Pastor's Bio

The Reverend Varonica M Livingston grew up in Red Springs, North Carolina.  A lifelong Methodist, she spent her formative years at Rhyne Memorial United Methodist Church where God began shaping and molding her for her ministerial call.  She credits her grandmother, the late Velma B. Morton, with laying a solid spiritual foundation in her life.

She  attended Pembroke State University (currently UNC-Pembroke) where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education.  She graduated from Duke Divinity in 2011 (Advanced Course of Study)..

In 2000, during a transitional time in her life, Reverend Livingston heard and obeyed God’s call to preach the gospel.  She was appointed to her first pastorate in June, 2003and served for nine years at Millers Chapel.   In June, 2012 Reverend Livingston was Commissioned (Provisional Elder) on the Elder track in the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church and was appointed to Beauty Spot United Methodist Church to serve as pastor. In June, 2016 Reverend Livingston was ordained an Elder in Full Connection in the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Reverend Livingston has gifts of preacher,, teacher, encourager, administration,  and exhorter.  She believes that God has given the Church spiritual gifts and talents to use for the glorification and growth of God’s Church; and she encourages others to use their God-given gifts and talents.  She has a passion for senior adults, youth and children and a great love for her Beauty Spot Church family whom she feels has been one of God’s greatest blessings.

Reverend Livingston has served on committees at the district and conference levels including the District Board of Ordained Ministry, Strengthening the Black Church, Conference Mission, and the District Trustee Committee.  She also attended the Academy for Leadership Excellence.  She believes that the church should be a place of vibrant worship, radical hospitality and should extend its arm of love for God and others within the church, the community and the world in tangible ways embodying the visible presence of God, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

She shares her life’s journey with her husband Lee Livingston, whom she credits with helping her “stay grounded.”  Lee is her supporter, her encourager, her friend, and her partner in ministry who shares in her love for the ministry.  They reside in Lumberton, NC and have four adult children:  Montel, Devin, Lisa and Matthew, a son-in-law Will, four grandchildren and two great-grand child.