Our New Pastor
Six years ago almost exactly, Elder Rich Jasper and I made a quick trip to England to visit, among other things, the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics—a one-year training program run by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, one of our mission partners. We took a red-eye so, when we staggered into the classroom the morning of our arrival, I was a little foggy. But not so much that I failed to notice the young man next to whom I was seated, who rapid-typed the most immaculate and thorough set of notes on a lecture being presented by Professor John Lennox.
Furthermore, when he answered questions, it was clear that he was bright. And during the break, he was most hospitable. He was an impressive young man.
The next morning, I attended a conference at a local church… and there he was again! He came up and introduced his father who was in attendance with him. His dad beamed with pride as I bragged on his kid. And then, I pulled out a business card and uttered fateful words: “When you get tired of studying about evangelism and want to actually do evangelism… give me a call.” Three weeks later, he did! And the rest is history.
It’s hard to believe that six years have passed since Ellis (and his equally impressive and brilliant wife, Rachel) made their way into our lives. What started as an experiment turned into a relationship of deep love, appreciation and admiration. And a ministry that began with these two “missionaries” from England will reach a grand point of celebration and confirmation this Sunday when Ellis Thomas Charles White is ordained as an EPC Teaching Elder and Installed as our new Assistant Pastor for Evangelism.
Join us Sunday night at 6:00 in the sanctuary. It will be a grand gala celebrating the faithfulness of God, the diligence of one of his gifted children and the gratitude of a Sweetheart Church.
Pastor Mark