Any way you look at it, the life lived by Stephen Fraser-Soots has certainly been an adventurous one.
Fraser-Soots has been to nearly every continent, lived for quite a bit of time on both coasts of the United States, and spent 15 years working for NASA.
Now he’s beginning a new journey, as pastor of both Howarth United Methodist Church in Lake Orion, and Paint Creek United Methodist Church in Rochester.
Last year, Fraser-Soots did something not many people with his life experience would do: He went back to school.
Fraser-Soots and his wife of 32 years, Bea, lived in a 12-foot by 14-foot dorm room in Chicago, as Fraser-Soots finished seminary school.
Bea, a pastor for 15 years who now has appointments at United Methodist Churches in Waterford and Pontiac, took a sabbatical and did research while accompanying her husband.
‘In reality, we did extremely well for that year,? Fraser-Soots said of living in tight quarters and eating strictly cafeteria food.
‘Both of us have lost a lot of weight, and now we plan on keeping it off through exercise,? he added.
Fraser-Soots started taking seminary classes before his retirement from Ford Motor Company.
His work for NASA was done through Ford’s Aerospace division, and he moved to Michigan in 1985 to bring that knowledge to the automotive arena.
After 32 years with the company, Fraser-Soots felt the call.
This summer, the now Rev. Stephen Fraser-Soots received his first appointment, to both the Howarth United Methodist Church in Lake Orion, and the Paint Creek UMC on Collins Road in Rochester.
‘In the United Methodist Church, we call it a two-point charge,? he said.
‘The Methodist Church has a habit of moving people in the same time frame,? he added, noting that appointments come on July 1 each year.
His first service at each church was on July 2.
‘The churches have been linked this way for about eight years,? Fraser-Soots said.
Howarth UMC, located at 550 E. Silverbell Road, holds Sunday services at 9:30 a.m., and Paint Creek UMC follows at 11 a.m.
Both churches were founded in the 1850s, and the Howarth UMC moved into its new building (at the same location) in 1984.
Fraser-Soots replaced previous pastor Sylvia Bouvier, who retired and moved out of state.
He said he is still adjusting to his new life in the Lake Orion area. He and his wife recently moved into the parsonage at her church in Waterford, and their collective four churches have formed an instant bond.
‘We’re both extremely happy to be in the area,? he said.
Prior to their year in Chicago, the couple lived in Grosse Pointe, in a home now occupied by their son, Aaron, a doctor in his third year of a residency program.
Before receiving his appointment to Howarth and Paint Creek, Fraser-Soots and his wife took a trip to Guatemala, in May.
‘We flew down to meet our new grandson,? Fraser-Soots said.
Aaron and his wife, Erin, adopted a baby boy that Fraser-Soots said should return to the U.S. in early September.
Aaron and Erin went down to Guatemala around Easter, and Erin has stayed with the baby since then.
With all the things going on in his personal life, Fraser-Soots has still found time to throw himself into his new calling.
He is in the process of holding preliminary meetings with the various groups at both churches.
The congregation at Howarth UMC is around 70 people, whereas Paint Creek UMC has a congregation of between 40-50.
Though Fraser-Soots said both buildings are small in size, the facilities at Howarth UMC are a bit bigger.
‘That’s why my office is there,? he said. ‘There’s a little more space.
‘The church there has more activities going, but both places would like to become more active,? he added.
Fraser-Soots noted that he has already been mightily impressed by his congregations.
‘We do lots of mission work, both locally and internationally,? he said. Groups have traveled to Honduras in the past, and are currently supporting a missionary in Cali, Columbia.
Howarth UMC also puts on widely popular monthly dinners that serve as the main fundraiser for the church.
On a personal level, Fraser-Soots said his first two months as a pastor have been very rewarding.
‘I’m ecstatic from the standpoint of learning new things,? he said. ‘I’ve done my first wedding, and I have another one next month.?
Fraser-Soots is also looking forward to his next baptism.
‘Those are fun things to do,? he said of events like weddings and baptisms.
To learn more about Howarth United Methodist Church, call (248) 373-2360, visit their website at www.howarthumc.net, or stop by 550 E. Silverbell Road.