Welcome to Three Oaks United Methodist Church. We are lucky to have a church rich in history and community. We strive to offer a place for spiritual growth. Please join us each Sunday at 9am for worship.

Pastor

Kel Penny

Pastor Kel Penny proudly serves as the pastor at both Three Oaks United Methodist Church and Water’s Edge United Methodist Church in New Buffalo, MI.

Kel grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2006 with a degree in Religious Studies. He also holds two degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary, a Master's of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master's of Divinity. When it comes to church, Kel loves teaching people new ways to interpret the Bible and connecting with people in the community.

Administrative Assistant

Talia Edwards

Talia Edwards is our administrative assistant at both Three Oaks UMC and Water’s Edge UMC in New Buffalo. Talia was born and raised locally in New Buffalo, MI and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s College Notre Dame. She has two kids and in her free time you can see her on the bleachers cheering on her son and daughter’s teams.

Worship Leader

Tara Dodge

Tara proudly serves as worship leader for both Three Oaks UMC and Water’s Edge UMC. She grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and holds an undergraduate degree in Art Education and a Graduate Degree in Secondary Education. She was a public school teacher for over a decade. When it comes to church, Tara has been leading worship services for four years and has been involved in church music since she was a child. She also loves being able to use her creative talents to make fun stage designs and meaningful environments. Outside of church Tara enjoys animals, camping, beach days and lots of cookouts with friends and family. She also is a Packers fan now living in Bears country. We'll see how this turns out later (LOL). Tara, her two children and husband are excited to be diving into a new chapter of their lives exploring Southwest Michigan.