We have some important news. Over the last month I learned about a new internship opportunity at Bethlehem's North Campus. It is with the same pastor who oversees me now, but it involves the opportunity to shepherd adults in a way that lines up very closely with my call to pastoral ministry. After much prayer and discussion, Julie and I felt confident that I should at least interview for the position. I was chosen as one of the three finalists, and then offered the job after the second round of interviews. This and what we have learned about the position and people during the interview process has confirmed for us that God has called me into a new season of ministry. The new internship moves me into a leadership role among the career-age single adults at our North Campus and into counseling along-side our main counseling pastor. Julie and I are excited to see God provide this opportunity. We feel career-aged adults are a group Julie and I can connect with well with our vocational background and giftings. We expect it to be a great help in preparing both of us for full-time pastoral ministry.
This will be a 20 hour per week position, so when Fall classes start (end of September at Bethel), I’ll be required to decrease my hours with Father’s Light Mentors. As of October 1, my status will change from urban missionary to volunteer director. This is the painful part of the decision. We have dreams for what God will do through Father's Light, but we are holding on to the promise of Romans 8:28. We're trusting that God will work even greater good through the ministry as a result of this transition. At this time we’re searching for someone who can step into my director role at a similar level of hours to what I have been doing. My hope is to train in a new director and then serve on our Father's Light leadership team until we depart from Bethlehem. Please pray with us for God's hand and His timing in my transition and our search for a new director.
Because my new internship is paid by the church, we will no longer need to raise support as well. It has been a gift to have such a generous team of prayer and financial contributors this past 18 months. Like we’ve mentioned before, your role has been critical to the ministry expansion God has brought about. And who knows what is to come as God continues to work through our mentoring and draw new mentors in. We’ll continue to keep you updated through emails and the blog about Father's Light as well as the new internship.
May the Advocate of the fatherless and widows bless you and keep you!
Tony
