SENIOR ADULTS
New Senior Adult Director is a Familar Face REV. MOLLY ECHOLS JONES is excited to be back home at HPPC. She grew up here, has worked in various roles in the church and in November began her new role as the director of senior adults.
Molly and her family lived in Highland Park until her dad got the itch to move to the “country” (Spring Valley and Hillcrest), but they still faithfully made the drive down a curbless, twolane Hillcrest Road to church every Sunday. After graduating from Baylor, she came home with an education degree but unsure of a career path. Rev. Dr. Gareth Icenogle, then the minister of discipleship, recruited her to assist him, which may have started the heartstring pull toward ministry. After that job and a short stint in the business world, Molly poured herself in being the director of elementary education at HPPC. “I met my husband of 25 years, George, around that time. After we married I taught history at The Hillier School,” said Molly. Her husband’s success in restaurants took their family to Augusta, Georgia, from 1989 to 1999. While there, they became involved in a small church plant where she served as an elder. The pastor suggested seminary to Molly, and this time she took the plunge at Erskine Seminary – first part-time and then full-time, all while raising young children.
After serving as the chaplain for Presbyterian Village North for two years, Molly was thrilled to get the call from Rev. Dr. Nelson Bell II offering her the opportunity to work with HPPC’s senior adults. “I was thrilled to announce that after prayerful consideration and many résumés, we offered the job to Molly. She brings great personal experiences and a long history with HPPC,” Nelson said. In the midst of the Advent season, Molly worked hard to get to know the staff and meet most of the seniors at Friday Fellowship and other gatherings. Molly noted, “Our church has over 1,000 people over the age of 65! While there are many levels of physical ability, I believe that all of these people have gifts to share in the ministry and mission of HPPC. They can travel on a short-term mission trip or gather to clip coupons for the local food bank and be meaningfully engaged.” Three areas of impact on Molly’s heart are diversification, preparation and intergenerational relationships. She wants to diversify the activities of the ministry in hopes of drawing in more folks. She also has a heart for helping seniors prepare for eternal life including financial, medical and spiritual aspects. HPPC already values its intergenerational heritage, and she hopes to create more opportunities for seniors to experience the blessings that come with those connections.
After she had associate pastor calls in Ohio and Kansas, her husband’s work brought them back to Dallas. Molly was excited “I’m here to encourage, excite, build relationships and a strong to get settled in order to secure it as “home-base” for their three sense of community.” We welcome Molly back into the HPPC children: Haleigh, Tyler and Gibson – now 23, 21 and 18, family. Visit hppc.org/senioradults or call Molly at respectively. 214-525-4216 for more information.
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