Pastor Josh is the children’s pastor at New Life Assembly of God, I was discipled by Pastor Josh he was the one that pushed me out of my comfort zone in ministry and he really stretched me and because of that I am going to school to be a full time minister. You see I was already involved in ministry but I was working in youth group where I has comfortable doing the same things I had always done, when pastor Josh came along and he asked me if I would forget involved in children’s ministry (he said that he just knew that I should be working with children) he used to say jokingly “when you meet my friend Jesus come down to children’s ministry” and I used to give him a hard time and reply “when you meet your own friend, you can lead me by example” this went on for months, he asked me for over six months twice a week and it never changed, but he kept asking. Finally on Easter he asked me if I would come down just this once, he was short helpers, so I decided to help just once and after helping out I was hooked. Then I asked to be put on schedule from there is was only building and learning more, Pastor Josh and his wife were both there for me growing me in all aspects of my life. I was able to work a little everywhere and I learned the ins and outs of children’s ministry hands on. Pastor Josh and Kelly his wife, mentored me spiritually through checking in on me and making sure I was spending time with God and learning, they would ask me about my devotional time and even challenge me with things they have been learning or making me think about what I believe in and why.
It was interesting interviewing pastor Josh because although he discipled me and many others, he had very simple answers almost as to him discipleing is simple it’s a lifestyle not an over bearing challenge. When I asked him what his process for making disciples he simply said “that’s kinda simple. I Train them in everything I know, with my hope that they become more like Jesus, “ and in the process of equipping people he said that he likes to take people to training events, take people outside of the familiar and form them he said “I like for them to get a taste of something other than Farmville, but buy into the collective agreement” I then brought out the big guns and asked him how he measures his effectiveness, I was really interested considering how simple and comfortable he was but he seems to be right on and it has been working for him greatly he said that regardless of what position a person is in ministry, the measure is as he says measured through the “persons commitment to Christ, in how they serve and whether they are making a difference.” I know that I believe that Pastor Josh is a great pastor and he is training up disciples for the future, but I did ask him his opinion on how he was doing personally in the discipleship area or how successful he thought he was in this department, he said that he believes that he has had a great start, it has slowed a little but still great he mentioned that he has a group of great leaders in his children’s ministry he said that “they give, serve and are committed to Christ” I then asked him where he would like to make improvements and his biggest challenge has been just a busy life, everyone is moving so fast its hard to meet together or even have planning sessions or encouragement dinners. So he wants to improve in this meetings area he said even if it is only for five minuets that’s something to get everyone on the same page.
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