"We don't want to overload the ER with the typical illnesses that you can go to your primary care for," she said. Josh’s love of travel has taken him around the world, including five continents by his 50th birthday, Josh hopes to have visited all seven.Many concerns, like viral visits or sometimes broken bones, can be handled outside the ER, Urgent Care Express Operations Manager Tiffany Kiehl said. “There is beauty in our diversity, and what unites us and makes us one isn’t that we’re identical, but that we share a common commitment to Christ.” He was drawn to an Anabaptist expression of faith because of the emphasis on the centrality of Jesus, the commitment to peace, discipleship, community, and the understanding of mission.įor their 10-year wedding anniversary in October, Josh and his wife, Kim, are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, including a rim-to-rim single day hike of the canyon. “This diverse background formed in me an appreciation for various expressions of faith and a deeply ecumenical understanding of the Body of Christ,” shares Josh. He was born and dedicated at a Baptist church, spent his formative teenage years in a Lutheran congregation, attended a charismatic Vineyard fellowship in college, and pastored his first five years in a United Methodist context. Josh brings ecumenical experiences and perspectives to his work as a Mennonite pastor and leader. As our conference continues to grow, however, I recognize that my experiences in this particular place are not the norm for an increasing number of our churches,” shares Josh. “Having roots in the area where I now serve has been beneficial, helping me understand some of the cultural nuances of this place. Although he was not raised Mennonite, he was influenced by the vibrant Mennonite community in the area. “It requires change and sacrifice and letting go. “Becoming places where young people and unchurched people can feel at home and grow in Jesus is an important, challenging, urgent concern for our faith communities,” explains Josh. Josh’s passions are evident in his desire to push congregations beyond their comfort zones. “Many churches care for their own pretty well, but unconsciously base the bulk of their decisions on who they’re trying to keep rather than who they’re trying to reach.” In other words, our focus shouldn’t just be on those who are already here,” Josh describes. “Our call is to be fishers of people, not merely keepers of the aquarium. Josh is energized by helping congregations connect with younger people and those without a faith background. “After discernment, I began feeling peace and excitement about the possibility of serving as a Leadership Minister,” says Josh. But he gave the invitation serious consideration. In addition to serving as a Leadership Minister, Josh is a pastor at Franconia congregation (Telford, PA), an adjunct professor at Eastern University, a husband, and father of three young children.Ībout a year ago, Josh accepted the invitation to serve as a Leadership Minister but did so with hesitancy, because he wasn’t sure he had the bandwidth to take on another responsibility. “That’s where I’m passionate that’s what drew me to this role,” Josh reflects. He walks alongside church leaders to encourage, listen, prompt, and pay attention to the movement of the Spirit. Josh sees his role primarily in terms of accompaniment rather than authority. “That’s a difficult and never-ending process, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling.” Josh and family: wife Kim, daughters Selah and Eve, son Paxton “The most rewarding part of my job is helping pastors and leaders navigate the broken, complicated, exhausting, infuriating times and reminding them of the beautiful, glorious, exhilarating, holy nature of the work we’ve been called to,” says Josh Meyer, Leadership Minister. By Jennifer Svetlik, Salford congregation
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |