Articles
Beginning Our Work Together at Centreville
A stranger has come into your midst. Me! (and my wife, Olivia.) Though our arrival has been announced for several months, we are relatively unknown to the congregation. We look forward to developing a relationship with all of you as children of God’s spiritual family over the next year, and this can happen very quickly considering the commonality of Christians. To that end, I would like to give you some background as to who I am and why we are here.
I am a first generation Christian which brings both advantages and challenges. I wish to grow, but have only had a few years to do that. During my studies in Biblical Literature at Florida College, I recognized that my baptism in the Baptist church was invalid; consequently I was baptized for the remission of my sins. In my senior year I worked in a limited training role with Jason Longstreth, the evangelist for the Forest Hills church of Christ. Following the completion of my Bachelor’s program I worked with the South Marion church of Christ in Marion, Indiana, for the past year. This was a full-time evangelistic work in association with Alan Jones, the preacher at South Marion and also one of its elders. That work has just ended, and Olivia and I feel blessed to now be here with the family at Centreville.
So, why am I here? I am here to work and worship with you. I am a fellow Christian and a fellow laborer in the Lord. As we see repeatedly in Scripture, older men are to train up younger men in the faith. I am seeking that training with Jim, with Rick, and with Martin. However, my interaction will not be restricted to these three men. Evangelism is multifaceted, and I hope to do a variety of things such as updating the website, evangelizing in the community, preaching and teaching in the church, and writing in the bulletin. And I’m sure other opportunities of service will arise along the way.
What I lack in experience I try to make up for in zeal. I have vitality and an utmost ardor for God, and I pledge to pour myself into this work. So, as I learn and work in the coming year I ask for your assistance, patience, encouragement (even through constructive criticism), and help in developing a relationship that will endure for many years to come.
Without you, my work will fail. We are fellow laborers for God. May we seek God’s will and the growth of His kingdom as we labor together during this upcoming year.
