Pastor D

Pastor D: I am the interim Director of Student Ministries & Single Adults at Northwest Chapel. I enjoy playing basketball, watching sports, spending time with my family, dreaming about what God has in store for my life, and reading books to learn more about my life and my place in the world.

The Student Connection:

I direct the ministries of students from age 11 through mid-twenties, students in sixth grade through college. Northwest Chapel seeks to help students find, follow, and share Christ. I facilitate this mission by focusing on five functions: Contact, Welcome, Connect, Equip, & Mobilize. Each function has its focus and goals. Presently I am focusing on Connect & Equip (Sunday morning ministries). As I move into summer ministry programming, I am shifting to target Mobilize and Contact (Service opportunities & Summer Activities). This summer I will get two interns for training, developing, and nurturing.

What is in my iPod? I don't own one. But if I did it would reflect the full spectrum of music. I am an ecclectic. So I enjoy a lot of music. Bryan Adams, U2, Brooks & Dunn, Johnny Cash, KJ-52, P.O.D., Ottmar Liebert, Bach & Beethoven, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Switchfoot, Chris Tomlin, Stellar Kart, Jeremy Camp, Pillar, Fly Leaf, John Mayer, Sugarland, George Strait, John Mellencamp, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Kook & the Gang, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Leeland, The Ramones, Keith Urban, Los Lonely Boys, BB King, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy.

What movies am I renting? I rarely rent movies. I usually rent them for my children. But I have rented more movies searching for clips to reinforce lessons for Sunday morning teachings. I also love to re-watch older movies that I already know--Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Spiderman I & II, Star Wars movies, Indiana Jones Trilogy, Clint Eastwood movies esp. Heartbreak Ridge, Mission Impossible.

What books am I reading? I am presently reading John Eldridge's book The Journey of Desire; Andy Stanley Next Generation Leader, James Emery White A Mind for God, Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz The Power of Full Engagement, Mortimer Adler How to Read a Book, Haroly Myra & Marshall Shelly The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham.

New Summer Intern Middle School Ministries

Please welcome Josh Placeway! Josh graduated from Grace College onMay 5 with a double major in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministries. His track was the The National Institute (TNI) the youth ministry major at Grace College located in Winona Lake, Indiana. The program is run by CE National.

The National Institute equips individuals for youth ministry through academic pursuits and practical experiences in order to lead andminister in a local church, para-church,cross-cultural, or camp setting. He is presently serving as Middle School Youth Intern.

If you missed this Sunday, Josh introduced himself and you would have discovered some things. Josh enjoys reading, playing and watching sports, hanging out with students, and rooting for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

He is the youngest of three in his family. He has an older brother and sister. Josh will return to Grace Theological Seminary this Fall after his internship.

What's on Josh's iPod?

Coldplay; Copeland ; John Mayer; U2; Darkroom; Snow Patrol; Jack Johnson.

What's are Josh's favorite movies?
Hoosiers; Patch Adams; Apollo 13; The Incredibles; That Thing You Do; The Sandlot.

What books is Josh reading?

The Cost of Discipleship By Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry By Doug Fields; Experiencing Jesus By T.D. Jakes; Pierced By the Word By John Piper; The Last Word By N.T. Wright

Pastor D

Simply Kurt: Simple Thoughts

Simply Kurt: Simple Thoughts

Kurt Johnston is the middle school pastor at Saddleback Church in California. He has spoken at Willow Creek conferences where I attended. I appreciate his random thoughts about junior high/middle school ministry. He is right. Students want to be liked! I need to re-visit how I communicate that to students. I also need more people to extend God's love to students. I'll ask God to raise up laborers for His harvest.

Pastor D