Attica Community Church welcomes new pastor

ATTICA - Attica Community Church recently welcomed a new pastor to lead the congregation. According to a press release, Reverend Leticia "Letty" Damian, who "has served the community in leadership capacities for a decade," received the appointment. Damian holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, the release states, and is ordained within the Global Methodist Church. She said her primary focus as pastor will be to ensure the spiritual needs of parishioners are being met, and she plans to be a consistent presence in the church community. A Bible study will start in January 2025, and the church will continue to partner with the local food pantry, Damian said. She will focus strongly on helping kids who need guidance and support, seeking to mentor young people in the parish and community. Damian said the church was a mentor to her when she was growing up, and she wants to "give back what was given to me." Part of that outreach will include making connections through schools, speaking engagements and attending sports events. As she seeks to bridge the generational gap between church members, Damian said she hopes congregants will have a "willingness to experience church a little different." One initial undertaking is the Christmas Eve service being planned at the church. Titled Journey to Bethlehem, the program will be an interactive service by candlelight and will include some live characters for the Nativity story. "It's a work in progress," Damian said of the service. In addition to serving as pastor of Attica Community Church, Damian also is the North Ohio Director at the Libre Initiative. The initiative, the release states, is "a faith-based, conservative 501 (C3) that mobilizes the Hispanic-Latino community to reach their full potential." The Libre Initiative seeks to assist the growing Latino community as they adapt to life in the United States, and help them find legal pathways to become responsible citizens, Damian said. She said the Lord has blessed her "with supportive family and friends." Attica Community Church, 98 Mill St., Attica, offers Sunday worship services at 10 a.m. The Christmas Eve service will begin at 7 p.m.