Author: revkevjr

Yesterday, as our family began our journey across the country I got a call that my buddy Michael Lawver was officially voted in as the next youth pastor at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle. I couldn’t be more pleased with his selection as my successor. In a future post I will share about how God orchastrated the entire transition, but let me just say it was an incredible series of events! A couple of weeks ago I introduced Michael to my adult leadership team and passed him the baton of youth ministry leadership. Coincidentally, a few days later at our church’s missions convention, my two successors, Phil Baker and Ron Braaten were at SGT, so I took the opportunity to take some photos of us passing the baton. The three of us together represented 28 years of youth ministry at our church. What a rarity!

Yesterday my daughter led the Bible Club she began for the last time. She started the club at the beginning of the school year, planned the topics to be discussed, wrote her own lessons and discussion guides, and made handouts for all of the participants. During the year about a dozen girls were a part of the club. Today as I eavesdropped on their club, I was so blessed to hear things like, “We have to do the right thing,” and, “So, how can we apply these things to our lives?”coming out of her mouth. She’s a very strong, gifted leader. We are so proud of her!

Hey everyone. Ady and I would love to put together a scrapbook with letters from our Planet Impact people through the years (students and leaders). Thank you to those of you who already gave us notes. If you wouldn’t mind writing one for us, please bring it to us this Wednesday night. If you can’t be here Wednesday, you can e-mail it to me @ revkevjr@yahoo.com Thanks!

Well, I’ve been slack in blogging this past week for two reasons. 1) My computer was being worked on, and 2) I’ve been busy wrapping things up around the church, training my successor, and connecting with friends. With just one week to go until we leave for California, we are are enjoying spending time with our dear friends. Positively, most of them are Italian and we’ve been stuffing our faces with food at their houses. Negatively, most of them are Italian and we’ve been stuffing our faces with food at their houses. Ha Ha! Not being able to run for the last few months due to an ankle injury, I’ve literally put on about 10 lbs. in the past two weeks. Job #1 after we leave? Lose all the weight I’ve put on! lol!

We were so saddened last night to learn of the tragic death of one of our former students, Jon Christenson, in Virginia. Jon was always a very nice, respectful, kind young man. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children, his parents Steve and Darlene, his two sisters Eva and Heidi who were also in our youth group, and their extended family and friends.

Jon Steven Christenson CHESAPEAKE – “G.I.” Jon Steven Christenson, 27, passed away May 18, 2011. Jon was a member of Crossroads Church in Norfolk and One Life Fitness Gym. He loved the Lord Jesus, the outdoors, people, his family, and especially his two sons. Jon was loved and respected by all who knew him, and was a man’s man. Jon was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Christen and Eleanor Christenson. He is survived by his wife, Susan Maureen Christenson; two sons, Owen and Liam Christenson; parents, Steven and Darlene Christenson; twin sisters, Eva Christenson and Heidi Rackley (Jim); maternal grandparents David and Ruth Downey; and his nephew and niece, Logan and Sierra Rackley. A visitation will be held Monday, May 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk. The service will be held Tuesday, May 24, at 1 p.m. at New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1552 Kempsville Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23464. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Christenson Boys Fund through any Navy Federal Credit Union branch. A private family interment will be held at Rosewood Memorial Park. Condolences may be offered to the family at http://www.woodlawngroup.com/.
Woodlawn: Obituaries

I haven’t written much the past couple of weeks, but here’s a little update. In just a couple of weeks we’re leaving to begin our journey west. I am so pleased that I was able to find my “potential” successor (I have to say “potential” because the church has one final vote to cast to make it official. After the vote, I’ll officially introduce him and his family here on the blog.). Before we leave, I’ve been working on a few things to wrap up and set the table for success in my absence:

• Trying to continue running things with as much energy as if I was staying. 
• Making sure that I have everything in the office updated for my successor – accurate leadership lists, procedures, etc.
• Finishing up the youth center – getting the lighting installed, sound booth finished up, etc.
• Talking with my successor about programs and things we’ve done so that he can make informed decisions as he leads into the future. 
• Connecting my successor with the people he’ll be working with – leaders, students, and community contacts I’ve made through the years.
• Most of all, seeking to enjoy time with our students and friends – thanking them for the years we’ve been together.