitting on this killing field and how it was claimed for God’s glory. I saw all these people that are sitting here because they came to know Christ because Ed encouraged missions to happen, and he opened the door for us to come here, and God led us to Melvin, and we built this church. Now here are hundreds and hundreds of people who know Christ today in this church with their children worshiping God.

“God is showing me the thousands of people who know Christ today because [of] Ed Robb” As I continued praying, God gave me a vision of what has been accomplished through this church and the homeless population and how we’re building Miracle City and helping foster kids. I saw how God has always used this church – through the hurricanes – Katrina for housing people and Harvey as a distribution center. God was giving me a vision of India, and I’m sitting there with tears falling down my face. I’m just thinking God is showing me the

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thousands of people who know Christ today because Ed Robb had the vision to make missions the heart of this church.” He continues, “They know Christ today – there have been people who have been trained through a program that we started and now over 7,000 brand new churches exist with believers that never knew Christ before we stepped in and made the funds available to start this

program. And then God was showing me Africa and all the orphans who would have stayed in poverty the rest of their lives who are now standing on their own two feet supporting their siblings – they have businesses, they have self-esteem. God showed me how the fingers and the arms of this church are embracing all the people all around here and around the world in incredible ways.”

Some of John’s favorite moments are when he gets to take Dr. Robb to locations around the world so he can really see how God has used people from The Woodlands UMC to change the lives of others. Dr. Robb has great compassion in his heart for the people of the world to know Christ, and he is sometimes moved to tears when he sees God’s work. John took him to the dedication of a new theological college in India that our church helped fund, and Dr. Robb’s voice cracked with emotion as he stood in front of 400 pastors and spoke words of faith and encouragement to them.

Haiti

John feels so blessed by the incredible faithfulness of the members of this church in giving, sweating and building to serve people all for the glory of God. He’s also grateful for the people who instilled in Dr. Robb the importance of reaching beyond the church walls to take Christ to a world in need. u

Honduras

THE NEXT CHAPTER 28

WHAT’S NEXT? So what’s next for Ed and Bev Robb? They plan to begin the next chapter of their journey with a six-month extended vacation. Currently, international travel is difficult, so Ed and Bev will travel across the country. They’re planning a long road trip to the Great Lakes of Michigan where their daughter has a summer home, and then they will drive to Washington State where their son

Steve Anna, Ed Robb, Jeff Harris and Jeff Swift

also has a home and visit the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It’s a well-known fact that Ed loves to play golf so with the added time in his schedule, he plans to work on his golf game. They are both looking forward to more free time than they have ever known and will enjoy spending it with friends and family.

Upon his return in January of 2022, he’ll serve in the church as needed in a part time capacity: preaching several times a year, assisting with The Woodlands UMC Foundation, teaching Bible studies, writing and assisting with pastoral care. u

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GREATEST JOY When asked about his greatest joy on this journey, Dr. Robb reflected on several areas of the church. His first response was, “When people tell me that this church made all the difference in their lives. Just seeing the community that has developed – how people’s lives have been enriched and shaped.” Not surprisingly, the missions ministry is another area of immense joy. “From a programming standpoint, the fact that missions is at the heart of the church and that altogether we are fully engaged in both local and foreign missions.”

He’s delighted about the number of men and women who have gone into seminary and on into life-long ministry from our church. And the lay people who have served the church are a source of great appreciation. “Having lay people who get the vision, who support the vision. We’ve always had the support, and not just a few, but many who come around us and lift us up.”

an overarching understanding of our mission, who we are and what we are about, and we enjoy serving that mission together.” u

The ministry teams that he’s served with have made his job so much more enjoyable. “Throughout the years, I have always been impressed with our ministry teams. We’ve always had 31

FAMILY Pastoring a church is a team sport that involves the entire family. Ed and Bev came to The Woodlands UMC with two young sons and added a daughter to their clan along the way. The family’s support has helped the church grow and flourish. When they arrived in The Woodlands, Bev served as a partner right alongside Ed as they went about the work of developing relationships and inviting people to the church. Over time and after a few trips to the Holy Land, Bev

GREECE Where Paul Baptized Lydia

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decided to open her own travel agency, now called Gomega Travel. She plans to continue with her travel agency and is looking forward to some unstructured time with Ed between her trips. Bev’s greatest joy is in being so intimately involved in the lives of the people of the church. To watch Ed baptize the babies of the kids he baptized in earlier days, to walk with those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, these relationships have been a blessing to her and in their lives together.

