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Gift Closet continues to brighten people's lives
through giving
Inspiration Point: His three-hour journey toward
heaven
|
From the stage to the pews |
Grace Baptist Church's Eric Stearns answers God's
call after acting and directing plays |
By Laurent
Bonczijk, Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail Laurent at
lbonczijk@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Eric Stearns wrote a musical as
a college student at Eastern Oregon University. He has directed
plays in New York as well as acts on stage. Now, he is the newest
addition to the Grace Baptist Church pastoral staff.
The 29-year-old had actually considered joining the ministry before
his first college stint, but the lure of the theater was too strong.
“I said, I
want a theater career even though I knew God wanted me to be in the
ministry,” he said. “Then I heard God calling me back into the
ministry.”
His new job as worship pastor of Grace Baptist Church brings the
two worlds together. he is responsible for traditional pastoral
duties as well as the musical arrangements of worship.
“I lead the worship time,” he said. Considering the big grin that
spreads on his face when he talks about his job or practices on the
church’s Steinway grand piano, he seems to like it.
He compares his new position to being both the director and
technical director of a play. He plays a piano or keyboard and leads
the band. He also arranges band rehearsals in order to be ready for
Sundays.
Of course while Stearns is a licensed pastor and has all the
necessary skills to lead worship, his new career has sent him back
to school. He is registering with Multnomah Bible College to attend
evening classes to earn a bachelor’s degree in leadership and
ministry.
He isn’t completely new in ministry, as a matter of fact Stearn has
been part of a new kind of ministry since returning to Oregon:
“apartment ministry.” He says that very few people who live in
apartments are church goers, a fact he attributes to the
intrinsically transient lifestyle of renting. His goal as an
apartment minister was to foster a sense of community by planning
community events.
“Our style was simply being friends with people,” he said of his
wife and himself. “We served as community directors as well as
chaplains.”
He says he isn’t too worried about career moves anymore. “My career
goal is to just continue serving God,” he said. “I am just trusting
God, that he will take care of things.” |
|
From
Aug. 11, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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