ABOUT OUR PASTOR
Rev. Ani Missirian-Wilson, an Armenian-American, was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Her mother’s family originates from Armenia, notably their relatives fled and survived the Armenian genocide, and her father’s family, of United Methodist roots, lives in Mobile, Alabama. Her paternal grandfather is Dr. Rev. Stephen Dill, a retired Methodist district-superintendent and pastor.
Rev. Missirian-Wilson obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Religion, and Creative Writing from Birmingham Southern College, in Birmingham, Alabama. She received her Master’s Degree in Divinity at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. At which time, she earned an additional certificate, a concentration on community development and adaptive leadership, through the Vanderbilt Divinity School Turner Scholar Program, as well as named the Vanderbilt "Florence Conwell Prize Winner for Outstanding Preaching."
Rev. Missirian-Wilson has extensive leadership experience in urban ministry, community development, non-profit administrating, community organizing, public relations, fundraising, and education.
In Birmingham, Alabama, she worked with Harris Early Learning Center, BSC Bunting Service-Learning Center, Urban Kids, a local non-profit, and the Church Without Walls, a community based Methodist congregation.
In Tennessee, Rev. Missirian-Wilson ministered to Christ Quest Community Church of Memphis, Christ Quest Kids, the church affiliated non-profit, and Center for Transforming Ministries, a “Communities of Shalom” partnership ministry.
During her time in Nashville, Rev. Missirian-Wilson was a part of the imagination and creation team that began Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation, a fruitful community ministry partnering with hundreds of under-resourced families in the South Nashville area.
Rev. Missirian-Wilson also spent a brief time living in Armenia, sponsored by the Birthright Armenia Travel Fellowship, and worked with an NGO focused on local development in Vandazor, Armenia.
Upon her move from the United Methodist Tennessee Conference to the Cal-Nevada Conference, Rev. Missirian-Wilson was appointed as the lead pastor of La Trinidad United Methodist Church, a bilingual and multi-cultural church in San Jose, California.
Currently, appointed as an Elder in the Cal-Nevada Conference, Rev. Ani Missirian-Wilson serves as the lead pastor of First United Methodist Church in Modesto, California. Presently she also serves on the Cal-Nevada Conference "Core Team" overseeing the conference ministries of "Compassion and Justice."
Rev. Ani Missirian-Wilson and her husband, John Wilson, are proud members of the Modesto community.