Chapel Hill Port Orchard: big announcement!
We’re delighted to share the news that Pastor Larry will now fully dedicate his ministry work to Port Orchard! The timing reflects our shared call to serve Jesus together in Kitsap County and the local congregation’s readiness to receive additional ministry staff support.
You’re accustomed to seeing Larry on Sundays and team nights, but you may be unaware that his time here has been in addition to a call to be the Executive Associate Pastor at Chapel Hill in Gig Harbor. We are excited to share with you we will serve locally together beginning in January.
Here’s more in his own words:
Three years ago, Megan and I went to a church-planting assessment in Indianapolis. Being assessed as a church-planter is no joke; the process is meant to expose potential planters to stressful and challenging scenarios and experiences and see how they bear up under it, all under the watchful gaze of experienced assessors.
For Megan and me, the process was invigorating, and we were quickly gaining clarity on the question we had been pondering: was God really calling us to serve and love the community of Port Orchard?
Well, the years have gone by, and while I’ve helped support the church plant as Megan has taken the lead, most of my time has still been given to leading the staff in Gig Harbor as the Executive Associate Pastor. As the plant has begun to come into its own, Megan and I have consistently recalled our experience at that assessment. We’ve wondered when that calling to plant a church together would come fully into being. When would I not only support the church plant, but help lead the church plant? You might have guessed from reading this that, as we’ve been praying and listening over this past year, we’ve sensed that the time is now.
In January, I’ll give my exclusive attention and focus to leading the church plant alongside Megan. I’m excited about this, it feels like what I had been anticipating three years ago. This sending is just one more way that Chapel Hill’s is expressing support for me and for our growth. I am so grateful for how Chapel Hill has loved Megan and me, and for the continued love as we work together to birth a new worshiping community!
Larry will be taking on the role of Associate Pastor of Discipleship, including overseeing family ministry and forming a membership class. The class will be based on spiritual practices that have long shaped our life and we pray will be significant to our life together in Port Orchard.
On Sunday, January 2nd at the 10:00 service in Gig Harbor, Pastor Larry will be commissioned from Gig Harbor alongside the three Session members who have committed to three years of serving as Session members for Chapel Hill Port Orchard: Gina Stewart, Scott Griffin and Judy Kuehn.
Join us in celebrating Pastor Larry’s dedication to service in Port Orchard!
Pastor Megan
Chapel Hill Port Orchard