As many of you know, Zach Derr has been engaged in a four-year educational journey to attain his Master of Divinity degree from McAfee School of Theology, a journey which comes to a close this July as he finishes his final course. He has taken online courses at night all year round for four years in order to arrive at this incredible milestone. I do hope you will find the opportunity to congratulate him as it is not easy to work toward a master’s degree while working full-time and being an engaged husband, father, and friend.
In light of this educational achievement alongside Zach’s clear demonstration of ministerial gifts and pastoral presence in the life of our congregation, the deacons voted to form an ordination council to discern Zach’s readiness to be ordained to the gospel ministry. Those serving on the ordination council were Allen Hicks, Barbara Smith, Sarah Laurence, Christian Burton, and myself. We engaged in rich conversation with Zach for almost two hours about his journey toward ministry, his sense of pastoral identity, the nature of his gifts for ministry, and the areas where Zach was continuing to grow as a minister. At the conclusion of that time of exploration and affirmation, the ordination council had no reservations whatsoever about recommending that Zach be ordained to the gospel ministry by Aiken’s First Baptist Church. That recommendation was shared with the deacons who unanimously affirmed the recommendation.
Zach’s ordination will be held on Sunday, July 19, at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary. I hope you will make every effort to be present as we as a congregation bless and affirm the gifts that Zach has so faithfully displayed in our midst.
Grace and Peace,
John
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