Hi, I am Pastor Larry Pickering here at Cedar Lake Methodist Church along with my wife Brenda. We believe God has got us right where He wants us and we love being a part of this church and the community.

I am a native of Petal, MS born July 21, 1957. Brenda, my wife of almost 50 years and I raised our family, Adam, Susan and Scott in Wiggins. I began ministry at the age of forty-nine during my last six years of a thirty-five-year career in the engineering department of Pearl River Valley Electric Power Assn. I did my theological work at Millsaps College through Candler School of Theology completing it in early 2013 and completed some addition theological work in 2017. I am now an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church. However, as a second career pastor I believe my greatest asset is that I have worked for the public since I was eleven. This gives me a deeper understanding of people from not just a church setting.

As a lifelong Methodist I have been active in all facets of the church: youth leader, Sunday School teacher and served on about every committee.

My call to ministry was unmistakable. I had planned to retire at age sixty and travel but at the age of forty-eight God began to lay on my heart there was something more He wanted of me. After about a year, the call became as clear as one could possibly be. To affirm my call, I received a small church as a lay pastor within two weeks. I knew then this was an answer to a year of questioning what was happening. I have been in ministry now for almost 20 years. I love being not just a preacher but a pastor who cares deeply for those I serve.

My goal as a pastor is simple. I want to share the love of Jesus with as many people as possible. In doing so, I want God to use me to bring as many people as possible into a relationship with Him, or a deeper relationship with Him. All the while expanding the Kingdom of God for His glory.