The message is clear. Your struggles and victories are designed for you and my struggles and victories are designed for me. The common denominator is that the same God who brings about tragedy can turn it into triumph and a valley into a victory. My ministry goal is to bring the weary biblical understanding and into contact with the God of Matthew 11:28. I understand that ministry is never intended to be a settlement. Ministry should never be on cruise control because of the dynamic nature of people as well as the landscape of our global community. And so, the plows move forward and the work of empowerment ministry continues to see God’s word constant in it’s ability to snatch an inquisitive boy like me from mocking Mrs. Reed to admiring her desire to know the Lord and His power personally.
Empowering Our Youth and Family
John Girton spends a considerable amount of time empowering youth and training couples throughout the community. His goals are to make a positive impact on youth, strengthen families and empower men.
Certifications and Training: How To Make Your Good Thing Better© (Married Couples) Skills for a Better Relationship© 8 Habits of a Highly Successful Marriage© The Man God Uses (Men’s Groups)* Making Good Choices (High School/College)* PREP 7.0 Inside Out Dad (incarcerated) BREAKOUT! Entrepreneurship* Leadership 101 (College) 24/7 Dad and more
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Page 6
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John E. Girton, Jr. Virtual Pastor • Organizer • Educator • Entrepreneur
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What happened to me. . .
In my eyes, God had a great challenge in bringing me to a place where I would freely give my life to the Christian ministry. After seeing everything that I’d seen, I questioned everything. I really felt as though God was for me, but, ministry wasn’t. I could take what the bible had to say about “. . .the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. . .” (Psalm 68:34) I simply didn’t want any responsibility regarding this power. In my view, this power didn’t give comfort as much as I saw pain.
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“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
I wondered, how is it that my father can bring someone into the body of Christ, baptize them, marry them to their spouse, dedicate their children, pray over them when they become ill, hold their hand as they slip away from this world and then bury them? For year’s that didn’t make sense to me. Why take yourself through that process?
~ Luke 6:38 (KJV)
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Table of Contents
1
Letter from John E. Girton, Jr.
2
Ministry Biography
2
Statement of Faith
3
Ministry Timeline
4
Reflections on Ministry
5
Ministry Highlights
6
Photos & Press
Then something began to happen to me. I saw visions of God using me to usher others into their God given purpose. I began seeing how ministry could be used and how God wanted to use me, even with my doubts and fears, to “empower” someone else. The benefits outweighed the investment.
Ministry Highlights At that time I recognized God’s call on my life to fulfill my fate as a minister of the Gospel. I didn’t have all the an-
How I see ministry
Today, after being licensed for nearly twenty years, ordained, traveling around the world, and working in and around ministries, I have seen various examples of God’s craftsmanship. I have seen ministry in full swing (all the bells and whistles) and I’ve seen ministry on it’s last leg. I’ve begun to have a more mature view of God’s people and God’s purpose for his people. Not through others experiences but, my own experiences. I see ministry as a reoccurring opportunity to see oneself as opposed to simply showing others who they are and where they are. Today, the ministry God has placed me in is about working through those issues that God has designed for my life and not trying to invade the challenges of others. At the same time God has gifted me to empower those who become side tracked and distracted by their situation.
92Q/Victory Church Come Together Day Gospel Stage and Youth Activities Committee 2002
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Crusade for Christ Committee 1999 and 2000
Girton Empowerment Ministries, Inc. New Mentality Men’s Fellowships 20022003
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Men’s Conference Chair 2000
National Council of Churches Advocacy Workshop Facilitator 2006
•
National Council of Churches/National Progressive Baptist Breaking the Silence Panelist/Presenter 2006
Colorado Springs City-wide Youth Mass Choir Concert 1995
•
Promise Keepers/Compassion International Artist and Athlete Representative 1995-1996
•
Still I knew that there were some things that were needed to set me in the right direction even though I had accepted the fact that ministry would be my ultimate vocation.
•
•
•
swers. But, I couldn’t deny that there was something in me that God wanted to deal with and develop. There were experiences that God wanted to build upon. There was a strength in me that even scared me a little. There was a fire in me that began to burn. I could have taken off running and shouting “I get it. Sho' nuf I know the Lord!”
