Self-introductions are always difficult. You’re not quite sure how to begin; the transition from general introduction to actual self-introduction is choppy and often disjointed; you’re constantly debating what information to put in and what information to leave out (because, of course, you don’t want to sound pretentious); you find yourself rambling at times (or, maybe more accurately, most of the time); and you wonder, after everything mentioned above, if anyone would spend the time reading what you actually wrote…
So, now that I have managed to nail every difficulty and pitfall mentioned above, let me simply say, “Hello, Beloved!” My name is Nate Meece, and I have joined the staff as the new Pastor for Adult Ministries here at LifePoint. My wife, Misty, and I have been attending LifePoint for almost 11 years now, and we have three wonderful boys in our clan: Elijah (5), Noah (3), and Josiah (1). During those 11 years I have had the opportunity and privilege to serve our body in several different ways: as an elder over the last five years, through teaching on Sunday mornings in our Adult Discipleship classes, and through leading and participating in Life Groups. It was also during those 11 years that I attended and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Physical Therapy (2010) and worked within the Franciscan Health hospital system as in inpatient Physical Therapist where I focused primarily on rehabilitating patients who were critically ill in the Intensive Care Units. In August of 2013, I began working towards my Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which I graduated with this last December (2017). I officially transitioned from full time at the hospital to full time here at LifePoint on January 1.
My primary responsibilities here at LifePoint will be overseeing our growing Adult Ministries (e.g. Plan and Promise, the Fellows Program [in conjunction with the other, better known, Pastor Nate… I know, two Nates can get confusing]), developing further Adult Ministry opportunities and curriculum, and helping to begin to develop a Family Ministry. These responsibilities are what I will be primarily focusing on, but I am also excited about all of the different opportunities for discipleship, counseling, and serving alongside our local congregation.
These opportunities to serve and shepherd our local congregation are incredibly weighty opportunities, and I am not entering into them lightly; and yet, at the same time, they are opportunities that I am delighted to take on as I trust in God’s sustaining grace… and in complete transparency, there is no other congregation I would rather serve. Over the last 11 years Misty and I have come to love you all with a deep affection, and we have been loved by you with a deep affection. Our boys have also been loved well by you, despite nearly tripping you as they run to and from class (yeah, sorry about that). It is that kind of love that is expressed every time I use the title “Beloved” in describing you. The New Testament writers express the reality that those who are united to Jesus Christ through faith are beloved of God, for they are united to the truly Beloved One (cf. Matt. 3:17; Rom. 1:1-7). Those same authors, furthermore, use the same expression to describe the relationship of love between believers, a relationship that is rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58; Phil. 4:1). So, I say again, with boldness and without reservation, “Hello, Beloved!”
Grace and peace,
Nate Meece