Raising children in the church was a blessing as well but it could also be a challenge. According to Bev, it often created important teachable moments for their kids. “I remember when the boys were little, and they were asking for something new. I said, ‘Boys, we don’t have enough money for that.’ Robby shot back, ‘Well Dad just got all that money at church yesterday!’ You know,” Bev said, “it seemed like the perfect time to teach them that the offering was God’s money, not ours.”

Their three children eventually grew up and, while Edmund and Ashley ventured away, they are all now back in the area. Edmund (aka Robby) Robb is a lawyer for Bracewell and is married to Erin. Their children are Sadie, who is graduating from college, and Xavier who’s a junior at John Cooper. Nathaniel Robb is a successful business owner and is married to Carly. They live in Montgomery County and have three kids, Blake 20, Cara 19 and Brody 12. Ashley and John Ellis have three girls, Bexley 9, Palmer 7 and Hadley-Kate 5.

John is an executive with Woodforest Bank. This is the beautiful family that Ed and Bev have created as they have so carefully and intentionally followed God’s calling and remained good stewards of all that God has given to them. Retirement will allow them to enjoy their special blessings of children and grandchildren. u

Ed and Bev Robb’s Grandchildren 2017

INSPIRED FRIENDSHIP BY JENNIFER WILDER MORGAN

God inspires friendships in infinitely creative ways. My friendship with Dr. Ed Robb was inspired by the combination of a sermon, three books, a movie and six dogs. My first encounter with Ed was in 2007. I was attending the Texas Annual Conference as a delegate for my church in League City. My husband, Guy, and I had just purchased a home in Spring, and I was so pleased that The Woodlands UMC was hosting the conference—it would be my first look at a possible new church home. During one of the conference sessions, the senior pastor, Dr. Ed Robb, gave a talk titled “Why I Love the United Methodist Church.” It was riveting, passionate and inspired, and I felt an encouraging ‘nudge’ to consider being a part of what God was doing in this church. Guy and I did make TWUMC our home, and I immersed myself in chancel choir and bible studies. Along the way, a book I had written, Come to the Garden, was suddenly garnering national attention, which included plans for filming a movie. I was going to need help securing a filming location, so one day I mustered up the courage to stop by Ed’s office to give him a copy of my book and fill him in on all that was happening. It was our first meeting. Ed shared with me his own heart’s desire to get into the author business and jumped right into my adventure. He graciously supported every aspect, including making the Harvest Worship Center available for the live filming of my movie in February 2016. This adventure led to several new and exciting opportunities in the world of publishing. Ed invited me, and what he calls “my sanctified imagination,” to assist him in the writing of his own books and videos. Together, we explored the lessons to be found on the summits of six scriptural mountains in Mountaintop Moments. And, following God’s command which was delivered to Ed in a dream, we embarked on an Advent journey to discover the art of loving our neighbors in Making Room.

