By Allison T. Williams

Correspondent

Soon Sundays will start a little earlier for Glenn Riggs, pastor of Oxford United Methodist Church.

As the weather warms up, Riggs will revive his habit of walking through the Lakeside neighborhood wearing his bright orange “Oxford Pastor” T-shirt every Wednesday and Sunday morning. He has worked as Oxford’s part-time pastor since June 2014, logging 10 to 12 hours a week at church on top of his full-time job as operations manager at Merit Solutions in Chesapeake.

“Weather permitting, I take that stroll through the neighborhood every morning I’m here,” said Riggs. “I’m not out knocking on doors, but I’m there to say hello and visit with people.

“I think it’s a way to tighten the bond with the local community,” Riggs said. “I want all people in this neighborhood to know that this church is here for them.”

Oxford’s strong commitment to community outreach was a drawing card for Riggs, an active member of Grace Memorial United Methodist Church in Sedley since 1999. Over the years, Riggs had become increasingly active in his church: teaching Sunday school, serving as a lay minister, and taking classes offered through the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is now a licensed local pastor by the United Methodist Church and plans to continue his education.

Although he was raised in the Methodist church, Riggs didn’t plan for a career in the pulpit. He majored in business administration at Old Dominion University, then spent the next 15 years as director of ticket sales for the Norfolk Tides and concert/event manager for the city of Norfolk.

During that time, Riggs said, he drifted away from the church until his wife, Amy, a pharmacist at Bennetts Creek Pharmacy, pulled him back on track.

“I think God often calls us to familiar places … but you take roads you weren’t expecting to get there,” said Riggs, 41. “I have a passion for community outreach, not just speaking but serving those who are in need, and I want this church to connect with this community.

“I am excited to see this church wanting to revive itself … and I want to be a part of it,” he said. “I love where I am at (in life) right now.”

Riggs has taken a hands-on role with many of the church’s service projects, said church member Frances Richards. When Oxford opens the doors to its food pantry three Wednesdays a month, Riggs is usually on hand with refreshments to chat with the 80 to 100 families seeking assistance, Richards said. Both Oxford’s food pantry and coat closet frequently receive donations from St. Mary of the Presentation Catholic Church.

Every Wednesday, Riggs does a children’s sermon, with lots of singing, for the approximately 70 children who attend the Apple Tree Learning Center adjacent to the church.

“He’s a very likable person, very interactive with the people who come here. He has a lot of spirit,” Richards said. “To me, he is a real example of a Christian.

“He has been a blessing to Oxford.”

Perhaps the most visible change to passersby is the removal of the yellowed Plexiglas protector that had covered the church’s vibrant stained glass windows for years, Riggs said. That coating has been replaced with clear acrylic that protects the windows but also makes them visible from outside the church.

“Now Jesus is visible from the street again,” Riggs said. “We care about the community we are in and we want people to know it.

“And who knows? Just maybe, somebody driving by at night needs to see that picture of Jesus.”