Hello friends and fellow GFCers! My name is Jamin Rathbun and I am so very excited about my new role at GFC — that of Single Adults Coordinator. I’ve actually been serving in this capacity for almost three years, but have recently begun to transition from the work that I’ve done for the past 18 years at Trinity Arts Center, into opportunities for ministry at GFC including Single Adults, the SYMBIS pre-marriage assessment and counseling, our brand-new Navigating Divorce curriculum, and more. The past decade has been a challenging one for me and my family, but through it all, Grace Fellowship has been a steady source of encouragement and help. And over the past three years, I have clearly seen how these years have equipped me to do the good work that God has prepared in advance for me to do.

Speaking of my family… I am a single father of nine children (five daughters and four sons), and the grandfather to one (my first granddaughter was born on April 1st). The majority of my kids are grown and on their own at this point, and three are married, but I still have three at home — Evelyn and Eva, my 17 year old twins, and Timo, my 14 year old son. Over the past 52 years, I’ve been a lot of things — a homeschool dad, a worship leader, a rock star, a pizza delivery guy, a web developer, a creative director, an entrepreneur, and more. But without a doubt, being a dad is my favorite thing. Children are a blessing from the Lord, full stop.

I’m not sure what else I would say by way of introduction, other than that I’m so grateful for a church home that gives me the opportunity to use my gifts to serve the Body the way that Grace Fellowship has. I’ve been a part of some amazing Christian communities over the years, but my last three years serving at Grace Fellowship have provided more opportunities for me to serve and be served, love and be loved, encourage and be encouraged, help and be helped — to truly feel the love of my Heavenly Father flowing through others to me, and through me to them. God is good! And GFC is a place where I have seen God redeem my pain and transform my trials into joy. He works all things out for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And I can’t help but love Him. He’s been so faithful and good to me.

Perhaps one more thing?

If you’re not already plugged into a ministry, community group, team, or study at GFC, you should be. Our teaching and worship teams do an amazing job creating an opportunity for corporate worship on Sunday. But the REAL sense of community — the REAL opportunity to see your gifts come alive — happens when you do more than attend on Sunday. That find-your-place-and-feel-connected-to-the-Body-and-to-God magic only happens when you use your gifts to serve and love others. GFC is a big church and there are lots of opportunities to do good work — including the work that your talents, gifts, opportunities, and experience (even the painful ones) have prepared and equipped you to do. It’s been a long few years, and if you need more time to grieve the losses, rest your weary heart, or simply worship and grow, that’s cool. I spent two years doing that myself. But if there’s one thing that I’ve found to be true, it’s this: Good work is more energizing and redemptive and restorative and healing that work-avoiding rest can ever be. It feels good to do good work. So… When you’re ready (or perhaps even a bit before you are sure), I would encourage you to find an opportunity to do it.

Thanks for everything you’re already doing. It’s a blessing to have a church home whose leadership I trust so fully, and one that is so faithful to serve those who are hurting and healing in our community. You’ve loved my family so well over the years, and I”m grateful for the opportunity to play my part.