Both of these projects involved building upon the teaching in Ed’s sermons, his extensive travel experience with his lovely wife, Bev, and lots of inspiring research. I never once felt intimidated to work with one who has forty years of ministry experience. I think it is because we share the same enthusiasm for digging deeply into scripture and expecting to be delighted in God’s provision and revelation. And the dogs. Since the very beginning of our friendship, Ed and Bev, along with me and Guy, have shared with each other our experiences of walking through life with our beloved canine family members: Campbell and Piper Robb; and Cody, Caleb, Eli and Indy Morgan. Love, joy and sorrow are all in the mix as we give our hearts to our dogs. And it is worth every moment. After all, dog is God spelled backward. Thank you, Ed, for your inspiration and friendship. u

FINAL REFLECTIONS Several founding members of the church reflected on the essence of that once small congregation that still shines throughout the church. All agreed that it still remains a very welcoming church where members and staff are always focused on making room for new people. The preaching and teaching are still rooted in the truths of God’s Word and missions is truly still the heart of the church. John and Nancy Faucheux expressed their thoughts this way, “Paul traveled far and wide to spread the gospel to the world. While largely done from his home base of The Woodlands United Methodist Church, Ed – like Paul– similarly spread the gospel across the globe through his ongoing support of local and worldwide missions, his vision for a variety of worship venues here at home, and his truly God-given talent for teaching the Word. “ From the beginning, The Woodlands UMC has been a beacon of light for this community and has impacted many lives across the world. The leadership of Dr. Ed Robb along with the members of this church has provided a strong foundation and a clear path for the church to continue with its mission to share the love of Christ to the world. u

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THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH BY REV. MARK SORENSEN 1 Kings 19:19-21 I have always loved the story of Elisha’s calling in the Old Testament. 1 Kings 19 tells us that, for Elisha, the start of his day was a pretty ordinary one. He woke up early and went to work taking care of the family business, plowing the fields. I can only assume that this was a task that he had performed countless numbers of times before. However, on this particular day, something extraordinary was about to find him: the prophet Elijah. And what happens next is equally as extraordinary: Elijah walked up to Elisha while he was plowing the fields and threw his mantle around his neck. That’s it. Elijah didn’t say a word, he just took his mantle, which was a cloak that the old prophet wore signifying his teaching, and threw it around Elisha’s neck. And in that one defining moment, Elisha knew what was happening without a single word being spoken: that the prophet Elijah was calling him to become a student. God had immeasurably more in store for Elisha in his life and Elijah knew it the moment he saw that young man plowing the field. As I prepare to walk into a new season of ministry beginning July 1, I have been reflecting on the many different Elijahs that God has placed in my life. I can think of three, specifically. The first was Tony Lewis who encouraged me to take my first step into ministry by working with and sharing Jesus with young people in the church and community (which I did for almost a decade). The second was Dr. Pat Day, a mentor and friend I have known since I was in high school in Marshall, Texas, who encouraged me to get into seminary and pursue the calling into ministry that he had seen on my life. The third was Dr. Ed Robb. When Dr. Robb first called me, I’m not sure he knew that he was an answer to a prayer I had prayed about three months earlier. I had been serving as a

contemporary worship leader and young adult and college ministries director for close to nine years but felt like I had gone as far as I could go in Shreveport, LA. Feeling that God was calling me to more in my life, but not certain where in Louisiana God would lead me and how, I committed to fast and pray for God’s answer. On a Tuesday morning, early in 2013, I received a call from Dr. Robb telling me about an “Imagine” campaign, a contemporary worshiping community called the Harvest, and a search for a lead pastor. And the rest, as they say, is history. For the past eight years that I have served as an associate pastor at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, it has been such an honor to work and serve alongside Dr. Ed Robb. He has truly mentored me in my life. He has served as an “Elijah” who has both recognized a calling God has placed on me and mentored and encouraged me every step of the way. I am humbled by his humility, inspired by his passion and a recipient of his dreaming and visioning to reach the future generations with the good news of Jesus Christ to the glory of God. As I walk into the role of Senior Pastor, I am thankful that our very first Senior Pastor and my friend, Dr. Ed Robb, will still be connected to this great church. I’m thankful for the Elijahs that God has placed in my path and am looking forward to the Elishas that God will place in mine. To God be the glory. Amen. :

Dr. Edmund W. Robb III and Rev. Mark Sorensen

“Legacy is not leaving something for people. — It’s leaving something in people.” — Peter Strople —

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The Woodlands, Texas 77380

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