Youth and Discipleship Recognizes Leaders of Distinction
Recently, at the Church of God International General Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee, Youth and Discipleship honored three outstanding couples who concluded their appointments as state directors of Youth and Discipleship. The newly-elected leaders of Y&D, David Blair and Rob Bailey, department staff and state directors from around the USA and other countries gathered to bid farewell to Gary Lewis, who concluded his four years as the International Director, as well as honor several couples whose ministries were moving in a new direction.
The three couples given special honor were Pat and Jan Wright, David and Jan Jarvis, and Shea and Abigail Hughes.
Pat and Jan Wright served 27 years as state directors in Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, California/Nevada, Virginia and Ohio.
Wright
The Wrights served each of these regions with integrity and have produced incredible results over the years,” stated David Blair. “The last six years Pat not only provided leadership in the area of Youth and Discipleship, but he also served as the Director of Leadership Development as the regions of Northern and Southern Ohio merged into ‘One Ohio.’ Mentoring and investing in next generation leaders are hallmarks of their ministry. The Wrights are an amazing team with Jan bringing countless gifts to fulfill their calling.”
The Wrights were appointed Administrative Bishop of Alaska at the 2016 General Assembly.
Jarvis
David and Jan Jarvis will conclude their many years in the department with their recent appointment as Administrative Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Region. The Jarvis’s served a total of 26 years in Hawaii, Oklahoma, West Virginia, South Carolina, South Georgia and finishing with eight years in Alabama.
“Youth Camp was always one of this team’s favorite ministries!,” Blair told of the Jarvis’s. “Good preaching, singing and a winsome way made Jan and ‘Jarvi’ (as many friends call him) quite a team when visiting local churches. As he finished in Alabama, many wore a T-shirt with David’s face on it; an obvious expression of how much they are loved!”
Hughes
Shea and Abigail Hughes essentially concluded their eight years of service in Y&D leadership after ministering in Missouri, Michigan, and Texas.
“Shea’s energy and love for reaching the lost, and Abigail’s deep heritage in youth ministry, made them a tremendous team, especially excelling in YWEA in the states they served,” Blair stated. “Shea and Abigail are experiencing incredible growth in the Bethalto, Illinois Church of God where they pastor.”
“The International Department of Youth and Discipleship honor these three couples for their significant investment in developing leaders, equipping the local church, and discipling youth and children,” Blair concluded. “They are worthy of honor and distinction for their exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence that have made an eternal difference in the lives of so many! Youth and Discipleship celebrates these ministry leaders and releases them with more love, more confidence, and more faith than they will ever know!”
