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Nov 1997 |
Joe Heilman
Virginia Beach, Va Phone: 757 468-6696 Mobile: 757 289-5640 Ministry Experience Worship Pastor Responsibilities included: Worship Song Writing, worship leading, overseeing voluteers/musicians/bands, organizing Sunday morning services, creative team writer, preaching, teaching, small group leading, discipling, and campus pastor.
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| Jan 2009 to present |
Guest Worship Leader/speaker
Guest worship leading and preaching at various churches as needed.
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| Oct 2000 to Oct 2008 |
Music Evangelism Unsed Virginia Beach, Virginia Founding member of Christian rock band Unsed. Traveled the east coast performing in bars, clubs, churches youth groups and festivals
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Dear New Venturer,
On Sunday (July 26th) I was privileged to introduce four men as candidates for elder at New Venture. We have engaged in a lengthy training period that dates back over three years for some of the candidates. Their introduction does not mark the end of training for these men, just another step in the process of lifelong learning. The eldership should never be taken lightly and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to equip and continue equipping those who assume this role.
The candidates introduced are Chris Kelly, Chad Blalock, Ty Hagins and myself. You say, “Wait a minute, can you be an elder too? I thought you were the preacher.” 1 Timothy 5:17 says, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” This verse contains several elements but the one I want to emphasize for this discussion is that it reveals that it is scriptural for the one whose primary work is preaching and teaching in the church to also serve as an elder.
This is the confirmation process we will follow. You are invited to respond anytime during the next three weeks with any objections or concerns you might have about any of the four candidates. Letters of support are also welcomed. Here are the conditions:
- The response must be in writing and it must be signed.
* We might need to contact you about clarification.
- The concern or objection must be based on a biblical teaching.
* We are not interested in objections based on personality
or personal preferences.
- All responses must be mailed by August 16 to the church
address, P.O. Box 73311, Richmond, Va 23235.
Any valid concerns or objections will be discussed with the candidate without discussion of the one who has submitted it. If there are no “deal breakers” the church will then be asked to devote six weeks to prayer and fasting for these candidates as we move toward their official ordination. You will be invited to join others in fasting one day each week along with specific prayer for these men.
If all goes well, on our fifth anniversary we will plan for the formal commissioning of these men, called ordination, to the leadership role of elder at NV.
If you would like, you may read a document adapted from “Leadershift” by Don Cousins that carefully details the role of elder and the structure we will operate under at New Venture. In short, the structure is elder protected, staff led, congregation serving, world served. Please take a few minutes and read through it. I welcome any questions you might have.
This is a huge step for a new church when we grow to the point of ordaining our first elders. We have been preparing and training for this for a long time. The preparing and training will not in any way end, however, it is time to take a major step in the direction of structuring the church according to God’s design.
Again, please communicate to me any questions you might have. And please begin now to pray every day for these four men.
Thanks,
Steve
P.S. If you would like to do some reading or studying on the eldership from the Bible here are some passages you might check out. Acts 14:23; 20:17-38; 1 Tim 3:1-7; 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14.
Ty and Teresa Hagins with sons Dylan and Brendan
- Steve and Sharon Thornton with grandson Sawyer
Chad and Kristin Blalock with son Asher
