As I mentioned in the last edition of our ARC E-News, one of the many wonderful blessings God has given us in the ARC are a large number of gifted young leaders. In October, another of those young leaders was ordained. Jessica Charney, youth pastor at Living Water Church in Elk Grove, CA was set apart for leadership and service as an ordained pastor in the Alliance of Renewal Churches. Following are reflections from senior pastor, Joel Midthun:


On Sunday, October 20, we were thrilled to be able to ordain Jessica Charney as Pastor of Youth and Family at Living Water Church. We have had a vision at our church to add an associate pastor for a number of years but the timing was never right until now. After finishing her M.Div. at APU in Southern California in 2011, Jessica became our Youth Director. She and her husband Nick (and now baby Kacie!) both grew up in Elk Grove but never anticipated that God would call them back to their hometown to minister. They are a great team and each brings different things to the table; Jessica was raised in the church while Nick became a believer as a teenager.

Some of Jessica’s passions in ministry are living in authentic community and ministry to the whole family. She especially has a desire to see that our youth and young adults are connected to our ‘big church’ as that is one of the main indicators of whether youth will leave the faith when they grow up. Jessica observed in her own youth group growing up (which research is confirming as a trend) that as many as half of her friends from youth group no longer attend church as adults.

Jessica is a shepherd. She is very natural at caring for people and including others. She also is a first rate teacher-preacher and very gifted at interpreting the Bible. Our Elder board, composed of men and women, has as one of it’s purposes, to “bless what God is doing” in our midst; that is, to discern what God is doing and then support and encourage those ministries and people. To date we have been able to bless many in our church who are attempting ‘God sized’things from fighting human trafficking to starting a Cause Marketing non-profit. As we witnessed what God was doing in and through Jessica’s life and leadership in our midst, the decision was made to call her and set her apart for ordained ministry in our congregation and in the ARC. Ordaining Jessica is another way to "bless what God is doing" in our midst and give her more formal recognition in our church and in the community.

Jessica writes, “My ordination service was attended by family members, my former youth pastor and his wife, good friends, and colleagues from our time in seminary, along with many members of our church family and small group. It was encouraging to have so many people from different areas of my life there to encourage me and support my formal ordination into the ministry. All of these people have been a part of inspiring me in my Christian faith and call to ministry and it was such a blessing to have them there. While ARC Director, Mike Bradley, was unable to be there, he gave a powerful greeting and blessing via video. Each step of the ordination process involved some challenges and helped me to really look at my calling and prayerfully seek God’s guidance for my future in ministry."

As Director for the Alliance of Renewal Churches, I welcome Jessica to the ranks of ordained ministry. We’re thankful to have you as a member of this band of brothers and sisters who are on mission together!