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Our Ministries
Ken Koon Eldership |
| Ken was born November 13, 1928 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 Eldership |
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. |
Terry Christopher Pulpit Ministry |
More about Terry... |
Jeff Zimmer Missions / Worship |
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. |
Keith Book Education |
Keith Book is an alumnus of Michigan Christian College (now Rochester College) with a A.A. degree in Biblical Studies, Harding University with a B.A. in religious education and psychology, and Harding Graduate School of Religion with a Master of Theology degree in counseling. Keith and Martha Jane Book with a young family came to Melrose in April 1986 after Keith's graduation from Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, TN. After years of faithful service, Keith became Deacon of Education in 2002 with the responsibility to oversee the operation of the Bible class program for the congregation. Other related duties and activities have included directing a yearly VBS, coordinating children's parties, recruiting teaching staff for classes, providing teacher training sessions, and scheduling a yearly teacher appreciation dinner. The purpose statement for our education ministry is as follows: The education ministry at the Melrose Church of Christ strives to nurture its members in the Word of God in order to equip them for the works of service through knowledge, training, and opportunity. This purpose statement has its Scriptural foundation in Ephesians 4: 11-16 with the overarching goal of promoting spiritual maturity for each member of the Melrose body. As Deacon of Education, Keith seeks to instill knowledge, inspire exploration, and initiate change that will promote wisdom, understanding, and transformation according to Romans 12: 1-2. Keith solicits prayers, suggestions, and member involvement to achieve the goals described here so that we may be the salt of the earth and the light of the world whose good works will bring glory to God according to Matthew 5: 13-16. Have you found your place in the Body? |
Ziggy Ferraro Finance |
Our Finance Minister does more than just count the money. 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 |
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. |
Lance Cramlet College |
Our college ministry serves students at colleges and universities in the Boston area. This ministry provides a Christian environment for college and professional students, and recent graduates who are members of the church of Christ or people interested in becoming a Christian. We offer a Sunday morning Bible class at the Melrose church for students and the group meets on Tuesday evenings at Harvard University for a Bible study and devotional. Recreational and service events and trips are planned each semester to strengthen students and encourage fellowship. Our goal is to worship and glorify God and act as salt and light to Boston area universities. Some of our activities include: Annual Ski Trip in New Hampshire, Parents Night Out, Movie nights, Trips to New York, Service Projects and Congregational Fellowships. Institutions currently or previously represented: |
Myron Schirer-Suter Fellowship |
"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 |
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 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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