That sentence may read a little plain on a computer screen, but believe me, it did not feel plain in the courtroom. There were no thunderclaps. The heavens did not open. Nobody brought in a brass band (and even if they attempted, I’m pretty sure the bailiff would’ve put a stop to it.) A judge simply asked us a few questions, a gavel was hammered, and a pen moved across a piece of paper.  Courthouses do not generally traffic in poetry, but that afternoon a few legal words became poetry to us. Our daughter received a new name, a new legal identity, a permanent home, and an inheritance. Our family became her family. Our story became her story. Everything that belonged to us now belonged to her — not because she had earned any of it, but because we had chosen to give ourselves to her. 

For six months, love had been saying what law could not yet say. That afternoon they finally caught up with each other. If you’ve ever been part of an adoption, you know it can be difficult to explain. Adoption is beautiful, but the beauty grows in soil that has known sorrow. Somewhere beneath every adoption is loss. There are no tidy stories, only people learning to love one another amid circumstances none of them would have chosen. Our road to that courthouse had been paved with prayers, tears, late-night conversations, and long stretches of waiting without knowing what would happen next. We loved this little girl with our whole hearts while knowing that her future was entirely out of our hands — which, come to think of it, is where the future usually is, though some of us expend a great deal of energy pretending otherwise.  But that afternoon, the judge spoke, and the waiting was over. The child we had held in our arms for six months would carry our name for the rest of her life. 

As I looked at my daughter that afternoon, I was reminded of what Paul says in Galatians 4. When the time was just right, God sent His Son to redeem us so that we might be adopted as His sons and daughters. That’s the Gospel. And to quote the theme from Charis Fellowship Conference a couple of years ago: How *good* is the Gospel? Most of us know the doctrine. We’ve preached it, taught it, and sung it. But every so often, God shows you the doctrine through a little girl in a white dress with yellow flowers who you hold in your arms. 

The Gospel does more than change our verdict. It changes our family. We were not standing outside God’s house with our noses pressed against the glass, hoping He might notice how sincere we looked. We were not basically good people who needed a little help finding the front door. Left to ourselves, we were lost in sin — guilty, spiritually dead, far from home, and unable to find our way back. So God came for us. He did not shout directions from heaven. He sent His Son. Jesus entered our wreckage and took on flesh. He lived the life we could not live, loved the Father as we had failed to love Him, and obeyed every law we had broken. Then he carried our sin to the cross. 

The true Son was condemned so that rebels could be welcomed. He was cast our so that we could be brought in. He bore the curse so we could receive the family name. At the cross, Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?” so that those who had abandoned God could cry, “Abba, Father!” Our adoption was purchased with the blood of Jesus. Then, on the third day, Christ walked out of the grave. The stone rolled away, death lost its grip, and the door to home swung wide open once and for all eternity. 

Everyone who turns from sin and trusts in Christ is not merely pardoned. We are welcomed — not as hired hands, distant relatives, or guests who ought to know when they have overstayed their welcome. We were brought in as beloved children. That is Charis. That is the family name we all claim. That is grace. Grace does not leave us standing nervously on the porch. Grace brings us inside, pulls out a chair, and gives us a place at the Father’s table. Grace places God’s name upon us. It clothes us in the righteousness of Christ and gives us the Holy Spirit, who teaches our frightened hearts to call the holy God of heaven “Father.”

In Christ, everything changes. His righteousness becomes ours. His Father becomes our Father. His home becomes our home. His inheritance becomes our inheritance. Even His resurrection becomes the promise of our resurrection. And we do not earn a single bit of it.

My daughter did not contribute much to the court proceedings that day, aside from being remarkably cute. At six months old, her resume is brief. She did not fill out a form, make a case for herself, or promise to become the sort of daughter we could be proud of. Her primary responsibilities were to look adorable and allow the adults to handle the paperwork, which was probably the wisest arrangement for everyone involved. She simply received what love had chosen to give her. 

Church, so it is with us. Our place in God’s family does not rest on the strength of our faith, the consistency of our obedience, the cleanliness of our past, or the fruitfulness of our ministries. It rests entirely on Jesus — His perfect life, His atoning path, and His victorious resurrection. 

