Across the Street and Around the World
In the Southgate Mall area of Yuma, where the population swells from roughly 80,000 in summer to about 160,000 in winter, Trinity United Methodist Church has anchored the neighborhood at 3030 South 8th Avenue since 1953. The congregation's motto - "Spreading the Gospel across the street and around the world" - captures a ministry that begins in the parking lots and storefronts a stone's throw from the front doors and reaches outward through food drives, partnerships with local missions, and a YouTube livestream that brings Sunday worship to viewers well beyond Arizona.
The church sits just west of Southgate Mall, near the intersection of 32nd Street and 4th Avenue at what locals call "the Big Curve." Visitors have no trouble finding the property, or finding a place to park. Trinity has three lots of its own, and on busy Sundays many worshippers also use the lot behind the nearby Sears. The campus is laid out with the Sanctuary facing 8th Avenue and the office facing Park Street, so both streets serve as recognizable front doors depending on how a visitor arrives.
A Campus Built Around a Courtyard
Trinity's buildings enclose a large, grassy courtyard that serves as the heart of the property. Classrooms fill Boone-Pooler Hall on the west side; the office complex and choir room sit on the north; the Sanctuary stands on the east, facing the mall; and Morris Hall occupies the south. The Children's Center is tucked into the southwest corner of the lawn, with a playground in front for the youngest visitors.
Buildings are clearly marked to help newcomers find their way. Restrooms are located in Morris Hall, the Office area, and Boone-Pooler Hall, and all of them - along with the rest of the campus - are fully accessible for those who use wheelchairs or have other mobility needs. The church also offers assisted listening devices for anyone who needs them, and a multi-media system displays pictures and text during worship so congregants can follow along more easily.
Sunday Morning at Trinity
The Sunday rhythm at Trinity begins at 9:00 AM, when the Nursery opens for infants through preschoolers and the Serendipity Adult Sunday School class gathers (currently via Zoom). At 10:00 AM, the congregation meets in the Sanctuary for worship. The service includes singing, prayer, Scripture reading, and a sermon, with Holy Communion observed on the first Sunday of each month.
For families, there is a special time with the pastor during the service for children. After that, youngsters ages four through third grade are invited to the Children's Center for "Kid's Church," with a lesson prepared for them, plus crafts, stories, games, and a snack. Children are always welcome to remain with their parents in the Sanctuary if their families prefer. The Children's Center has space set aside for infants, toddlers, and elementary-age children, each with dedicated adults who spend time interacting with them.
After the service, everyone is invited to Fellowship Time at 11:00 AM in Morris Hall, where coffee and conversation fill the room. For those who cannot attend in person, services are livestreamed on YouTube each Sunday at 10:00 AM, and an archive of past services is available online. The congregation is intentional about respecting anyone who chooses to wear a face mask or maintain physical distance.
Holy Communion: A Means of Grace
On the first Sunday of each month, Trinity gathers at the table. The church uses bread and grape juice for the Sacrament, and the invitation is open: Communion is offered to all who "truly and earnestly repent of their sins and desire to lead a new life in Christ Jesus." The congregation understands the Sacrament not as a reward for good behavior but as a means to receiving God's grace. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of age or membership status - a reflection of the United Methodist understanding of the Lord's Supper as a wide-open feast.
Music That Raises Voices Together
Music is woven into nearly everything at Trinity. The Chancel Choir blesses the 10:00 AM service each week, and soloists and small groups offer special music throughout the year. The Cindy Klein Memorial Handbell Choir rings on the second Sunday of each month. Hymns and praise songs - old and new - are chosen to fit the theme of the day.
Karen Conde serves as Music Director and Director of the Cindy Klein Memorial Handbell Choir. A generational United Methodist who was baptized at First Methodist Church of Detroit - the church her grandfather helped build - Karen came to Trinity in 1965 and grew up in the congregation. She earned a teaching degree from Northern Arizona University in 1974 with a minor in music, then returned home to teach elementary school. Music stayed at the center: she has played in the Cindy Klein Choir for 41 years, directed three handbell training choirs along the way, and stepped into the music director role after retiring from her career as an elementary school principal. Karen recently took a year off to recover from cancer and is back directing both the bell choir and the broader music program.
Grace Marceau directs the Chancel Choir. Allen Morlock accompanies the choir and plays for worship on both organ and piano, while Jedidiah Hurst also serves as accompanist. Jedidiah has played at church and concerts for many years and lists church and classical music as his favorites, along with sports, movies, novels (especially The Lord of the Rings), and the joy of joining voices together in worship.
Trinity's handbell tradition reaches beyond the adult Cindy Klein Choir. For many years the program has trained younger ringers in three handbell choirs, building up musicians who can step into the adult ensemble when they are ready.
The Children's Center and Kid's Church
The Children's Center is staffed by Krista Raas, who coordinates the program with a team of loving volunteers. Krista has worked with children on and off for eight years and sees her role at Trinity as both a calling and a continuation of her own faith journey as a three-year member of the congregation. Under her care, the Children's Center is divided into separate rooms for infants, toddlers, and elementary-age children, so each age group has space designed for its needs.
Parents sign children in at the front desk and can feel confident that the children are cared for, taught about Jesus, and engaged through play, song, age-appropriate crafts, stories, and a simple snack. The Center shares the southwest side of the campus with the playground, making outdoor play easy. The whole program reflects Trinity's conviction that children are not just welcome at church - they are an integral part of its life.
