Pastor Edith provides leadership and ministry to our Hispanic speaking congregation and has been a valued member of our team for over eighteen years.Edith Salazar-Veliz was born in Peru, in a small town called Peralvillo-Chancay, north of the capital, Lima.
She grew up as a Christian in a Methodist family where her parents, Moíses and Oliva, made the values of showing love to God and to neighbors a part of her daily life. Edith is the youngest of 10 siblings who form a loving and united family.
In June of 2000 Edith moved to North Carolina to study at Duke University. In 2001 she was invited by White Plains UMC to work in Hispanic Ministry. In 2005 she married Ismael Camacho Flores, a native of Mexico. Ismael had been a strong support for Edith and assisted with the Hispanic ministry long before they married. Together they have two sons Emanuel and Samuel, who fill their hearts with joy.
Edith graduated with a degree in Education from Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University in Lima, Peru. She also studied Pastoral Theology in Peru, at theComunidad Bíblica Teológica de la Iglesia Metodista. She continued her studies at the Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston Illinois, culminating the basic course of study. In the year 2015 she completed the advanced course of study, equivalent to Master of Divinity, at Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC.
When she has a break from pastoral duties, Edith enjoys watching movies with her family, and exploring new places, especially the beach! Her favorite color is navy blue and favorite music style is Latin American folk music. Edith also enjoys being creative and has taken courses in cake decoration, floral arranging, and has even learned to assemble balloon arrangements for parties.
Edith of course loves Peruvian foods like ceviche and pachamanca, but also enjoys many other types of latino foods such as molé, popusas and arepas. American hamburgers and pizzas are also favorites.
Edith’s passion is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, by all the means she can. In all the ways she can. In all the places she can. At all the times she can. To all the people she can. As long as ever she can.