{"id":24553,"date":"2024-09-20T15:51:54","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T13:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/?p=24553"},"modified":"2024-10-01T14:56:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T12:56:03","slug":"retired-but-inspired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/retired-but-inspired\/","title":{"rendered":"Retired but Inspired"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a fellowship, we are seeing many spiritual pillars in our church family beginning to retire from ministry and other roles. On June 9th, the North River Church of Christ in Marietta, Georgia honored two of those heroes in the faith, Tom and Kelly Brown, as they transitioned out of serving as the lead evangelist and women\u2019s ministry leaders. The Browns served in North River for nearly 20 years and also in California, Colorado, and Massachusetts over their 40-year ministry career. Over the last three years, my wife, Alexandra, and I have had the blessing of being mentored by the Browns as brand new church leaders since we took the leap from campus ministers to church leaders in Charleston, South Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Tom and Kelly Brown’s retirement celebration at the North River Church of Christ in Marietta, Georgia, USA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of 2024, Alexandra and I asked our church if we could hire the Browns part-time as official mentors for us in church leadership. And after much prayer and thought, our elders and our board eagerly pursued the idea. Every few weeks, the Browns have given us their time, encouragement, and wisdom via Zoom calls, along with two in-person visits this year alone. During these visits, they spent time with our members, leaders, and our elders helping us to work together as an even stronger team. Their expertise has blessed our whole church as they\u2019ve offered us both training and support. As new church leaders, learning how to build a church family that glorifies God all while navigating the demands of our personal family life and spirituality has felt daunting at times. But the Browns’ influence and encouragement as expert church-builders has truly been invaluable to us personally and in turn to our local leadership team and congregation at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last time they visited Charleston, I called Tom \u2018Old Faithful\u2019 after the geyser in Yellowstone National Park. For 150 years, it has stayed \u2018on fire\u2019 and active. Even though it has slowed down some, it shows no signs of stopping. And I love how after many years of service and sacrifice, Tom stays on fire for Jesus, hot spiritually, and active in building the church. He tells me, \u201cWell, I guess it\u2019s better to be an old geyser than an old geezer!\u201d While they’ve retired and are now enjoying a different pace of life where they can visit their children and grandchildren, they also have continued leading a local small group in Atlanta. And they proclaim that their new role is to be the \u201cCEOs\u201d of the church \u2013 Chief Encouragement Officers! They have certainly been that for us! I can\u2019t wait to see more and more leaders like the Browns in our fellowship serve in similar ways. Retired, but still inspired.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a fellowship,\u00a0we are seeing many spiritual pillars in our church family beginning to retire from ministry and other roles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":24563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[387,12],"tags":[54],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-24553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership","category-testimonials","tag-north-america"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tom-and-kelly-brown-retirement.png?fit=1456%2C1427&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Lai-Yan Faller","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/lyfaller\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-6o1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26622,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/mission-point-church-seeks-two-ministry-positions\/","url_meta":{"origin":24553,"position":0},"title":"Mission Point Church Seeks Two Ministry Positions","author":"Lai-Yan Faller","date":"March 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Mission Point Christian Church in San Antonio, Texas, is seeking passionate and dedicated couples to join our team in two vital ministry roles: Director of Family Ministry and Director of Community Ministry & Worship.","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry Search"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry Search","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/ministry-search\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MPCC_Logo_1920x1080px.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MPCC_Logo_1920x1080px.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MPCC_Logo_1920x1080px.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MPCC_Logo_1920x1080px.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MPCC_Logo_1920x1080px.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22573,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/north-west-region-of-london-church-seeks-full-time-leaders\/","url_meta":{"origin":24553,"position":1},"title":"North-West Region of London Church Seeks Full-Time Leaders","author":"dtadmin","date":"November 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The North-West region of the London International Church of Christ, with over 120 members is seeking a full-time regional leader couple.","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry Search"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry Search","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/ministry-search\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"London ministry search","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/London-church-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C826&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/London-church-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C826&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/London-church-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C826&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/London-church-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C826&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/London-church-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C826&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10453,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/cornerstone-church-seeks-student-ministry-leader\/","url_meta":{"origin":24553,"position":2},"title":"Cornerstone Church Seeks Student Ministry Leader","author":"dtadmin","date":"October 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"At Cornerstone Church (located in Duluth, Georgia \u2013 a suburb of Atlanta) our mission is to be followers of Jesus Christ, living and teaching the good news of the kingdom of God. Our vision is that we will be people of spiritual impact in our community, be a welcoming fellowship,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Campus"","block_context":{"text":"Campus","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/campus-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/cornerstone-church.jpg?fit=936%2C626&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/cornerstone-church.jpg?fit=936%2C626&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/cornerstone-church.jpg?fit=936%2C626&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/cornerstone-church.jpg?fit=936%2C626&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5486,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/god-is-moving-in-the-knoxville-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":24553,"position":3},"title":"God is Moving in the Knoxville Church","author":"dtadmin","date":"March 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Editor's note: The following is shared from the North River Church of Christ newsletter . In 2011, God used my wife Sharon to make it clear that we were withering spiritually and needed a fresh start. Sharon suggested I call an old friend of mine, Antonio Boyd. At that time\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/79197d77-408b-42ac-9e2b-fb355b126a03.jpg?fit=1018%2C537&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/79197d77-408b-42ac-9e2b-fb355b126a03.jpg?fit=1018%2C537&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/79197d77-408b-42ac-9e2b-fb355b126a03.jpg?fit=1018%2C537&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/79197d77-408b-42ac-9e2b-fb355b126a03.jpg?fit=1018%2C537&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4413,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/north-river-campus-leaders-honored-as-evangelist-women-s-ministry-leader\/","url_meta":{"origin":24553,"position":4},"title":"North River Campus Leaders Honored as Evangelist & Women's Ministry Leader","author":"dtadmin","date":"May 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Great news from the North River Church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia!","rel":"","context":"In "Campus"","block_context":{"text":"Campus","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/campus-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/masseysnorthriverchurchofchrist.jpg?fit=1200%2C953&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/masseysnorthriverchurchofchrist.jpg?fit=1200%2C953&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/masseysnorthriverchurchofchrist.jpg?fit=1200%2C953&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/masseysnorthriverchurchofchrist.jpg?fit=1200%2C953&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/masseysnorthriverchurchofchrist.jpg?fit=1200%2C953&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22400,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/kansas-city-church-seeks-full-time-lead-ministry-couple\/","url_meta":{"origin":24553,"position":5},"title":"Kansas City Church Seeks Full-Time Lead Ministry Couple","author":"Ashaki Sorrell","date":"December 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Kansas City Church of Christ is seeking a lead ministry couple.","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry Search"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry Search","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/ministry-search\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/UnionStation.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/UnionStation.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/UnionStation.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/UnionStation.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/UnionStation.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tom-and-kelly-brown-retirement.png?fit=1456%2C1427&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24553\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24553"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=24553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}