Haitian-born pastor and her Bradenton church find new ways to connect during COVID-19

A trailblazing Haitian-born pastor and her Bradenton congregation have had to find new ways to connect during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tammie Isidore, thought to be the first female Haitian pastor of a United Methodist congregation in Florida, became pastor of Faith United Methodist Church, 7215 FIrst Ave. W., on June 29. She was able to deliver her message from the pulpit for only the first two Sundays in July before a surge of COVID-19 cases hit the Bradenton area. The surge forced the church to close the sanctuary to live worship.

It has been a challenge for Isidore, 58, to meet all members of her congregation face-to-face. But it has not stopped worship, prayer or any of the church’s missions.

“The ministry is challenging anyway, so there is nothing new,” Isidore said.

“Do no harm to your people. The church remains open while the building is closed,” she said of the decision to move worship to Zoom, the internet and YouTube.

Although it has been tough not being able to meet in person with her congregation, Isidore said members have found new ways to worship during the pandemic.

In addition to the virtual services, which are recorded on Saturdays by the worship team, and streamed online on Sunday, members stay in touch by cell phone, email and newsletters. All methods of communication that church founders could not imagine when Faith United Methodist was chartered in 1987.

“We are trying to stay safe for the people we love and serve,” Isidore said.

When Faith United Methodist may resume live worship services is an open question.

“I just put out a survey to the congregation to see who is willing to come back. We want to make sure everyone is safe,” she said, adding that live services may resume in September.

A pastor for 24 years, for the past decade she led Methodist congregations in Tampa and Clearwater.

“I love Bradenton and I love being close to the Gulf of Mexico. The reception has been so welcoming. It’s such a joy to be here. I can’t wait for the pandemic to be over so that we can continue enjoying what God has for us,” she said.

Her assignment to Faith United Methodist Church may be her last, as she foresees retirement at age 65, and having more time to spend with her grandchildren.

She emigrated to the United States in 1991, when the Haitian economy was at a particularly low ebb. Isidore is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Jean-Robert “Bob” Isidore, are parents of seven children and have six grandchildren.

In Haiti, a predominantly Catholic country, Isidore attended Catholic schools, although she and her family were Protestant, because those schools were the best. She speaks English, French and Haitian creole.

Among the missions of Faith United Methodist Church are partnering with the New Hope Coalition, a Haitian congregation that worships in Faith’s Banner Hall, feeding those in need with a weekly drive-through food distribution, reaching about 200, and the High on Jesus program to assist those with substance addictions.

“It’s a joy to be on this journey. My prayer is to see what the community needs. We have all these great ideas, but I want to listen, I want to be part of the larger group,” Isidore said.

With much of the country divided and in turmoil, Isidore said she would like to see more love and understanding and more receptiveness among people to reaching out to one another.

Jan Dart, worship chair at Faith United Methodist, said that Isidore is off to a great start, even with the pandemic.

“She is very full of the Spirit,” Dart said.

Dart is hopeful that Faith United Methodist can resume live worship services soon so that the congregation members doesn’t get totally out of the habit of coming to church in person.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/faithumcbradenton/.

This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.