Each year at youth conference, Momentum Ministry Partners honors various people with awards recognizing their commitment to the next generation. This year they launched a new award called the Partner of the Year Award. The award recognizes an individual who is exceptional in how they lead, serve, and partner with Momentum, particularly in leading trips and the newly launched Momentum Marketplace Program.
The inaugural Momentum Partner of the Year Award was given to Todd Shoemaker, youth pastor at Grace Church Bath Campus in Akron, Ohio. This fall Todd enters into his fifteenth year at Grace Church.
Todd said: “It was such an honor to receive Momentum’s Partner of the Year Award at youth conference this Summer! Momentum Partners has had a significant impact in my personal and ministry journey. I count it a blessing and honor to give back to and serve with the organization and all it has to offer the local church, ministry leaders, and students. I have been able to witness firsthand individuals coming to know Jesus because of the resources and tools offered by Momentum, through PRO, EDU, Marketplace, and Conference. I’m excited to see how God continues to use Momentum Partners as they help empower the local church to reach people for the Gospel.”
Todd grew up in central Pennsylvania, and it was at his local youth group where he came to know Jesus as his personal Savior. “My journey with Jesus started in sixth grade. I grew up in the church, but it wasn’t until my parents divorced and I began attending youth group that I came to know Jesus personally. The truth of knowing we have a Heavenly Father who loves us helped fill a void in my life after my parent’s separation. It was this truth that led me to making the decision to personally follow and surrender to Jesus. God has blessed me with people in my life who have helped point me back to Him, and I believe it’s by God’s grace that I am where I am today.”
In seventh grade, a youth pastor planted the seed in Todd to pursue ministry. Over the years God grew that seed into a desire to enter into fulltime vocational ministry. “I’m grateful God used my pastor who saw something in me,” Todd said. “That provided me a confidence to pursue what God wanted to do thought me.” Todd went on to study at Grace College, graduating in 2010 and beginning to work at Grace Church that fall. He has been married to his wife, Katie, for ten years and they have two children (Graham, 8, and Willow, 5).