INTERIM YOUTH WORKER

For the past ten years, Tim Koehler has served as the Director of Christian Education at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.  For the past 12 months, his wife Heidi (a trained DCE) has volunteered her service and time to expand some existing ministries and to begin new ministries.   Thanks to the efforts of Tim and Heidi, we have a vibrant children’s and youth ministry.  We are developing greater family ministry and small group ministry.  We also have a highly effective Upward Basketball program.

As you know, Tim and Heidi have accepted calls to serve as Directors of Christian Life Formation at Fairlawn Lutheran Church in Akron, Ohio.  And now many of you have expressed serious concern about the future of youth and family ministry at Beautiful Savior.  You have clearly communicated that you don’t want to see these ministries fall apart or decline significantly during the vacancy.

Well, the leaders of Beautiful Savior have listened to your concerns.  After much prayer, study, and discussion, the conclusion reached was that an Interim Youth Worker should be hired to fill some ministry needs of the congregation especially in the area of Upward Basketball, Senior High Youth Ministry, and Junior High Youth Ministry.  Specifically, the leadership team determined that we needed to hire a layperson who had experience with Upward Basketball and who had a relationship with the youth of the congregation.  This person then would be assigned to do the following:  (1) Serve as the co-director (with Joel Lampe) of Upward Basketball; (2) Teach 5^th grade confirmation; (3) Serve as the leader of the Senior High TAG group on Sunday nights; (4) Listen to/provide guidance for youth; (5) Assist with Sunday School as needed; (6) Work with the Pastors to plan and lead the Annual Youth Mission Trip; (7) Work with the Pastors to plan the youth trips to the Kansas District Youth Gathering and LVR; (8) Assist with Junior High Ministry; (9) Direct Junior/Senior High Youth involvement with VBS; and (10) Other duties as assigned.

This Interim Youth Worker will be asked to help out at the church about 30-35 hours per week, and this will be a salaried position. 

Upon recommendation of the Board of Elders, the Church Council has approved the hiring of Pam Williams as the Interim Youth Worker.  We are so happy that Pam is willing to take on this challenge and serve our Lord in this way.  Please keep Pam in your prayers as she will begin her duties on September 1^st.

I want you to know that even as churches often get someone to fill in a pastoral vacancy, Pam has agreed to serve during the interim period of unspecified length until a permanent solution is found for the DCE vacancy.  Even as the congregation begins the process of studying its needs, reviewing candidates, and ultimately calling a full-time church worker, Pastor Jon and I look forward to mentoring Pam and helping her excel in service to the Lord and His Church.

                         A Servant of Jesus,