"Go Todd!"

The news around Chicago-land is that the Bears are going to the Super Bowl. To that we say, “Go Bears!” But the news around our church is the addition of Todd Rittersbacher to our staff. See his picture in the ‘staff section.’ Rather a dapper looking fellow, wouldn’t you say?

The church board and I spent several months discussing the need for someone to come and help us with our youth. The discussion was generally the same. We had youth in the church and in the neighborhood that needed someone who could come along side them and spiritually work with them. While we had some couples willing to work with the youth, we needed someone to take over the direction of this ministry.

One of the many questions considered was, ‘How do we afford this?’ We’re not exactly a large church with a bank account to match. But, we couldn’t get past this one overriding issue. We felt we had an obligation to reach out and work with these young people. Not only did we want to put together a youth group, but our goal was to integrate them into the church itself. We don’t want them to see themselves as a group unto themselves, but we want them to see themselves as a ‘vital part of the church.’ Because we believed it was an obligation, we had to trust God for the funds.

We began to call and write Christian Colleges looking for a ‘part-time’ youth pastor. All our attempts seemed to go nowhere. We continued to pray, asking God to send us that individual who could, and would, and felt the call of God to work here. Todd is a grad student at Moody. God put the circumstances together for us to find each other. I was thrilled when the church voted unanimously to call Todd knowing we were trusting the Lord for additional funds to fulfill obligations to him.

So, we welcome Pastor Todd aboard. We’re excited about what God has in the future for all of us. As you read this, please say a prayer for our church, our leadership, and our Youth Pastor, Todd Rittersbacher. To that we say, “Go Todd!”