Those of us in ministry may be especially prone to forgetting this. Somewhere between sermon preparation, counseling appointments, hospital visits, and church meetings, we can begin to forget that we are sons and daughters and not simply hired hands.  But the verdict has already been spoken and its remarkably clear. Listen to the good news of Galatians 4:7: “You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.” No longer a slave. No longer an outside. No longer condemned. No longer alone. In Christ, you are a child of God. Your adoption rests on something sturdier than your emotions, your performance, or your ministry results. It rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ. No accusation can overturn it. No failure can erase it. No season of suffering can sever it. You bear his name. You have a place at His table. 

That afternoon in the courtroom, I held Willow and wished she was old enough to understand what had just happened. I wanted to tell her, “You are ours. You are wanted. You are loved. You will never have to earn your place here.” She was too young to understand any of that, of course. So I simply held her. Her place in our family did not depend on her ability to understand what the judge had declared. It depended on the promise that had been made over her. 

The same is true for us. In Jesus Christ, the father has brought us into His family. Not reluctantly, but joyfully. Not because we are worthy, but because Jesus is. His name is our name. And His house is where we belong.

Written by Josh Rollins

The post Adopted as Sons and Daughters first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

More info here.

The post Worship Leader (Part-Time) at Grace Fellowship Church of Anderson (Anderson, S.C.) first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

Ryan Ritchey is an example of faithfulness, obedience, and serving where the Lord puts you. He was first hired as a worship director at Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church in Western Pennsylvania in 2013. Ryan began volunteering with the youth worship team, building relationships and training students to lead. When the church was without a youth pastor for several years, Ryan offered to step into that role more formally.

This summer Ryan received the Youth Pastor of the Year Award from Momentum Ministry Partners. The award is presented at Momentum Youth Conference with the goal of honoring a youth pastor who is faithfully discipling the next generation and investing in the lives of students. This person is selected by a panel of Momentum staff, based on meeting certain criteria.

Eric Miller, executive director of ministry at Momentum, presented the award. Eric said, “Ryan joined a Momentum PRO Student Ministry Cohort in order to learn as much as he could. We’ve watched him thrive as he’s become a sponge taking in everything he could and even integrating students into his regular rotation within the worship team. He’s raising the bar on both levels and God is blessing what Ryan’s doing. Their student ministry is growing as students are leading, being equipped, and bringing their friends.”

“I started going to Momentum 12 years ago and have built relationships with some great youth pastors,” Ryan said. “My honest thought when they started presenting the award was, ‘I hope one of my buddies gets this!’”

When asked how it felt receiving it, Ryan said, “The reaction from my students was probably the biggest highlight. It was also a really cool moment for Eric Miller to be the one to hand it to me. Eric was our speaker at Camp Mantowagan 15 years ago and we bunked together. I had a cancer diagnosis that summer and was undergoing chemo treatment at the time. He’s been a constant source of encouragement ever since then!”

Ryan described his work at the church as a team effort. “We have an incredible team of about 30 volunteer adults who are hands-on with the students. Also, since I work in a dual-role (youth and worship) our church has allowed me to hire several young adults in part-time roles to make sure things run smoothly. Many of them came up through our youth ministry and it really is a joy to now serve together.”

Not only is Ryan an integral part of ministry at his home church, but he is also active in the Charis Fellowship. Each summer he serves as a program director at Camp Mantowagan in Western Pennsylvania, and several times he has helped lead worship at the East Focus Retreat in Ocean City, Maryland. In both roles, just like at church, Ryan is intentional about bringing people into the leadership process with him and creating space for people to use their gifts.

The post Ryan Ritchey Receives Youth Pastor of the Year Award first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

We are dedicated to nurturing the spiritual, emotional and social growth of our young members.  We believe that our youth are not just the future of the Church, but a vital and vibrant part of it currently.

As a Youth Minister, you will have a pivotal role in guiding, mentoring and inspiring our youth through their formative years.  This position is not just a job but a calling! This will be an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people by leading them in their faith journey.  If you have a heart for a God lead  ministry, a vision for youth empowerment, a commitment to spiritual leadership, a desire to lead youth to a closer relationship with Christ and to instill in them the faith needed in every aspect of their lives.  We invite you to apply to make a difference !

Youth Minister Responsibilities and Duties

• Work 10-20 hours per week
• Develop and lead weekly youth group meetings
• Plan and organize special events such as retreats, camps, mission trips and fund raisers
• Provide pastoral care and counseling to youth and their families
• Teach Sunday school classes and lead Bible studies
• Recruit, train and supervise advisors and volunteers for youth programs
• Collaborate with other church staff and ministries to integrate youth activities into the larger church community
• Create and manage the youth ministry budget with assistance from advisors
• Communicate regularly with parents and keep them informed about upcoming events and activities
• Develop outreach programs to engage unchurched youth in the community
• Maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all youth
• Encourage youth participation in church services and activities
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and make necessary adjustments

Youth Minister Qualifications

• Degree and/or studies in theology, religion or a related field, experience working with youth in a church or related setting is a plus
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with church staff and volunteers
• Leadership and organizational skills
• Creativity in planning and implementing programs and activities
• Sensitivity to diverse needs of youth
• Commitment to the Mission and Values of the Church
• Strong personal faith and understanding of Christian teachings
• Proficient in using technology and social media to engage youth
• Ability to pass a background check and obtain required clearances

Apply:

If you are being called to this type of ministry, we invite you to submit a letter of interest and a resume to:
Davidsville Community Church
Attn: Next Gen Youth Ministry
197 Pender Road
Johnstown, PA 15905 
email: dcc197@outlook.com

The post Youth Minister at Davidsville Community Church (Johnstown, Pa.) first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

Position Responsibilities
Branding – Ensure a strong and consistent Grace Church brand across all platforms, including website, social media, email, stage, lobby, and print materials and guide staff in maintaining those same standards and goals.
Communication Strategy – Develop and implement ongoing communication and marketing strategies that help people connect, engage, and take next steps at Grace Church.
Communication Design – Oversee all graphic design, promotional materials, and sermon series visuals, and assist in developing creative marketing plans for major events and church-wide initiatives.
Communication Alignment – Maintain a clear communication strategy by directing all church communication toward Grace’s primary communication platforms and ensuring consistency across all ministries.
Communication Initiatives – Participate in planning for sermon series, major events, and seasonal initiatives to help develop clear and effective communication plans.
Communication Priorities – Manage communication requests from staff, determine appropriate timelines, and help ensure all communication aligns with church-wide priorities, standards, and calendar planning.
Communication Execution – Oversee church-wide email communication, event promotion, and collaboration with staff to maintain clear and unified messaging.
Digital Content – Manage the church website, social media, and digital platforms to ensure information is accurate, easy to find, and consistent with the Grace Church brand. Upload weekly sermons, podcast content, and social media content, and coordinate photography, video, and other media as needed.
Team Development – Recruit, train, and develop volunteers to support areas such as photography, video, design, and social media, building a team that expands the effectiveness and reach of communication at Grace Church.
Results – Evaluate communication effectiveness through engagement, participation, and response metrics, and adjust strategies to improve clarity and impact.

General Responsibilities
Be With and Be Like Jesus
Embrace a “Send Me” Attitude
Trust that God Can
Honor Others with Honesty
Lead Yourself and Others

Qualifications & Skills
Effective design, communication, and marketing abilities
The ability to think and plan strategically
Highly organized
Strong work energy

Classification: Full-time, non-exempt
Hourly Commitment: 30 hours per week

Apply:
Email interest/cover letter and resume: claire.maxwell@meetgrace.org

The post Communications Coordinator at Grace Church (Lititz, Pa.) first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

Get more information here.

If you are interested in learning more about this position or applying, please send cover letter and resume to Jim Childs (jchilds1@comcast.net).

The post Senior Pastor at West Kittanning (Kittanning, Pa.) first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

Thrive will transition from the umbrella of Charis Women into partnership with Inspire. Megan Johnson will continue leading Thrive, carrying its vision of providing pastors’ wives with refreshment, resources, and relationships. She will also work alongside Inspire’s board to help provide more holistic care and shepherding for couples in ministry. 

“One of the greatest strengths of the Charis Fellowship is our spirit of partnership, and the transition of Thrive to Inspire is a meaningful expression of that strength,” said Jenn Avey, executive director of Charis Women. “By placing this shepherding ministry within Inspire’s broader care for pastors and their families, we can provide focused support for pastors’ wives while Charis Women continues to deepen its mission of equipping women to disciple, lead, mentor, teach, and serve throughout the Fellowship. Together, Charis Women and Inspire are creating greater opportunities to strengthen women, care for pastoral families, and serve our churches for the sake of the Gospel.”

The transition brings Thrive alongside a network whose mission has long been to encourage and equip Charis Fellowship pastors. It also underscores an important conviction: caring well for pastors must include caring well for their wives.

Two Roles, One Calling

For Megan, that conviction is both personal and practical. In addition to directing Thrive, she has served with Assist Church Expansion since March as Coordinator of Shepherding for Ministry Wives. There she cares particularly for the wives of pastors involved in church planting and revitalization — settings that can bring unusual pressures and limited support. 

Thrive and Assist serve women in different contexts, but Megan’s purpose in both roles is the same: to help ministry wives know they are seen, valued, and not alone. She has lived that need herself. Megan and her husband, Adam, served together for a decade in youth and young adult ministry before helping plant JOURNEY Church near Philadelphia. Adam serves as lead pastor, while Megan is director of discipleship. The couple also has four children. 

“The biggest catalyst in seeing the need for this ministry has simply come from being a pastor’s wife for 20 years,” Megan said. “We’ve experienced both deep joy and deep pain in this calling, and I often felt isolated and alone.”

She hopes to offer women some of what she did not have during her early years in ministry: resources that promote spiritual health, opportunities for rest, and relationships that encourage the heart. 

Seen, Known, and Supported

Scripture gives no separate job description for a pastor’s wife, yet churches may have spoken or unspoken ideas about how she should serve, relate, parent, or participate in church life. Those expectations can leave little room for each woman’s gifting, circumstances, and season of life. 

Ministry wives can also feel set apart within their own congregations — surrounded by people but uncertain where it is safe to be fully known. Careers, parenting, marriage, grief, and past wounds continue alongside the needs of a church family. A woman can genuinely love her church and calling while also feeling tired or discouraged. She does not need a pedestal; she needs to be known. 

Painful seasons taught Megan the importance of trustworthy ministry couples and dependence on God’s Word. 

“Times of suffering forced me to mine the deep parts of my heart, apply the Gospel to my own life, and root my identity firmly in Christ,” she said. “I don’t want to shy away from the hard or give pastors’ wives pithy advice, strategies, or anecdotes. I want to feed them God’s Word and remind them of who He is, what He’s accomplished, and who they are in Him.”

Her passion was also shaped by friendship. God brought other pastors’ wives into her life with whom she felt safe, seen and supported — the kind of friends who could hear an honest admission and respond, “You, too?” Together they rested, cried, laughed, prayed, and spoke truth to one another. 

Thrive seeks to make those connections possible across the Charis Fellowship. Its new partnership with Inspire creates an opportunity to strengthen that work while caring more intentionally for pastoral couples and families. 

A Call to the Church

Church members have a role in caring for their pastor’s wife. Meaningful support can mean something like writing a note, providing a meal, offering to watch the children, or praying faithfully for her. It means examining whether expectations placed on her are biblical or merely cultural, respecting her boundaries, and pursuing genuine friendship without an agenda. 

Megan has described pastors’ wives as “corner pillars”: valuable, load-bearing, and sometimes overlooked because they quietly support so much. Through Thrive’s partnership with Inspire, Megan’s complementary work with Assist, and the care of local congregations, the Charis Fellowship aims to ensure that pastors’ wives are seen, strengthened, and reminded that they do not carry the joys and burdens of ministry alone. 

The post Strengthening Care for Pastors’ Wives first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

The ideal candidate is warm, humble, relationally present, emotionally steady, biblically grounded, and passionate about discipleship, and is someone who thrives outside the study as much as in it. Qualifications include meeting the biblical standards for eldership from 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, meaningful pastoral experience, preferred Bible college or seminary training, support for the church’s Charis Fellowship affiliation, and willingness to relocate to Johnstown. The posting emphasizes that Singer Hill is congregationally governed, is partnering with Assist Church Expansion for coaching support, and is looking for a long-term, patient leader rather than a quick turnaround, with resumes and cover letters directed to singerhill@assistcx.org.

Get more information here.

The post Lead Pastor at Singer Hill Grace Brethren Church (Johnstown, Pa.) first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

At Charis Fellowship Conference 2026, held July 21–23 at Grace Fellowship Church in Pickerington, Ohio, main session speakers walked through the book of Acts. The theme verse for the week was Acts 28:31, and each message focused on a different aspect of the book, intentionally connecting how witness, prayer, Holy Spirit, expansion, and suffering allow the Gospel to go out unhindered. Speakers were Keith Minier, Kip Cone, Jeremy Kimble, Andrew Royer, and Bartley Sawatsky. Personal testimonies on each topic were also shared in sessions from Tim Wilmetti, Ethan Bunce, Nate Bosch, Barb Wooler, and Betsy.

The schedule for conference was designed to allow free time and select planned events in the evenings, creating space for fellowship and connection. On Monday pre-conference activities included the Charis Symposium with papers on the book of Acts, food trucks, and a dessert for newcomers where Executive Director Tim Sprankle explained core aspects of the Charis Fellowship and various national ministry leaders shared about their organizations.

Other evening activities throughout the week included a young adult event hosted by Assist Church Expansion, a game night hosted by Charis Women, a dessert for solo pastors and their wives, and a ministry discussion with Pastors Jeff Bogue and Keith Minie

Many national and cooperating ministries represented as exhibitors, and Grace College, Encompass World Partners, Grace Financial, Eagle Commission, Assist Church Expansion, Charis Women, and Inspire Pastors Network sponsored meals where they introduced key staff and board members, held their annual business meeting, and shared ministry highlights.

Each day also had two opportunities to attend workshops and roundtable discussions. They were facilitated by a variety of people including pastors, ministry leaders, global workers, and organization representatives. Topics included next generation ministries, succession and retirement planning, children’s ministry, women’s ministry, process of ordination, Charis Fellowship history, missions, leveraging AI, volunteer recruitment, and more. Thursday morning also included the Charis Conversation, the delegate’s meeting of the Charis Fellowship, where Tim Sprankle, Tim Hodge, and Andrew Saunders gave updates and presented items that would be voted upon by the delegates in the following week.

Conference concluded Thursday afternoon with threefold communion. Tim Sprankle read through parts of the Charis Manual of Procedure and led the three elements with thoughtful reflections.

The post Unhindered: Charis Fellowship Conference 2026 Recap first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

Tim Hodge (Fellowship Coordinator) shared highlights from the Statistical Report, including the fact that our average attendance in 2025 was the highest in our history, and that the number of baptisms in 2025 was the highest in 25 years. We also celebrated a new Associate Member church: Church at the Well in Towson, Md. Andrew Saunders (Networking Coordinator) reviewed the 2027 budget which is slightly reduced from the previous year and reflects the Fellowship’s healthy financial status. 

Tim Sprankle (Executive Director) explained and read through a Clarification Paper on Eldership that the Fellowship Council has been working on since last year and has recently approved. He also shared the intent of the document in describing viewpoints that are broadly shared by churches within the Charis Fellowship, while also respecting the autonomy of each church. The Clarification Paper is available through a link on the Position Statements document posted on the Charis Fellowship website.

Voting was then conducted throughout the week following Conference through a secure online ballot. 176 registered delegates from Charis Fellowship churches across the US and Canada participated in the 2026 vote, and all items voted on were approved.

In addition to Kip Cone being affirmed as the executive director-elect to begin a three-year term in August 2027, three men were elected to begin serving a full five-year term each on the Fellowship Council: Bart Blair, Timothy Clothier, and Greg Foote.

The 2027 Charis Fellowship budget was approved. The ratification of the Fellowship Council’s annual appointment of Tim Hodge as Secretary and Doug Courter as Treasurer were both approved, and the list of potential nominating committee members was confirmed by delegates in order of preference. 

Thank you to all delegates who participated this year, and to all churches who submitted their statistical report and Fellowship contribution. Also, to the three men who completed their terms serving on the Fellowship Council, thank you for serving the Fellowship well: Nick Cleveland (2021–2026), and Devin Livingston (2021–2026) who both served a five-year term, and Mike Silliman (2024–2026) who stepped in to complete an incomplete term. If you have any questions or need additional information, contact the Fellowship Office here.

The post Charis Fellowship Annual Meeting Report 2026 first appeared on Charis Fellowship.