Growing Through the Serendipity Class
The Serendipity Adult Sunday School class meets via Zoom each Sunday at 9:00 AM. Its name comes from the dictionary definition of "serendipity" - "an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident" - and the class lives up to it. Members read selected Bible chapters each week and discuss guided questions about the verses. The class wanders through the Old Testament at a steady pace and accepts newcomers at any point; no prior preparation is required to drop in.
The class is open to anyone who has been away from Sunday School for a while, or who has never tried one and would like to start. Those interested in mid-week education opportunities can contact the church office for more information.
The Pastoral Team
Pastor Bob Klein was appointed Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church on July 1, 2020, after faithfully serving as the church's administrator since 2010. His roots with Trinity run deep - he was baptized as an infant in this very church. A lifelong United Methodist, Pastor Bob earned certification as a Church Administrator from the General Council on Finance and Administration through the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He also completed Local Pastor Licensing School through the Western Jurisdiction at Claremont School of Theology and continues his education through the United Methodist Course of Study Program.
He has served as President of the Desert Southwest Conference Council on Finance and Administration and as Chairperson of the Desert Southwest Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits, giving him a broad view of the wider United Methodist connection. Pastor Bob and his husband, Derrick, have a blended family that brings them great joy, with children and grandchildren living on both sides of Arizona.
Rev. Katie Fuchs serves as Ministry Associate and brings a deep history with Trinity to her work. She first joined the congregation in 1982 and, after discerning a call to ordained ministry, went on to earn a bachelor's degree in religious studies from the University of Arizona and a master of divinity from Claremont School of Theology. She served United Methodist churches in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada, before being received into full membership in the Desert Southwest Annual Conference as an ordained deacon in 1997. A deacon is one of the two ordained orders of ministry in the United Methodist Church, focused on service and the church's connection to the world.
Katie is appointed to two Yuma congregations, First and Trinity United Methodist Churches. Her ministry includes pulpit supply, children's ministry, leading study groups, and church office and program management. She has also served on several Walk to Emmaus retreats and is a longtime member of the Cindy Klein Memorial Handbell Choir.
Ministry Teams and Lay Leadership
Trinity is organized around nine ministry teams that share the work of leading the congregation. The Leadership Council envisions, plans, implements, and annually evaluates the mission and ministry of the church.
- The Caring Ministry Team gives attention to Christian formation, membership care, and small groups.
- The Serving Ministry Team focuses on local and larger community ministries of compassion, justice, and advocacy.
- The Learning Ministry Team oversees educational programs including Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, reaching both members and the wider community.
- The Worship Ministry Team works with the pastor to provide meaningful worship opportunities on Sundays and special days.
- The Staff Parish Relations Team advises the staff and pastor, recommends salaries, oversees hiring, and serves as the interface between the congregation and the staff.
- The Stewardship/Finance Team compiles the church budget, develops plans for raising sufficient income, administers funds received, and provides education on Christian stewardship.
- The Board of Trustees provides oversight and care of all real property owned by the church, reviews insurance annually, and serves as the corporate body subject to the direction of the charge conference.
- The Leadership Development Team works with members to ascertain spiritual gifts, assists each person to become actively involved in ministry, and helps new members find areas of service.
Reaching Into Yuma
Trinity's ministry reaches well beyond the courtyard and into the Yuma community. The congregation has long supported the Yuma Community Food Bank with food drives - members are asked to bring non-perishable donations on designated Sundays. The church has also participated in fundraising events for Crossroads Mission and has been recognized with a Palmcroft Elementary School Volunteer Award, honoring the congregation's outreach across the street from the campus.
The motto "across the street and around the world" reflects that local focus. Whether food drives, mission fundraisers, or school partnerships, Trinity keeps its eyes on neighbors as well as on distant ones. The whole congregation is described as "proudly supporting the city of Yuma" and as a member congregation of the United Methodist Church.
Prayer, Newsletter, and Staying Connected
Trinity's prayer ministry takes many forms. A prayer request form on the church's website invites prayer needs from anyone in the community. Members can choose to share their request with the prayer team, the pastors, or the whole congregation. Regular prayer request emails go out to those who have signed up for the church's newsletter, and a wide range of prayer resources - including material on spiritual journaling, breath prayer, welcoming prayer, and contemplative prayer - is linked from the church's prayer page.
A weekly email newsletter shares church news and upcoming events, and the office staff keeps regular hours Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to noon. Donations can be made online through the church's secure giving portal, supporting both the operating budget and the broader mission of the congregation.
A Place at the Table
The congregation has reflected often on what it means to be a people of the table - a place where everyone is welcome, where old and young, newcomers and longtime members, sit down together. Pastor Bob has written that the Table of Hospitality "requires much of us" and "demands that we question our own boundaries of 'who is in' and 'who is out.'"
That spirit extends to first-time visitors. Sunday morning begins with a warm welcome, a children's program for the youngest, a Sunday school class for adults seeking depth, a Sanctuary filled with choir, organ, handbells, and piano, and a fellowship hour where strangers quickly become friends. Holy Communion is open to all. The building is accessible, the parking is plentiful, and the livestream is waiting for those who cannot make the trip in person.