Rev. Paula Pettis-Garrett, M.Div., MSW, LCSW

Rev. Paula Pettis-Garrett serves as the Survivorship and Clinical Trials Education Lead for the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.   

Rev. Paula Pettis-Garrett is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In addition to her work at the Cancer Center, she serves as an associate pastor at Alive in the Word Christian Church in Brownsburg, IN and provides mental health services through Family and Community Partners to individuals and families involved with the Department of Child services. Rev. Paula earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in social work from the Indiana University School of Social Work. Rev. Paula also graduated from Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis, IN) with a Master of Divinity Degree. 

In almost 30 years of working in the field of social work, she has had the privilege of serving in a wide variety of settings - including public health, mental health, and the department of corrections - and with a vast diversity of individuals and communities. Rev. Paula aims to serve with compassion and excellence in whatever capacity she works. She loves people and was born to serve. 

Rev. Paula has been married to Rev. Steve Garrett for 28 years and together they have three children, J’Niah, Nia, and Steven and four grands - Ryan, Luka, Marli, and Kayori. In her downtime, she gets refreshed by having fun with family and friends and binge-watching crime shows. 

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With Pastor Annette away this week to attend the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's 2026 General Assembly in Jacksonville, Florida, UBC will welcome church member Asher Ensmenger to the pulpit on Sunday, June 21. Asher will be sharing a message based on this week's lectionary passage, Ruth 3:1-18.

Many at UBC know Asher as a gifted musician, deep thinker, and active participant in the life of our congregation. This Sunday, he'll put on a different hat as he offers his reflections based on the nighttime encounter between Ruth and Boaz that helped shape the future of God's people.

The Book of Ruth is a story of faithfulness, courage, vulnerability, and grace. Ruth 3 finds the story at a turning point, as Ruth steps boldly along an uncertain path and puts her trust in God's provision. We can't wait to hear Asher's take on this intriguing story and listen for encouragement he might draw from it. 

Meanwhile, Pastor Annette is spending the week in Jacksonville with Baptists from across the country at the CBF General Assembly. This year's Assembly is all about boldness. This is a chance for these Baptists to gather "we live into our call to a boldly faithful way of being Baptist—using our voices for prophetic witness, telling stories of mission and ministry impact and moving toward innovative ways of thriving." We look forward to welcoming Pastor Annette home and hearing about the people she met, the ideas she encountered, and the inspiration and rejuvenation she brings back to UBC.

Join us this Sunday as we worship together, hear Asher's message, and continue seeking God's guidance for our congregation and community.

Rainforest Falls:

•  June 8–11, 2026 from 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM
•  Ages 4–12
•  ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

📍 Hosted at: University Baptist Church (with help from Red Door Church and Sacred Heart Church)

This year’s theme invites children into a vibrant rainforest adventure filled with music, games, crafts, stories, and opportunities to grow in faith and friendship.

Root Kids in a Relationship With GodStep through the mist into Rainforest Falls, overflowing with wild waterfalls, towering trees, and colorful creatures. Beneath a canopy of chattering birds and howling monkeys, kids will plunge into a lifelong adventure of discovering the nature of God. Together, we’ll explore what it means to be rooted in relationship with God — our creator, our guide, and our safe place in life’s storms.

Throughout the week, children will enjoy:

• Exciting worship music
• Bible stories and hands-on learning
• Games and crafts
• New friendships
• Encouragement in faith and confidence

Families are encouraged to come be part of this joyful week as our churches work together to create a welcoming and meaningful experience for children across our community.
Registration & Questions

To register or ask questions, call or text:
📞 (812) 292-6007
📞 (812) 339-1404

We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable week at Rainforest Falls!
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And before you go — be sure to listen to this year’s theme song, “God Is,” linked below!

​At University Baptist Church, we are excited to announce our return to PrideFest events in 2026!

 We proudly have a booth reserved for Spencer Pride on October 3rd, and we will also be applying for a space at Bloomington Pridefest on August 22nd. These events are meaningful opportunities for us to share kindness, hospitality, and the love of Christ with our wider community.

 As a congregation, we affirm and support LGBTQ+ members of our community and believe that every person deserves to be welcomed with dignity, compassion, and care. We are grateful for the chance to meet neighbors, offer encouragement, and continue building relationships rooted in God’s love.

 In past years, our volunteers have shared free hugs, cold water, painted rocks, bookmarks, candy, flags, and welcoming conversation with festival attendees and their families (including plenty of pets!). We look forward to another joyful season of connection and outreach in 2026.
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 If you would like to volunteer, help organize supplies, or simply stop by and say hello during the festivals, we would love to have you involved! 🌈