Our Ministries

 

Ken Koon     Elder

kkoon@melrosechurchofchrist.org

Ken was born in Wheeling,West Virginia, and was baptized in 1943 at the Wheeling Island Church of Christ. He was class valedictorian at Wheeling High School and later received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. Ken married Catherine Koerner in 1951 and has two daughters.

After graduation, Ken entered the US Air Force as a second Lieutenant and received his wings as a jet fighter pilot in 1952. He flew 37 combat missions in the F-86 Sabre Jet in Korea. Ken was discharged from the USAF in 1954 and joined the General Electric Aircraft Engine Group in Evendale, Ohio in 1955. Ken was transferred to the Lynn, Massachusetts facility in 1968, and settled in Danvers. He and his family placed membership with the Melrose Church of Christ in 1968.

Ken has taught many Bible classes over the past 36 years and has filled in on numerous occasions in delivering the sermon on Sunday mornings. Ken retired from GE Aircraft Engines in 1990. He works part time as a Realtor in his daughter's Real Estate Co. in Danvers. He still consults on a part time basis at GE. Ken is very active in various senior citizen organizations on the "North shore." Ken was appointed as an elder here at Melrose in 2002, and is available at any time for counsel and/or Bible study.

 

Joe St. Claire       Elder

jstclaire@melrosechurchofchrist.org

My wife, June, and I began attending the Melrose church in the spring of 2000, and found it to be a very loving church group. They reached out to the both of us with a great deal of Christian love, and they continue to do so with every encounter that we have with them. It is truly a blessing to know, and to be able to serve them.

We have two adult children, and five grandsons. We take care of our grandsons five days a week, and through this, God has blessed us by us being able to be a part of the raising and nurturing of them. Family and fellowship are so important in God's eyes, and it really warms our hearts to be able to do this for our children, and our grandchildren. They are truly a major part of our lives, and we love them so much.

June and I came to the lord on the same day, seventeen years ago February 24th, 1987.

Our goal is to become what God wants us to be (Romans 12:1), and to love God and our neighbors as He requires (Luke 10:27), and to love one another (John 13:34).

Benevolence

We provide food and financial assistance to the needy in and apart from our congregation through our benevolence ministry.

We also have individuals that ensure that the shut-ins in our congregation have communion taken to them each Lord's Day. Staying in contact with them helps to let them know they are still part of the congregation and are thought of regularly.

Other volunteers write cards of encouragement and our preacher and elders provide spiritual counseling when requested. If you know of anyone in need, please contact Joe.

 

Tony Black       Pulpit Ministry

 

 

Jeff Zimmer       Missions / Worship

jzimmer@melrosechurchofchrist.org

The church Missions Program began in 1996 and is funded by a special annual Congregational contribution that occurs on the last Sunday of October. We currently support seven missionary works in various parts of Asia, Europe and the United States. The works include training of native preachers, meeting the needs of orphans, civil projects such as well drilling, and medical assistance, as well as a pregnancy center that provides alternatives to abortion. Jeff is responsible for managing and administering our Missions fund.

Jeff also takes care of our worship scheduling. With the exception of the sermon, the various roles of service during the Sunday morning assemblies are filled on a rotating basis by members of the church. Schedules are prepared on a monthly basis and published in the bulletin. This provides opportunities for spiritual growth through service.

 

Education

 

 

Jason Rich      College Ministry

jprich84@hotmail.com

Jason is a native of nearby Wakefield, Massachusetts, and has been a Christian since 1999.  After he graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in chemical engineering in 2006, God graciously lead him back to Boston to pursue a Ph.D. at M.I.T., also in chemical engineering.  He is a little bit of a nerd, but he experiences the love of the Melrose family all the same!  He enjoys ministering to people in his home area, especially fellow students, in the name of Christ.

The Melrose college ministry provides a time of fellowship and bible study for students and recent graduates in Boston and the Boston area.  We meet weekly at one of the campuses, at the home of one of our students, or even outside at one of Boston’s many parks during nice weather.  We also organize activities and trips for recreation, and service projects in and around Boston to strengthen the bonds of Christian fellowship between us and to reach out to our campuses and our community with the love of Jesus Christ.

Institutions currently or previously represented:
Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Law School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University, Simmons College, Emerson College, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory of Music, Longy School of Music, Wellesley College, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

For more information about the college ministry, please contact Jason.

 

Ziggy Ferraro       Finance

zferraro@melrosechurchofchrist.org

Our Finance Minister does more than just count the money.
He oversees the expenditures for each ministry area, provides a monthly report to each of them at the congregational business meeting, and meets once a quarter with the elders.

He is also responsible for tracking special contributions and overseeing the development of the following year's budgetary requests from each ministry area.

 

Shelly Watkins       Facilities

swatkins@melrosechurchofchrist.org

Taking care of our buildings and grounds is an on-going task. Just like your own home, constant care is required, both inside and out. Our objective is to ensure that the building is pleasing to all that enter. We need to show that we are good stewards of God's blessings.

 

Myron Schirer-Suter       Fellowship

mschirer-suter@melrosechurchofchrist.org

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as we see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 24-25

We try to gear all of our fellowship activities toward this goal. You will find our activities in our Calendar of Events. If there are any activities that you would like to see or have any questions or comments about an activity please feel free to contact Myron.

 

Chris Black       Youth

cblack@melrosechurchofchrist.org

Jesus knew His Father intimately from an early age. Even at twelve years old, he was able to discuss deep issues of faith with the 'spiritual leaders' of the time. For this reason as imitators of Christ, we believe God has called our youth to know Him, not tomorrow, but today!

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength...Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." MARK 12:30-31

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." MATTHEW 28:19-20

From the two scriptures above, we believe that our youth ministry exists to REACH non-believing teens, to CONNECT Christians with each other, to GROW in our faith, and to challenge us to DISCOVER our ministry and HONOR God with our lives.

We aim to foster teenagers to be like the young David of the Bible, after God's own heart. Each of our activities is not intended to merely entertain teenagers, but instead to challenge their spiritual understanding, and cultivate compassionate, tender, and dedicated hearts that are filled with hope of the eternal and with peace for today.

 

A JOB OR A MINISTRY- by Melody Blevins

Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY. What's the difference?

If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB. If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because someone criticized you, it was a JOB. If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.

If you'll do it only so long as it does not interfere with your other activities, it's a JOB.
If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it is a JOB. If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your efforts, it's a MINISTRY.

It's hard to get excited about a JOB. It's almost impossible not to be excited about a MINISTRY.

If your concern is success, it's a JOB. If our concern is faithfulness, it's a MINISTRY.

An average church is filled with people doing JOBS. A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.

Where do we fit in? What about us? If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB. If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY. God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB, but excited and faithful to Him in MINISTRY.

 

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