Happy first day of spring! It's too bad that the first day of spring is not the day where everyone is able to dust off the sandals and shorts and start working on the tan! I guess we will have to settle with a tan from the reflections off the snow! The good news is that it is melting. I hope you all have been well. One of the features I want to incorporate into this blog is profiles of the leaders. I have the privilege to work with an awesome group of men and women who have committed to ministering to Jr. High teens. Every few weeks I will ask them a few questions so that you can catch just a glimpse of who they are and why they are crazy enough to do Jr. High ministry. (You have to be a little crazy!)
This week I was able to ask my friend and fellow leader John Gifford just a few questions for you the parents to get to know him a little. Before we get to his questions, I want to introduce you to James Gifford who has just recently joined the Gifford family. This is John and his wife Kerry's third child! So here we go!
So John what led you to want to be involved in Jr. High ministry?
I have been involved in Jr High ministry at FCCH in the past and I felt that God was calling me to become involved again. I put it off for a while, but eventually became a leader again this year.
All right give us a glimpse of what your life looks like outside of Jr. High.
It seems like I spend a lot of my time is spent working at my job in Providence. But when I'm not working I do my best to spend as much time as I can with my wife Kerry and my three kids Mackenzie, JJ and James. I also enjoy doing projects around our home and when I have the time I love riding my motorcycle.
Do you have any memories of your Jr. high experience that have been of help to you in the ministry?
I don't think I have any specific memories that I think have helped me, but I like to think I remember what it was like being a young teenager. Alot of things have changed in the last 15 years or so since I was in Jr High like music, and technology like the Internet and cell phones, but inside I think kids are basically the same as they always have been and they have the same needs from the adults that they have in their lives.
John is a great guy. I had the privilege of knowing him when I was in High School and involved with the youth group here at FCCH. I also want to provide you the parents with John's email address to give you the opportunity to write him a note of encouragement or just get to know him a little better. I know that I am extremely thankful that God has blessed our team with John. Here is his email address jgifford@cha-llp.com
Hopefully everyone has received a brochure in the mail for this years summer missions trip to Winthrop, Maine. This is truly a wonderful opportunity for your teens. There will be a parents information meeting about the summer mission trip to Maine on Sunday, April 1st at 12:15pm. This will be a great opportunity for you to ask questions and hopefully get some answers! Please plan to come to this meeting if your teen is planning to go on the trip or if you as a family are still making plans for the summer. Feel free to email me at andrew@fcch.org or call me at 508-435-5900 with any questions you may have or just to say hi! I want to be able to give you the parent as much information as you need to make a decision as to whether or not to send your teen on the trip this summer.
Well that is all for now! Have a great week and I will be in touch soon!
Posts
