God is faithful! I am very pleased to announce that after prayerful discernment, Session has called Rev. Susanna Hoke to be our Temporary Pastor of Adult Discipleship. Over the last six months, the congregation has asked for more pastoral leadership and teaching, especially in the important focuses of strategic thinking, Bible teaching, equipping for ministry, Christian formation, discipleship, small groups and ministry integration. We believe Susanna can more than respond to these needs. If you have heard her recent sermons, I hope you concur with Session’s decision.
Susanna first came to UPC in 2001. She was raised in California, has a Master’s in Global Leadership from Fuller Seminary and an MDiv from Seattle Pacific Seminary. Most recently she has served at King’s Schools in Shoreline as their Campus Pastor, and she was previously on staff at UPC as Pastor of Discipleship. Susanna and her husband, Steve, have three children. They have been attending UPC and moved back into the neighborhood.
Here is what Susanna said about UPC in her July 12 sermon:
“One thing has always remained the same. This has been a place where I, like you, have encountered the presence of our living God. This has been a place where I’ve experienced and seen God at work among us and through us, to the university, to this neighborhood, to this city, to the world.”
You can hear her full introduction at the start of her sermon here.
Susanna will officially join our staff leadership on September 1st. In the meantime, she is helping us part-time. She will be working closely with me and the adult ministry staff to form an immediate strategic initiative to integrate preaching, teaching, small groups and personal spiritual discipline. Please pray for her and our staff as we venture into new patterns of ministry that treasure long-term UPC values and practices.
Thank you for your continued prayers and commitment to God’s ministry here at UPC.
May we continue to celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ, guiding us in the power of the Holy Spirit, as we strive to live into mature manifestations of the love of God, giving gratitude for the ways we are led to demonstrate the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. We joyfully anticipate the continuing work God is doing in this next season at UPC.
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for giving us new life!
Transitional Pastor Gareth