New Plans for Sunday Evening
With a transition for Austin Helm
In February, through the Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT), the congregation expressed a strong desire for a College-Young Adult ministry. In addition, in the months before survey we began to see a slip in our Sunday evening attendance. Those two factors began a series of discussions with Fred Ouderkerken, the entire Elder Board and other leaders about possible next steps.
Here’s a little background that is important. The attendance in the evening service for the last seven weeks has averaged 100 people. We did find that many of those who attend the evening service are college students and young adults. Many are also in a home Community Group.
Based on these factors, the decision has been made to transform our evening service into an event for younger adults. It won’t be a worship service but something tailored just for college students and young adults. We also want to see their existing Home Community Groups continue to thrive. Ryan Lunde and Eddie Park will teach the gathering and are actively planning for the transition.
The last night for the Sunday evening service will be July 31. The first night for the College-Young Adults event will be August 7.
With these factors in view and the season our church is in, Austin has decided that this a time of transition for him. Austin came to us over two years ago to be mentored and trained by Mike Erre. In these two years, it has been a delight to serve alongside him and see him grow. Austin has become a great leader and communicator of God’s Word. We have taken him as far as we can go in his development and now is the time for Austin to take his next steps in ministry. It is time for him to join or lead a different community of faith.
Training up pastors is a challenge. Tami and I have had Austin in our home dozens of time—enjoying wonderful times together. The challenge is to trust God for Austin’s next steps. While we know that we all have invested in him, and he has served so well here, it is God’s time for him to take his leadership and teaching to a new community of faith.
The staff began talking with Austin four months ago about this change. The pastors helped Austin hone his resume, sent him many contacts and open positions and are his references. This is hard to see Austin go but doing as much as we can to see him fully use his preaching and leadership gifts.
Finally, thanks to all those who have been a part of the strong teams who served in the Sunday evening service. It has been a joy to see you serve Christ and be so faithful in your ministry. We invite the older adults who were in the evening service to attend the morning services. We look forward to implementing the desire of the congregation for a College-Young Adults event. Please pray with us for God’s hand in it.
David Fletcher
Executive Pastor
