3 minute read
Executive Pastor John Seward
John Seward
This is a year we will always remember. Certainly, we will remember the tremendous challenges we’ve faced. And the losses. But we’ve also seen some totally unanticipated blessings. Here are a few.
1. The parking lot tent in our north lot gave space to College Group and other gatherings when indoor options weren’t there.
2. BYOC—Bring Your Own Chair to worship in the Commons parking lot last summer connected us when isolation could have easily grown.
3. Zoom meetings meant record participation at congregational and informational meetings, not to mention smaller gatherings across the church.
4. Our first-ever out-of-state church plant— in Georgia.
5. Most of all, looking back, it’s the people who are serving. I work with a fabulous team. Here are a few of the ways these men and women served College Church and blessed me during this pandemic year.
a. Ben Panner’s out-of-the-box thinking brought gospel care to college students at a 10:15 service for them—under a tent, sometimes in Commons Hall.
b. Cheryce Berg’s care and encouragement reached our children and their families and many other parts of church with a sense of fun, enthusiasm and joy.
c. Curt Miller’s use of technology kept us focused on missionaries and their challenges during the pandemic.
d. Dan Hiben’s determined rallying of our middle schoolers (now including sixth grade) set a godly trajectory in their young lives in the days ahead.
e. Diane Jordan’s depth of care for our shut-ins means more than ever before at times like these.
f. Eric Channing’s tireless walking alongside many for whom the challenges of the year have been crushing goes largely unseen to the church as a whole, but not to the God we serve.
g. Erik Dewar’s creativity and his worshipful theology shaped services that worked virtually and in-person.
h. Julie Clemens’s determined, yet safe, ministering to all our STARS families through Zoom classes, in driveways or garage visits, online music, videos, porch portraits, phone calls, tunnel pictures and so much more helped both protect and encourage STARS and their families.
i. Mindy Rynbrandt lifted up ministry to women—WBS, Mom2Mom, Monthly Gatherings, personal care/ counsel—in many unexpected and innovative ways.
j. Josh Stringer’s ability to befriend everyone he meets lifted us closer to Jesus. He will be missed! Men’s ministry, small groups, Adult Communities, Discipleship Committee, baptisms (remember our wonderful outdoor baptism services!) and many more ministries flourished during the pandemic.
k. Wil Triggs’ irrepressible capacity for communicating to a vastly disparate congregation continues to draw us together for the gospel, which he helps us proclaim every day.
l. Zach Fallon grew high school ministry through Sunday Night Live, Rooted and the Bridge Fellowship. His love and care for our highschoolers should prepare them well for next steps in their walk with Christ. Now, he’s laying the groundwork for planting a church in Georgia where he can bring some College Church roots to that red Georgia soil.
I close with a special thank you to dear fellow believers who will be serving the Lord in new venues now or in the coming year— Josh Stringer, Zach Fallon and Diane Jordan.
