Staff Update
Dear College Heights family,
We are deeply blessed within this body of believers to worship Jesus with and serve alongside people who love the Lord and are willing to be used by Him for Kingdom purposes. He grants skills, abilities, and opportunities to each of us, and sets aside certain disciples for specific tasks in various seasons. With Aaron Wheeler taking a full-time teaching position at Ozark Christian College this fall and concluding his season as the Relational Discipleship Minister at CH, we are incredibly grateful for the people God has put in place who are well suited to minister to our church family in relational discipleship and care settings.
Kolby Allen, our College Age Minister, is a disciple-maker and a Spirit-led equipper of others to make disciples. If you know Kolby at all, you have seen his heart for discipleship in his everyday interactions, and in the ways he leads and serves others. Discipleship is at the core of who he is. Through the molding and direction of the Holy Spirit, our College Age Missional Community groups have done well under Kolby’s leadership, and have grown in depth and maturity. After prayers for discernment and wisdom, we believe the Lord has prepared the way for our adult small groups to now be led by Kolby, as well. He will begin this summer in his new role of Equipping Minister, overseeing college ministry, adult small groups, and equipping disciples to make disciples. We are grateful for God’s leading in this and for Kolby’s desire to be used by the Lord for His glory and for the building up of His Church.
Jeff White, our Care Minister, graciously stepped into the role of Facilities Manager during the past 1.5 years after we needed to make staff cuts for financial reasons. He kept some of his Care Ministry duties while also working long hours taking care of facility needs. We are grateful that Jeff will be able to move back into Care Ministry full-time this summer. He will continue to oversee care groups such as Divorce Care and Grief Share, as well as our Benevolence Ministry and funeral care. He will lead our Home Visit Ministry, Senior Adults Ministry, and do hospital and home visits. He will provide leadership and support to our Card Ministry, Men’s Ministry, and Women’s Ministry. He will also provide oversight for our adult Sunday School classes and be available to support and encourage our adult Bible class teachers. Just as discipleship is at the core of Kolby’s ministry, care is the core of Jeff’s heart. He knows the College Heights family well and earnestly seeks to provide loving care and support to all people, especially those in need. His kind heart runs deep for Jesus and for others, and we are thankful for his willingness to serve and care for our church family in so many meaningful ways.
I (Ann Wolfe) will continue to serve on our Executive Team and support our Relational Discipleship and Care Ministries, which serve babies through adulthood. This includes supervising half of our staff and providing care and support for them. Some of the care ministries I have served with over the past year will be shifting back to Jeff, and I will be focusing on providing leadership for the Life Experience Network and offering pastoral counseling when available for members of our church family. Additionally, I will collaborate with church and community members to offer marriage retreats and resources for parents.
Plans are still being considered for what CH Academy will look like this coming year. We value discipleship and spiritual growth, and are prayerfully and carefully considering opportunities. We are grateful for the prayers that have been made for us and with us as we consider how to be wise stewards of the resources God has entrusted to this congregation, and how to best serve this church family. Thank you for your continued prayers as we seek the Lord’s leading and as we make adjustments among the staff and in these ministries. Thank you for praying for, encouraging, and supporting Kolby and Jeff, and all of our staff members, during this season of change.
Thank you for caring well for each other, too! “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1) As we move into new seasons together, we gratefully rejoice in God’s sovereignty, His provision, and His care. We’re in the Lord’s good and holy hands! It’s an honor to be in His family with each of you.
Ann Wolfe
Pastoral Counseling Minister
Executive Team Member: Relational Discipleship and Care Ministries
awolfe@chjoplin.org
Jeff White
Kolby Allen
Ann Wolfe