Dear Fellow Leaders,
God is at work all around Vineyard Columbus, among our hundreds of small groups and leaders, and in the Community Life staff team that seeks to partner with Him to make our small groups part of a vital community of disciples church wide. Today I want to share with all of you some exciting changes to our team, and why we are so encouraged at how God has led us to make these changes.
First of all, I am truly pleased to announce that Amanda Nash will now be taking the lead on Community Life, and on Vineyard Columbus small groups overall. Through a wonderful discernment process involving Rich, Amanda, myself, and others, and through the merciful leading of God, we have all determined that as we turn the corner into a new season of small group life, Amanda is the person best equipped by God to lead us forward for a time such as this. Amanda’s many years of experience in Joshua House (now VC20), as Rich’s Research Assistant, in Women’s Ministry, and most recently as a key member of the Community Life team, along with her remarkable giftings as a catalytic leader, are precisely the mix that we are persuaded will lead us into an even greater season of both outward growth and spiritual depth among our present and future groups. Please join me in warmly welcoming my dear friend and colleague Amanda into her new role!
Along with this significant transition, we also want you to be aware of some other important and exciting changes. First of all, Rudy Alexeeff, who has for the past 3 years served in VC20, will now join our beloved Matt Shetler as a Community Life Pastoral Coordinator. Also, while still maintaining her focus on women’s groups and ministry, small groups veteran Connie Houchins will complete the dynamic trio of Community Life Pastoral Coordinators. Women’s Pastor Marlene Nathan, Ministry Assistant Naja Robinson, and our faithful Administrative Assistants Deb George and Liz Ward (along with our current interns Mia Byrne and Samantha Feierabend) fill out the now unified Community Life team.
As far as yours truly is concerned, I am ecstatic not only to continue on with the Community Life Team under Amanda’s leadership, but to be focusing my efforts on developing and investing in leaders and small group coaches, equipping more of our leaders to do the same, significantly increasing the number of 12-for-12 and other “Covenant Groups” to better support and equip Vineyard leaders church wide, and on strengthening and investing in the local VI student community as the new Vineyard Columbus VI Site Pastor. I am also excited to be serving as the pastoral point person for Men’s Ministry and Singles Ministry.
Amanda will soon be sharing more with all of you about how we sense God calling us to an exponential increase in the number of groups, leaders, and people connected to groups in this church, and along with that, to providing the depth and spiritual ballast among our groups and leaders to make such growth sustainable. We are persuaded that the changes He has so mercifully led us to make on our team are indeed evidence of His kind intentions. Please join me in welcoming Rudy to our team, and in supporting Amanda with your prayers as she leads us into the wonderful things God has in store for us ahead.
It has been a privilege to serve as Community Life point pastor these past years, and continues to be a joy to lead together with all of you in equipping the saints for the work of service, and in being one body under one Lord, for His glory.
With sincere respect and much affection,
Andy Saperstein