Huge Thanks to Jon

This past Sunday we announced the resignation of Jon Parker who has served faithfully on a part time platform for Open Life with our students.  Serving for 10 years is no small accomplishment with the average tenure of a youth pastor in America being 18 months to 3 years.

Over the course of 10 years Jon has welcomed into the youth and witnessed the graduation of 3 waves of students from 6th grade to graduation.  From investing into students on Tuesday nights to creating opportunities for them to join with the Northwest Ministry Network Youth events like camps and conferences.

For the majority of those years Jon had to find a unique host home every month for our youth to gather in. So many have partnered with our students over his 10 year tenure. We couldn't be more grateful for his faithful investment into our lives and the students within the church.

Jon has been hired as an Auburn Police Officer. He is currently in the training season and will be for the remainder of this year. This shift in calling and professional pursuit began at the beginning of this year and has been coming into focus quickly over the past few months. He had to put a ton of hard work and effort into qualifying and finding a placement. But with this comes the sunset on his ability to work two jobs and continue facilitating youth ministry at Open Life.

Jon and Jessica still plan on living in Bonney Lake and attending Open Life, but will not be on staff after July 6th. He will be a great asset to the Auburn Police Department and are praying a great career for him there.

Open Life has a pastoral staff that has all served students for many many years. We see the potential of reaching the next generation and there are no better years than those of Middle and High School. We are committed to finding a Youth Pastor who will not only pastor the students who are currently a part of Open Life, but will put in a considerable number of hours creatively equipping students to reach other students within the community. Facilitating campus ministry and being present with students during key moments of their lives.

A huge part of this will be through empowering leaders to invest into a number of students. Raising up a team who will actively be those trusted adults in the lives of students. If you have felt the tug towards ministry involvement we can't think of a better use of your time than investing into the next generation. And there is no greater time to lean into this than now.

During the interim time, we plan to continue facilitating the ministries to our youth with our team in place and recruiting you to join in and allow us to reach even more students in the coming months and year. 

We believe someone is being raise up to be that next leader to youth within our community and your prayers are a key part in our finding the person or people God has equipped to step into this role.

If you know someone you think would be a good fit for our students you can forward their information to thadh@openlife.church and we will reach out and begin the journey of determining fit and calling.

We covet your prayers and look forward to seeing who will join our pastoral team soon.

- Thad