Reverend Rhonda Thorne, Pastor

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Reverend Rhonda is from the tiny-still-doesn't-have-a-stoplight town of Lanexa, Virginia near Williamsburg. At the young age of 13, she was invited to Sunday School at a Southern Baptist Church in that town, where she gave her heart to Christ. In 1992, she graduated from Bridgewater College, graduating with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a concentration in Education.

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Over the next 19 years, Rev. Rhonda was a vocal and instrumental music educator, teaching students in Pre-K thru 12 in both private and public schools. She has also served as a home-health companion for adult and geriatric populations as well as working as a special education assistant for students with multiple disabilities. However, her heart was always being nudged into ministry (even at the age of 13!). It wasn't until she took the leap of faith and discovered the MCC of the Blue Ridge that things began to change.

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While at MCCBR, Rev. Rhonda had finally found a place of hope, community, and connection, falling in love with the church, the people and programs, she had found a God she never knew before! Eventually, Rhonda was able to reconcile her calling to ministry and began the process of fulfilling the requirements for ordination. Rev. Rhonda completed the requirements and was finally ordained February 26, 2022 at MCC of the Blue Ridge.

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Rev. Rhonda's ministry is rooted in the Great Commandment found in Matthew 22:37-39 - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and the first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

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Rev. Rhonda is passionate about service and sharing God's love with the world. She desires to create connections with others and finds great excitement walking with them. She is energized by spiritual and pastoral caregiving, journeying with others in their faithwalk so they might connect with God, others, and self. She finds much joy in using her gifts of teaching, preaching, and worship leadership to help others live out the call to love.

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Rev. Rhonda and her wife, Kristene, have been together for 11 1/2 years and just celebrated their 6 year wedding anniversary on December 17, 2022. Rev. Rhonda and Kristene live in the Roanoke area with their feisty, spicy feline Squeaker. Rev. Rhonda loves writing, working on creative design projects, and will carefull guard her stash of Diet Coke, carb-friendly ice cream, and low-calorie chewing gum!

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