This Sunday we will continue our Living Hope series, a study of 1 Peter. We will be digging into 1 Peter 2:1-10, as we talk about “Hope And Healthy Growth.”  

Sunday will also be Graduate Sunday, as we celebrate the accomplishment of our grads and pray for them as they take the next step in the journey God has for them. 

Also on Sunday, you will get to meet a couple that is dear to my heart, Josh and Shannon Hrinda. You’ve been praying for the search process for our Associate Pastor of Discipleship for several months, and we believe God has answered prayer! 

Some years ago I was able to disciple a young man named Jeff Mingee, and eventually bring him on staff at our church, in Yorktown. A few years later, Jeff was sent out to plant Catalyst Church in Newport News, and Josh and Shannon were two of the young people in that dynamic congregation. Jeff mentored Josh, and eventually brought him on staff at Catalyst. So it is a really cool story of three generations of pastors, pouring into one another…iron sharpening iron. 

In addition to his pastoral experience at Catalyst, Josh was also selected by Lifeway to serve on summer staff at FUGE Camps for five years, where he led worship and Bible studies. It is quite an honor to serve on staff at FUGE, and the fact that he was invited to serve summer after summer says much about him. 

For the past couple of years, Josh has been in Louisville, at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was also selected to be a part of an excellent leadership development program at Cedar Creek Baptist Church, near the seminary. In speaking with pastors and professors who have gotten to know Josh and Shannon, it is obvious that they are loved where they are. We believe that you will love them, too. 

They bring a contagious love for Jesus and for people, and an energy and passion to be a part of growing the Body of Christ, as disciples make disciples. Our Personnel Committee and our pastors believe that God can use Josh and Shannon to make a significant impact at FBC, and we are excited that you’ll get to meet them on Sunday. It’s going to be a great Lord’s Day!