Edith Ruiz Zepeda Shares Her Deeply Committed Life

Beginning at the Cleveland District Leadership Academy at Lakewood UMC, where she delivered the keynote address to the 462 lay and clergy persons in attendance and continuing during worship at Epworth-Euclid the following morning, Edith Ruiz Zepeda of Mexico City shared her profound faith and incisive words challenging each and every hearer to be in mission and ministry to those in need. Edith reminded those sitting in the beautiful sanctuary of Lakewood UMC and those in the cathedral-like Epworth-Euclid UMC that "God didn't call his people to be songbirds in gilded cages. He called them to be disciples to a world in desperate need of hearing the message of his only begotten Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ."

In the words of Pastor Chris Martin, "to say that Edith knocked the socks off those attending the Leadership Academy with her keen sense of mission, personal commitment, and words of gentle instruction is a bit of an understatement. I was never so proud of our adopted daughter from Mexico City as I was when she boldly and confidently addressed the people representing the churches of the Cleveland District." The message she delivered to the congregation of Epworth-Euclid on Feb. 6 was equally challenging and incisive. Special words of appreciation are expressed to Eric Charnofsky, our director of music, for inviting Edith, a world-class musician, to play the prelude.

Returning to Mexico City, Edith prepared to begin a new job the following day as the principal pianist for the school of music at the National University of Mexico, a position for which she did not apply, but which was offered to her exclusively by the administration of that institution. Congratulations and thank you Edith!