Dawn Pfaff: A Legacy of Helping

When Dawn Pfaff was in third grade, her dad gave her a picture of Jesus that he had had since childhood. He explained how Jesus had watched over him since he was a child, and he wanted Dawn to know that Jesus would watch over her as well. And that has been true.

Growing up, Dawn attended Central United Methodist Church in Waterford. Among other activities, Dawn sang in the choir under the direction of Mrs. Pelton (Eric's mom!). As a young adult, Dawn drifted away from organized religion, but not her faith. She was married in the courtyard of Waterford Central on a Thursday night, choir practice night, and the choir provided the music for Dawn and Tom's wedding.

When Dawn, Tom, and their family moved to Bloomfield Hills, Dawn began attending Birmingham First. In the pew, she met Thelma Wilmoth, whose welcome drew her in and cemented her commitment to our congregation. Working full-time and raising a family with Tom, Dawn did what she could to support her church family. She helped with Sunday School and served on an usher team.

In her late thirties, Dawn changed careers, from IT management to Real Estate. When she saw that the church was looking for assistance in the finance office, Dawn and Joan Benner talked about how Dawn might help. Initially, Dawn worked with Joan "as needed," filling in during illnesses and providing extra support at busy times of year. In 2009, she officially joined the church staff as a part time finance office associate.

As she juggled her increasingly busy real estate career with work at the church, Dawn considered leaving but stayed, realizing that working at the church was a place of joy for her. Dawn says, "Working at the church has been such a gift to me. I have been able to see firsthand how generous our congregation is and what an incredible difference the funding we provide makes in the lives of those in need."

In June of 2022, Dawn's husband, Tom, died suddenly. The support she received from her church family gave Dawn the strength she needed through incredibly difficult days. In offering his support, one of the things that Dr. Boayue said to her was "the Lord is not done with you, yet." Again, and again, in the months that followed Dawn felt herself Drawn back to those words.

Fast forward to August 2024 and Dawn is again a student, starting a Master of Counseling degree program. Throughout her life, while Dawn has had different job titles, she has always been a helper – a listener, a keeper of stories, a support, a friend. Now, following God's persistent call in her life, she is committed to using her gifts as a helper to serve others as a counselor.

Following Tom's death, Dawn needed to assume responsibility for the financial planning that had been his to do. In working through her financial plan, she recognized the vital role of Birmingham First in her life and made the decision to name Birmingham First as the beneficiary for a portion of her qualified assets.

Dawn shares that while the Wesleyan adage to "do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can" has always spoken to her, it is now the guiding vision for her life as she enters this new chapter of helping others. Thanks be to God for Dawn, for those who have helped her along her journey, and for the countless persons she has and will help.