Redeemer Family,
One of the greatest joys over the past eight years has been the role our parish has played in helping to plant new churches. Every time we send out a new church plant, it reminds us that the Kingdom of God is so much bigger than merely what is happening here within our local congregation. It also reminds us that the work of the church is never solely for itself; we exist for the sake of others who do not yet know and love the Lord Jesus.
Partnership with Made to Flourish
Because of Redeemer’s track record of raising up new leaders and sending them out, we have been selected by a national ministry called Made to Flourish to receive grant funding so that we might continue to train and equip new church planters. This is a tremendous privilege and a weighty responsibility.
New Church Planter-in-Residence: Nathan Horner
Today I am pleased to announce that we have selected and hired our next Church Planter-in-Residence: Nathan Horner! He and his lovely wife Erin and their son Theo will move to Richmond in August and he will begin a three-year residency on our staff team on September 1st.
Nathan grew up in Harrisonburg, Virginia where he attended James Madison University for his undergraduate degree. Nathan spent much of his college career working with Middle and High School students through the ministry of Young Life. After graduating, Nathan spent two years working in the field of mental health, particularly with teenage boys and girls. He moved to Virginia Beach in 2021 to join the staff of Galilee Church as the Director of Student Ministry and is now pursuing a Masters of Divinity through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Nathan loves to play soccer, surf and is passionate about music. He is an avid reader of fiction and loves the art of storytelling.
How Will Nathan Serve at Redeemer?
Now, some of you may have connected the dots between Redeemer’s current youth staff, Christian Hayes and Kate Ramsdell, transitioning back to their former volunteer roles and Nathan’s experience in youth ministry. While we did not orchestrate this intentionally, we are grateful for the Lord’s provision in bringing Nathan to our parish for this particular season. We anticipate Nathan serving in a variety of roles at Redeemer, but chief among them will be with our Youth Fellowship.
Redeemer family, even as we consider the needs of our parish and contemplate the future purchase of a building, I’m so grateful that, at the very same time, we will also continue the outward-looking work of sending out church planters!
I love you all dearly, and let’s give the Horner family a warm welcome when they join us in August.
In the Father’s love,
