Reverand Eric Sanford

It has been a very exciting and major surprise and I am looking forward to serving with you all there at Alta Woods. To even be considered to serve at a church like Alta Woods is an honor. I have already been checking out the website and have really enjoyed it. It's great.

I was born May 4, 1983 in Starkville, MS. A graduate of Starkville High School in 2001, of Huntingdon College (B.A. Cultural and Religious Studies) in Montgomery, Alabama in 2004, and of Candler School of Theology at Emory University (M.Div.) in 2007. I was commissioned as probationary elder in The United Methodist Church in June 2007.

While in seminary, I served in a variety of different areas including as a student chaplain at a women's prison in Atlanta, GA, as a summer intern working with Hope Ministries, Revels Memorial UMC, and Trinity UMC in Greenville, MS, as a contextual education student pastor at Shiloh UMC in Almon, GA, and a summer as the Conference Youth Coordinator. Following seminary, I was appointed to Hollandale UMC where I have served the past two years.

My parents, Dr. Ben and Doris Sanford, still live in Starkville. I have two brothers and two sisters and interesting fact is that all of our first names start with the letter E. In case you are wondering the names are: Emily (27), Evan (24), Eliot (21), and Elizabeth (19). My sister Emily serves as associate pastor / youth minister at Galloway. Evan is pursuing a masters degree at Mississippi College in hopes of getting into Medical School. Eliot is a junior at Mississippi State, and Elizabeth is a freshman at Mississippi College.

I love sports, watching and playing. I enjoy playing tennis, soccer, running, camping, fishing, among other things. I am an Eagle Scout and have served Cub Scout Master and Assistant Boy Scout Master for Troop 453 in Hollandale. I am a member of the Rotary Club here in Hollandale and was slated to be the President this coming year.

I look forward to meeting and serving with you all very soon.

God bless,
Eric Sanford