Minister’s Blog

On Sunday, February 7, our Chairman, Gary Thompson, read a letter of resignation from Chris Beard, our Youth/Worship Minister. After two years of seeking God’s will for his ministry, Chris informs us he is accepting a Senior Minister’s position at the Christ’s Covenant Church in Beaumont, Texas. We rejoice over Chris’ new opportunity to work with this church in Beaumont but we also are saddened to see Chris, Kerri and their three children leave us. We will miss the entire family as they relocate to southeastern Texas. Chris and I have discussed the idea of when God would provide the opportunity and location for his move to a preaching ministry. I had always thought it would be in two to three years but the time has come as we rejoice and weep together.

Chris has been at Christ’s Church at Tiffin for six and a half years serving as our Youth Minister and Worship Minister. The youth group, WAVE, has become one of the outstanding youth ministries in this area with up to 90 teenagers in the Wednesday evening worship and Bible teaching. Chris has the gift of evangelism and has helped lead scores of young people to Christ during his ministry here. His most outstanding achievement is the present number of students who are in training at Bible colleges for future ministry. Danielle Sanders is a student at Ozark Christian College and Marthe Barth is a student at Lincoln Christian College. Three students, David Borton, Alex Rau, and Alli Dugan, are attending Cincinnati Christian University. Chris encouraged these students to accept God’s call to ministry. I appeciate Chris’ commitment to encouraging and challenging young people to become a follower of Christ and to become a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the three and a half years I have been at Christ’s Church I have witnessed Chris’ development in his faith and leadership ability. Both his victories and the challenging times have matured him to the level he can lead a church. One of the Elders in the Beaumont church informed me last week about the church’s plans to reach out to the people of the area. Chris will fit into that church’s vision of what they want to become. I consider Chris a friend as well as a fellow servant of our Lord. We will continue to pray for him in his new challenge. We will miss them and believe they will do well. We are grateful for Chris’ service to Christ’s Church and both rejoice and weep when he leaves us.

In His Service,
Terry Jones, Senior Minister