What's in Store

In starting this blog I wanted to use it as a means to communicate with folks who are interested in what is going on with us as we live and serve in Hartford, CT. In looking at our blog I realized that we don't have a description of what we are doing in Hartford - so here we go...

I (Jarrett) have been called as an Assistant Pastor of Youth and Families at Christ Community Presbyterian Church (PCA).

We (my wife and I) are headed to CT because this position fits our sense of calling, meets needs within the community, and lines up with the vision of the church.

We have felt called to serve with a church in an area of the country where Christianity is not a dominant cultural force and to work with a population that has more of an urban orientation. Hartford, fits this bill and meshes with our sense of calling in ways we did not even realize until visiting there.

In addition, there is a unique need in that community for a church to serve teens and their families with the gospel of Jesus. Connecticut is an area underserved by the church with a small population of Christians, thus there are few there to engage the brokeness, often characterizing the teen years.

Finally, there is a church in this community with a vision to impact Hartford, and CT as a whole, for Christ. My position at the church is the culmination of about 5 months of emails, phone calls, and conversations. Christ Community started in 2004 as a new church in West Hartford. It grew out of a bible study of about 8 people who were commuting to a church in Manchest (45min. away). The purpose of Christ community is to present an authentic vision fo biblical Christianity by planting churches through CT, where people delight supremely in God.

My job with the church has three primary aspects: working with the teens and their families; shaping the philosophy and strategy for the children's ministry; helping oversee youth and children's ministries at multiple sites as the church grows. I have some ideas of what this will be like, but I'll get a much better idea once we head there.

Going into this work there are three primary needs that we have: friendship (ministry can be lonely and we need people to stay in touch with us and remind us that we are a part of Christ's body); prayer (only God, working by his Spirit can change us and those we serve); financially (the church has asked us to raise 40% of our salary for the first 3 years of ministry).

This is just a quick overview of what is in store for us. If you would like some more information on what we are doing or would like to be involved contact us: theallebachs@gmail.com. We will continue to update on the blog and will also be sending out monthly prayer requests and quarterly newsletters to those interested.