Dear friends,
For the past seven years, I have had the honor and privilege of serving students and families at The Austin Stone Community Church. At the outset, I was tasked with building and shaping a student ministry that “when you look back on all the years, the only explanation to all that has happened is that God did something powerful.” God has indeed done something powerful. In our students, in our families, in our church, in me, and may He continue to do so in His grace and mercy.
As such, it is with great confidence in the future ahead, that I inform you all that I will be transitioning out of my role as Minister to High School Students. Hearing first from the Lord that my time in student ministry was coming to a close, I sought council, confirmation, and permission from my Elders, who graciously and prayerfully led me into the next phase of my life.
As to what I will be transitioning to, the Lord has opened up an opportunity at The Austin Stone in our Connections Ministry where I will be diverting my attention to ensuring that the multitudes of people that attend our church get “connected” and “plugged” into Missional Communities and thus set on mission to seek the lost in this city. Without a shadow of a doubt, I believe the Lord is calling me to this, and has also designed me for this role. I look forward to pastoring people as they seek and find depth and relationship at The Stone.
In terms of the future leadership of TeenRock High, I cannot express to you the joy that I have in my heart that the Lord has raised up a new Minister from within our midst in Scott Frazier.
Scott has been a regular fixture in our church for years and has been faithfully leading TeenRock services for the past semester. He is a dynamic communicator, a determined individual, and most importantly, a man in love with Jesus. He and his wife Chelsea will be an unbelievable addition to the TeenRock team. Along with John Murchison and Matthew Hanvey continuing to lead Children’s Ministry and Middle School Ministry respectively, the ministry to families at The Austin Stone is in good hands for a very long time.
On a personal note and without any ounce of flattery, I say that I cannot think of a better successor for me than Scott.
To close, while sentimentality and sadness begin to creep in on me, I am most overwhelmed by the grace of Jesus in all of this. The memories of the past seven years are indelible in my mind and I count it all as His rich mercy on me that He would call me to such a worthy calling. Our race continues.
Grace and Peace,
Tyson Joe
