Church Office: 603-432-7083
My name is Pastor Milka Gonzalez, and I consider myself a visionary, a bridge builder, and a seeker of God’s goodness who delights in seeing God's creation with wonder. I have the honor of serving as your pastor at Londonderry United Methodist Church (LUMC) since July 1, 2025. As your pastor, I not only serve the church but also look forward to becoming an active part of the wider community—getting to know its strengths and challenges and finding ways to serve in collaboration with leaders, parishioners, and colleagues. I have been warmly welcomed here and feel truly blessed to be working alongside such a loving church community.
For the last three years, I served at East Parish UMC in Salisbury, MA. Prior to that, I was actively involved in various mission and volunteer roles. At East Parish, I had the privilege of speaking at community gatherings such as Memorial Day and other public events, creating opportunities for meaningful connections with neighbors and seeing growth at the church. My time in Salisbury was both inspiring and transformative. It gave me a renewed perspective on my calling and reaffirmed my commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ—whether in church, in the public square, or one-on-one. By God’s grace, I am called to proclaim hope, love, and faith to help make this world a better place for all.
I was born into a humble family in the Dominican Republic, where I learned early on to face challenges with courage and trust in God. At the age of 19, I moved to the United States—a life-changing transition that taught me resilience and adaptability as I navigated a new culture, language, and lifestyle. After having two children and experiencing a painful divorce in my early twenties, I felt defeated and knew it was time to rethink my path. I enrolled in community college to learn English. Learning the language not only helped me understand my surroundings, but also opened the door to a career that supported my children and me for over 12 years—as a medical, legal, and social interpreter at UMASS Memorial Medical Center in central Massachusetts and other institutions.
This work deeply shaped my ministry. It taught me the value of compassionate listening, the power of walking alongside others during difficult times, and the importance of advocating for those whose voices are often misunderstood due to language barriers. Some of my most meaningful memories come from those interpreting years—like walking into an emergency room where a nurse and patient were in distress, miscommunicating and growing frustrated. In just a short time, by clearly explaining the medical plan, I witnessed a shift from mistrust and tension to peace and understanding. The atmosphere changed, and healing could begin—for everyone involved.
God has used every part of my life—both the blessings and the challenges—to shape my values, beliefs, and vocation. I live by the truths found in Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,” and Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
My preparation for pastoral ministry includes not only personal and professional life experience but also academic formation: a Certificate in Spiritual Direction, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Nichols College, and a Master of Divinity from Boston University. Yet more than any academic achievement, my source of strength and stability is my faith—and my greatest blessing has been accepting Christ as my guide, Lord, and Savior.
I am a proud mother of my son Carlos and my daughter Karlene, and a joyful grandmother to my grandson, Gideon. Outside of my pastoral duties, I find joy in God’s creation through walking, hiking, biking, and spending time at the beach. I also love gathering with loved ones over good food, music, movies, and playing games. Traveling is another passion—I enjoy learning about different cultures, meeting new people, experiencing new languages, and visiting historical places of the world.
I look forward to meeting you and experiencing the wonder and grace of God together as we journey and discover the awe of the mission here in Londonderry, NH—for God’s glory.