Paddy Leggins never dreamed she’d be coming back to her hometown to be pastor of a church when she graduated from West Liberty High School in 1965. But God had other plans for the once-retired minister who took the helm of the West Liberty United Methodist Church just a few months ago.
Now Paddy Leggins Druhl, the new minister of the 80-member church is happy to have the appointed role and says it’s been like a homecoming, meeting up with old friends and acquaintances.
The daughter of Kenny and Maxine Leggins, she says she’s been even mistaken for her late sister, Bobbie (Donahue), but says coming back to the West Liberty area has been fun and a blessing.
The pastor says she has lots of good memories about growing up in West Liberty, from slumber parties to school activities and more.
Her role in the church began in 1973 when she became a Christian with her husband, Michael, who is also a minister. In 1982, he entered bible college while the couple raised four elementary school-age children, eventually working their way to the University of Dubuque, where she earned a degree in early childhood education in 1988.
In 1994, she felt the call to enter the ministry and took course studies in Kansas City before getting ordained as an associate member or Deacon in 1991.
She was pastor for seven years over three churches including Decatur, Davis City and Lamont and the couple eventually moved to Northern Iowa and served churches for 10 years in Kelmme and Gordell near Clear Lake. She later had an appointment in Manchester and Greeley for four years before serving for seven years as the pastor of High Prairie United Methodist Church in rural Muscatine.
While her husband was appointed the pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Davenport five years ago, she had the role in rural Muscatine before getting the West Liberty appointment.
The couple splits the drive time by living in Wilton but Pastor Drahl says she’s happy to be “back home again” and adores her parish, noting the members have a strong desire to “be a unit” and said they “work together well,” from raising money for causes to helping young parents and anyone else in the community.
A good example: the “Ladies of the Church” will be hosting an upcoming Lasagna Luncheon that will benefit the West Liberty “Shop with a Cop” program, serving on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church at 113 E. Fifth St.
The church, which has a single Sunday 10 a.m. service weekly as well as Sunday school at 9 a.m., also hosts a new Bible Study that’s open to any denomination on Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m., where as many as 20-25 have taken part, although the group typically averages about 12-15.
The church also put together a drive to collect sweatshirts for high school students in need of warmth and the church also hosts an “Infant Closet” for young families in need of baby clothing or items – mostly diapers – for their newborns or toddlers, open at the church from 9 a.m.-noon weekdays. The service is free to anyone.
Paster Druhl says the parish is “very generous” when it comes to helping out those in need in the community, although noting they’re also very responsible in meeting the needs of the parish.
“The courtesy and love in this parish is wonderful,” she said, noting the parishioners “do a lot of work, mostly out of love.” She experienced that love when she hurt her shoulder and arm recently after a fall, noting, “I seemed to be in everyone’s prayers.”
The pastor says she’s glad she never decided to retire, noting her new role “Feels like a call from God” and she wouldn’t trade it for anything at this point in her life.