Rev. Peggy (Stempson) Hanson followed her call to ministry from California to South Dakota. Everyone's God story is different. Peggy Stempson's call to ministry began in California.

Her journey took her to Colorado to seminary and to South Dakota where she began her ministry as a pastor, found a soul mate and grew in her love for the people.

In California, Hanson had received a scholarship to a college.  She went to college to experience independence.  Being a pastor was at the back of her mind but never really something she thought could happen.

She kept feeling the urge from God and ended up in seminary at Iliff in Colorado.  Hanson landed a internship in Pierre, South Dakota.  When the internship ended Hanson had grown to love the church, people and the area.  The conference and church invited her to stay.

“It has been great to be here and work under some great senior pastors.  I have been able to discover who I am as a pastor,” said Hanson.

Hanson’s was ordained a full elder of the in the Dakotas Conference in 2016.  Her ordination was unique as she became engaged that same evening.  She has served at Pierre First UMC as an associate pastor and is currently serving at Lead Trinity UMC.

We are called in different ways to serve.

I am called: Peggy's story from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.