Pastoral Team Additions
When we think of the phrase “church planting,” it naturally lends itself to metaphors of botany. If we were to begin planting something, we would have to weed, prepare the soil, add soil based on nutrient and other things, find the right amount of sun for specific plants, plot out the garden, seed the garden, and then begin the watering process. This does not even begin to get into the maintenance portion of planting. Church planting is not dissimilar: Over the last year, God has brought some incredible people together to begin this new church. They are prayerful, thoughtful, outward-focused, and live out what it means to be the body of Christ in their neighborhoods. It is such a gift to be planting with such a great launch team. It kind of feels like we have the right seed, we have prepared the soil, and the next step is to put all the pieces together, to cover the seeds with dirt, water them, and watch something grow. This next step takes a great pastoral team.
Over the last year, God has made it clear that children’s ministry should be a major focus of what we do from the very beginning and that we ought to be a church that raises up leaders to equip them for Gospel ministry in whatever their calling might be. To that end, I wanted to share the exciting news that we are adding three members to the Pastoral Team at the Franconia-Springfield Mission. You can check out more info here.
First, KC Laushkin will become our Lead Children’s Catechist. She has been attending a monthly training since September 2020 to learn how to run Catechesis of the Good Shepherd ("CGS") for this church. Want to know more about CGS? Check our our blog entry on it. She brings a deep love of liturgy, discipleship, and an energetic creativity that this church will need to grow its children's ministry. I am so grateful for the ways that God will use her in this church over the coming years.
Second, Maggie Duke will become our Assistant Children’s Catechist. She has also been attending the same monthly training to learn how to lead CGS. With a joyful spirit and a wealth of life experience, Maggie will be an invaluable part of creating a thriving children's ministry at TFSM. She will be helping lead the children's atrium for CGS as well as recruiting and training new leaders. I praise God for the blessing of having Maggie on this team.
Third, Fr. Ryan Bettwy will join TFSM as a curate. He is a fellow priest in our Diocese and is a native of Springfield, VA. He is a very gifted preacher, a warm conversationalist, and sports enthusiast and lover good poetry. He has a deep love of discipleship and the Franconia, Springfield, and Kingstowne areas. I am so thrilled that he will be helping us plant this church. He will be an absolute blessing to this community..
With these three additions to the pastoral team, this plant will continue to grow strong and healthy. This will be a very exciting year. Please join me in welcoming them into these new roles and praying for them as they take on these new roles at the Franconia-Springfield Mission.