here. Since the very beginning, I’ve seen God move in and through the Hope Center and I feel truly honored to have been a part of it. Not only that, but I’ve learned so much and grown even more! 

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One of the big things I’ve learned has led to me transitioning away from the Hope Center: “You can’t say no to God.” For the past several months I’ve been wrestling pretty intensely with God; as the son of a pastor, I said I would never do church ministry, but God, on the other hand, had other plans for me. Since the end of July, I’ve really felt the Lord telling me that local church ministry is where he wants me. I said no, repeatedly, but God’s yes, His call on my life, was far louder. 

 

And so with a newfound openhandedness, I’ve accepted a position as the Director of Family Ministries for Shreve Community Church in Shreve, OH. It’s with a heavy heart that I am planning my departure from the Hope Center for this July (I start in Shreve August 1st), but I’m equally excited, not only for this opportunity for myself, but also for what the future holds at the Hope Center. The momentum of ministry here isn’t slowing down or stopping, but picking up! God is moving right now, opening doors and preparing a way forward for the Hope Center to assist and influence exponentially more people!

 

So it is now that we begin the search for my successor. Someone who would love to join the Hope Center on its mission to help everyone in Union County (and beyond) experience the love of Christ and God’s best plan for their lives. Someone who would love to continue the mission of the Hope Center’s NextGen Ministries to help every student to BE SEEN, BE HEARD, BE KNOWN, BE LOVED, BELONG, and, most importantly, EXPERIENCE LIFE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. 

 

The path forward is paved, the groundwork has been laid, and the new Director of NextGen Ministry will be poised to step right into ministry with the students of Union County. This position includes oversight of all student programming, including (but not limited to), The Garden After School Program, the BUOY Mentoring Program, and the Hope Tutoring Program. And don’t worry, I’m not going to leave without showing you everything. Endless resources are available to you, I’ll even set up the speed dial to my cell for any and all questions (that was a joke, unless you want me to). 

 

So if you’re interested in building relationships with students, sharing the Gospel with unreached students (and their families), collaborating with community wide organizations and churches, playing a lot of basketball, engaging with community members, or planning events, you should apply for this job. At the Hope Center, you do a lot of work, but you have a lot of fun. And you get to work with some pretty awesome people. 

 

Blessings,

Caleb Keene

Director of NextGen Ministry