Big Garden Welcomes Deb Keeney

September 14, 2011

United Methodist Ministries is excited to welcome Deb Keeney to its staff. Deb is the new Director of Programs and Administration. In this position she will oversee the Big Garden, urban and rural, as well as the Blue Flamingo thrift store.

A native of southwest Iowa and a long-time member of the United Methodist Church, Deb has worked in a variety of United Methodist ministries in Nebraska.

She has previously served with Justice for Our Neighbors, United Methodists for Mission and Justice, the Omaha District Office and as youth director at two United Methodist churches.

"We are so pleased that Deb's return to Nebraska coincided with our staff opening,” said the Reverend Stephanie Ahlschwede, executive director of United Methodist Ministries. “She brings a wealth of experience in both the United Methodist Church and in community program development that are uniquely suited to help United Methodist Ministries continue to grow and serve."

Deb most recently worked as a Church and Community Worker with the General Board of Global Ministries in Roanoke, Virginia. She was assigned as the Executive Director of the United Methodist Community Outreach Program where she worked with issues of children and poverty.

“I like working in the church and in the United Methodist connectional system in particular,” Deb said. “I always wanted to be a missionary and so becoming a Church and Community worker fulfilled that. It’s about realizing that mission work can be done anywhere, including Omaha.”

To contact Deb Keeney, you may e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .