New Pastor Rollinson leads Malvern, Waynesburg churches

Pastor Tyler Rollinson is the new pastor of both Malvern United Methodist Church and Waynesburg Centenary United Methodist Church, bringing with him a lifelong passion for ministry shaped by his upbringing in Centralia, Illinois.

Rollinson grew up in southern Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri, where church was a constant presence in his life. He attended Greenville College, now Greenville University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in youth ministries. After college, he spent a year as a house parent at a Christian boarding school in Texas, followed by a camping ministry internship in Kansas City, Missouri.

“Looking back, I think wanting to be involved in the church was always part of me, but during my undergrad career working for a church was something I realized I enjoyed.”

He later pursued a master’s degree in theological studies at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Canada, completing most of the three-year program in person before finishing online in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. That same year, Rollinson moved to Ohio to serve as director of youth and children’s ministry at a United Methodist Church.

After three years, when the church disaffiliated, he transitioned into broader pastoral ministry. He first served in Columbiana County with a cooperative parish of seven churches, later reduced to six, before being credentialed as a local licensed pastor in the United Methodist Church. He was then appointed to two churches in Coshocton before coming to Malvern and Waynesburg.

Rollinson said his call to ministry became clear during a summer working at church camps after his first year of college. Originally an elementary education major, he shifted paths after prayer and reflection, finding affirmation in the words of a camp speaker.

“That kind of clarity started to come,” he said. “I’d been doing this ministry work all summer at camp. Summer camp was when I became very intentional about praying and asking God for guidance because I didn’t want to commit to something and be stuck in a job where I wasn’t happy. At camp I realized I really enjoyed this. This is probably where God is leading me.”

Now, as a young pastor serving two congregations, Rollinson said he has felt welcomed in his new role. He hopes to continue church traditions while exploring opportunities to strengthen connections with the community, including supporting the daycare located next to the Malvern church.

Malvern United Methodist Church’s Sunday service is at 9 a.m. at 121 W. Wood St., Malvern. Waynesburg Centenary United Methodist Church’s service is at 10:45 a.m. at 6321 Waynesburg Drive SE, Waynesburg.