On Sunday morning, May 10, Ronnie Rummage read the following announcement from the elders, describing Jennifer and Jason’s transition to their new role as Discipleship Ministers. Be sure to also watch the following video featuring an introduction to the vision (Joe Ivey, elder), staffing updates (Ronnie Rummage, elder), a response from Jason and Jennifer Pagel (Youth Ministers) and closing thoughts from Chris Smith (Preaching Minister).
May 10, 2015 Audio
A Message From the Elders
Last fall, the elders began a period of prayer and consideration about where we feel that God is leading the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ. These strategy conversations were held in eight specially called sessions between November and April. From these significant discussions emerged the idea of becoming a welcoming community that receives both disciples and the lost. We want to allow God to transform all of us into the fullness of Christ.
Next, we moved to the question of how to focus more intentionally on becoming this kind of church. We noted areas in which we have been successful in achieving this purpose and areas in which we felt that we could improve. Included in this discussion was our previous attempt to hire a Women’s Minister who would have fulfilled a similar role in the spiritual support and development of our ladies.
Our discussions led to an interest in developing a ministry with both an internal and external focus: to nurture our own members spiritually and at the same time to emphasize ways in which we can reach the lost. After much prayer and consideration, the Lord brought us to the realization that already in our midst are two highly qualified, much loved spiritual servants, Jason and Jennifer Pagel. For the past seventeen and a half years their influence on our young people and their families, as well as our entire congregation, has been immeasurable. We have asked them to become Discipleship Ministers, working with our adult members much as they have ministered to our young people. Though they will work with all adults, we anticipate that there will be times when Jennifer will work more closely with women and Jason more with men; thus, we will not continue our search for a women’s ministry position.
Jason and Jennifer transition to their new roles in the fall. For now, they will continue as Youth Ministers through another busy summer of camp, Youth Interns, mission trips and so many other activities. Tristan Wheeler, our Youth Resident, will remain with us through the summer to assist in this transition. His youth residency position ends on August 31. Ayesha Nasmyth will continue her current role as the Youth Ministry Administrative Assistant. On Tuesday, May 12, we begin a search for both a male and a female Youth Minister. Jason, Jennifer and Ayesha will head that search committee. We hope to have these new Youth Ministers hired by the end of the summer or early fall. The Pagels will mentor and help to transition this new youth ministry team for as long as needed.
We are very excited to see where God is leading Jennifer and Jason in this new discipleship ministry, and we appreciate their willingness to share their God-given talents with our adult members.
The elders
