I am so excited for you to meet Kenny Champagne this Sunday, November 20, at all the services at Christ Providence. With over fourteen years of working with youth and their families, Kenny will be taking on the position of Director of Family Ministries for Christ Lutheran.

Kenny is originally from the first church I served, St. Stephen in Longwood, Florida, where he worked as their youth director for many years. After that, he continued ministry in a larger, multi-site church in Virginia where he became ordained as a deacon in the ELCA. (Whereas a pastor is ordained for Word and Sacrament, a deacon is ordained for Word and Service.)

However, over the course of time, Kenny felt the call to expand his call to become a pastor. He has most of the educational classes under his belt already; he just needs an internship, which Christ Lutheran will provide.

I’ll be delighted to serve as his supervisor during the next nine months as he learns about his new role of being a pastor. He will preach at least once a month, join the clergy in pastoral care, teach classes, and learn about leadership. I can think of no better place for Kenny to grow in his new identity as a pastor than Christ Lutheran.

He will serve us well, but now it is time for us to serve him.

For the time being, his wife will remain in Virginia. Therefore, I encourage you to reach out to Kenny, invite him out for coffee, lunch, a beer, over to your home, or to a hockey game (his favorite sport!) This internship will be about establishing relationships that run deep and share in the ministry together. And you will be the ones to make this happen.

His commitment to us is for a nine-month internship, but my hope is that we all fall in love with one another and quickly work towards extending him a call afterwards (though there are no guarantees.)

I pray that you will be as excited and pleased with Kenny as I am.

Peace,

Pastor Scott