Published March 17, 2017
Northridge Church, Rochester, New York
Aaron
Ministry Highlights
High School Snow Camp – Despite my inability to go to High School snow camp because of Greyson’s birth, everything I heard about it was very positive. Our students came back with a super positive story to tell, and our leaders told stories about students making spiritual decisions that were really significant. I’m grateful for the team that pulled it off together!
Greyson’s Birth – On February 10, 2017, our son Greyson Lee Hixson was born! Though the birth was not what we were expecting (emergency C-Section), we are grateful that everyone is happy and healthy! My ministry has taken a brand new twist – and I’m loving it!
Community Group – Our group and church family has come around us in a big way after the birth of our son. They’ve provided meals and visits and encouragement – we are VERY grateful, and I recognize that at times in ministry you need to be ministered TO, not simply to minister.
Key Prayer Requests
Henrietta Campus – Vision Cast – The series where we will be rolling out the vision (and the capital campaign for $500,000), will be this month. We are praying that it goes well and that the people of our church respond! www.forrocny.com
BABY! – Greyson continues to grow well, but it’s a huge adjustment. Please pray for our transition into parenthood.
Difficult Teaching Series – Beginning this month, we’ll be doing a teaching series on sex and sexuality in Youth Group. Please pray that I am compelling, sensitive and Biblical as I teach.
Prominent Lessons
Over the course of the last 6 months, I have taken my natural goal-orientation from a more theoretical level to a very practical level: I set weekly goals for production in my job, and I plan each portion of my day/week in order to make those goals possible. What I have found over these months is that I am MUCH for productive and MUCH less tolerant of wasted time in my day. Instead of living in a perpetual “I’ll get to that” mentality, I have forced myself to believe that if I don’t do that TODAY it will back up my goal list and prevent me from doing something TOMORROW. Procrastination has always been a significant goal-enemy, and I’m finally able to see it for what it truly is! While I will always need people in my life who help me to see my value as something MORE than just what I produce over the course of a work day, I’m grateful for the habits I’m developing that are enabling me to be proactive, driven and action-biased rather than the inverse.
As I jump back into the new normal that Lauren and I are figuring out after Greyson’s birth, I’m SO THANKFUL for the chance we have to be parents. It has already changed our relationship in some GREAT ways, but I’m noticing already the challenges that it can bring when there is another person in our lives! Without doubt one of my significant lessons for this month is just that Lauren needs me to be BOTH a great dad AND a great husband. It’s easy to get focused on being one or the other, but it’s my God-given responsibility to give my best to BOTH of those relationships and ensure that I am honoring God by serving both the people He has given to my care.
I got to be part of a sermon planning retreat day this month. It was such an honor to be asked to be part of that process of planning out our speaking content for the remainder of this year into next year. I was struck with what a significant role teaching people the Bible is… truly, it has the capacity to change the course of people’s lives and eternities. As we prayed together as a leadership team, I was thankful that we were able to take this significant weight to God as we relied on Him to do what only He can do – change hearts through the teaching of His Word.
Key Goals for the Next Month
Family – Be a GREAT and present dad … be a present and loving husband.
Henrietta– I begin my role as campus pastor part-time this month.. I want to start strong as I make connections with the people I’ll be able to lead.
Teaching Series on Sexuality – In our ministry this month we’ll be teaching on sex and sexuality. I want to make sure I research well, to present God’s Word and truth in an engaging and relevant manner on this difficult topic (to students AND parents).
Finishing my Reading – The reading I have remaining for my projects is attainable. I want to finish it this month.
Lauren
Ministry Highlights
This month we had our Senior High Snow Camp event. Unfortunately, Aaron and I were unable to attend due to the birth of our son. However, it is extremely encouraging and humbling to watch the part-time staff and unpaid volunteers step up in leadership and have amazing success at such a big event that lacked “the youth pastor.” All the details came together, the kids had a blast, and many grew closer to the Lord as a result of this Snow Camp. I love that we can count on the volunteers to lead without us in this way!!
For the past few weeks, we have had a handful of new students attend youth group from a local Charter school. At first they came because the church was a warm place to be for a few hours and the pizza we serve every Wednesday night was their only dinner. This still may be the only reason they come; however, from a distance I believe these kids are making connections and truly coming to a place of enjoying their time at NYM. I love having an environment that makes these kids excited to come back week after week!
Key Prayer Requests
Please pray for continued recovery from my emergency C-section. I am healing well and moving decently, but have a long way to go before I feel “normal” again – both physically and emotionally. (I am mainly excited to be able to fit my wedding rings back on my finger)
At the end of March, Aaron transitions to part-time youth pastor/part-time campus pastor. This has many implications – please pray for wisdom, direction, and perseverance for both Aaron and the ones taking his place in youth ministry as tons of training and “passing-off” will be done in a short amount of time.
Prominent Lessons
This month, my ministry has looked much different than ever before. Greyson was born February 10 and when the doctors couldn’t find his heartbeat for over 8 minutes, I ended up having an emergency C-section. This has quite a few implications for me personally and also for “Little G”, as we affectionately call him. Between the physical aspects of that event and the normal emotional/hormonal adjustment to being a mom and all the things you have to quickly learn in order to care for a tiny helpless little human, my ministry has mainly been to myself and my family. I have had to work through a lot of guilt as I feel both pressure and extreme desire to be a deep part of Aaron’s ministry. Staying home and “resting” has not been easy for me. But God has shown me that at this point, it is OK to take the time I need to heal and learn how to be a mom. It’s actually the most important ministry in my life right. In order for Aaron to be successful and life to be peaceful, it is important for me to be healthy – both physically and emotionally. I have also learned creative ways to spend time with God as the days blur together and my mind is so mushy, I can barely focus on anything. Listening to Christian music throughout the day and podcasts while I nurse has been key in continuing my relationship with God through this time adjustment. The Lord has given me a joy in learning to be a mom that I never thought possible. It has been amazing!
Key Goals for the Next Month
My main goal is to continue accepting God’s grace as I learn how to be a mom. But specifically, I want to be daily consistent in spending time with the Lord – something that is not always easy with a newborn!
I’d also like to get together with a few of the teens and also a few girls from our adult community group. I want to learn to use my time home with Greyson to benefit others and not stay cooped up alone.
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