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Sudanese Refugee Clothing Drive Chair 2000
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Prostate Cancer and Health Fair Chair 2000
•
Spiritual Advisor for the Tennessee State University Gospel Choir 2007
•
Certified facilitator for 8 Habits of Highly Successful Marriage 2008
•
Certified facilitator for 24/7 Dads 2008
•
Appointed as Director of Community Initiatives, Indiana Healthy Marriage and Family Coalition, Inc. (IHMFC) 2010
•
Lunched the Indianapolis Fatherhood Initiative of IHMFC which includes Fatherhood Forums, Baby Boot Camps and Fatherhood Conferences 2010
•
Served as a mentor with the Department of Corrections IREF facility 2011
•
Facilitated Strengthening Family Classes with youth in Marion County Juvenile Detention Center 2013 Page 5
Reflections on Ministry • How I saw ministry (Past) • What happened to me (Present) • How I see ministry today (Future) How I saw ministry
In life, every circumstance is there to aid in your overall development as a human being. My life’s experiences and development have done much to prepare me for my present context as it relates to ministry within the Christian faith. As the son of a Baptist Pastor, it was not difficult to find biblical instruction to follow. Understanding how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit worked in relation to the human condition was something I heard a lot about. In addition, the proverbial “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction. . .” (Proverbs 1:8) was less of a problem for me than it was for my peers. I saw ministry in action. I saw ministry in success and I saw ministry in despair. I was able to witness the struggle of giving oneself fully to the meeting of others needs only to find an empty tank with no place to stop for a spiritual fill up. It was very difficult to understand God in the midst of so many ups and downs. Growing up and watching my own family cross deserts of confusion and spiritual apathy seemed to make God less of a force and more of a silent instigator. Yet, there was still that fear of God. In reality, I had hope in the power of Christ. That hope however, did not come from the preacher or the deacon or any other person(s) within the hierarchy of the church. My hope in Christ stemmed from a little old lady named Mrs. Cora Reed. She had little to show for her faith in Christ. She had no children that I knew of nor did she have material possessions to boast. Her husband was sick the entire time I knew him and I hated to walk to her house because, to me, it was
Page 4
F r o m
On one hand I was mocking her because it was the thing to do as a child. On the other hand I wondered, what is it that causes this old women to come back Sunday after Sunday and disturb every ones’ worship experience to let the Lord know that she knew who He was. It was this curiosity that threaded future encounters with the divine into something that God would ultimately use. Mrs. Reed’s decree continued to ring in my mind and still does to this day. She had her finger on the pulse and I’ve spent my lifetime trying to get in touch with what she knew. As I grew older and wiser it became clear that my soul was under constant attack. Like the ministry my father led, I could, now, understand how challenging and frustrating life could be. I began to grasp the concept of knowing God and the power of Jesus’ life, his death, burial and resurrection. Therefore, I could never let God get too far from me. Mark 8:36 reads “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” I saw the ups and downs of ministry first hand and at the same time God was instilling within me the importance of knowing who He was in the presence of tragedy and triumph.
d e s k
o f
John E. Girton, Jr. ..............
filthy and un-kept, with antiques I thought should have been thrown away. The thing about Mrs. Reed’s life that impacted me most was that she would always give a shout during church services. I could never understand why. She didn’t need the choir to sing a stirring gospel song. She didn’t need the preacher to jump across a pew or a deacon to pray up a sweat to begin shouting “Oh yes, I know the Lord–Sho’ nuf, I know the Lord!” She did it so much that, as kids, we would imitate her even as she began working her way down the center isle.
t h e
To whom it may concern, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is with great pleasure that I submit my Ministry Biography, Professional Resume and personal Ministry Reflection in consideration of your pastoral search. We sincerely hope that you will find our information satisfactory and look forward to further discussion regarding our ability to join and serve your church family and community. Our ministry is that of sacrifice toward a future of healthy discipleship and spiritual maturity. In this document we’ve provided ministry information for your review. However, if required, additional information is available upon request. Lastly, we welcome the opportunity to share the Gospel at your church at any time. If you should have additional questions or requirements, feel free to contact me directly at 615-578-8000. You may also email me at anytime to: jgirton@me.com. May God continue to bless the committee in your search. We will pray for you as you pray for our steadfast adherence to the will of God. In Christ,
John E. Girton, Jr.
Ministry Biography J
ohn Edwin Girton, Jr. was born on January 17, 1969 to the Reverend John E. Girton, Sr. and Ann M. Girton. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, John began his life full of aggressive curiosity, inquisition and wonder about the world in which he lived. At an early age, he began to exemplify leadership abilities. John never received a challenge he could refuse. His parents never spared an opportunity to give him something that would keep him busy, until ultimately overcoming the challenge. He disassembled everything to figure out how it worked and what was on the inside. He drew and built models of cars, airplanes, motorcycles, trucks, helicopters, engines and anything else he could get his hands on. The Gift of Creativity After figurining out that Architecture wasn’t his passion, John went on to received a B.S. degree in Telecommunications from Ball State University in Indiana. He had a gift for history, math, science, and music. But, the creative arts is where his untapped gifts were. A consummate creator, no one realized the true creative gift inside him until his second year of college. Asked to create a flyer, John was sent to a computer lab in the Fine Arts Department on his college campus. Although he had never designed anything or used a Macintosh computer, he became immediately enthralled with the creative
opportunity the computer offered. He began to spend hours upon hours honing his creative gift as a designer and ultimately developed into a well known and sought after media professional. Called Into the Gospel Ministry John accepted his call into the ministry and preached his trial sermon in November, 1993. That same year, he accepted a job traveling the world as a concert tour manager. In 1994 began advanced studies in ministry at Martin University in Indiana. He later moved to Chicago, Illinois to find work, to further develop as a creative professional and to continue ministry studies at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. While in the Chicago area he accepted a full time position as the first African-American designer in the 150 year history of Sunday School Curriculum publisher David C. Cook. He found himself in the middle of the oldest and largest publisher of Christian education literature in the world. In July, 1995 John and La Wanda C. Lambert were married and relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado. In Colorado the newlyweds watched God move in mysterious ways. John accepted a position as the Artist Relations Manager for Compassion International, an International Christian child development organization. A few months later he was promoted to National Marketing Manager, managing the
Statement of Faith 1. I believe the Bible to be the inspired, the
life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and
only infallible, authoritative Word of
atoning death through His shed blood,
God.
in His bodily resurrection, in His ascen-
..............
2. I believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and
..............
Holy Spirit.
3. I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless Page 2
sion to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
..............
4. I believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
marketing efforts of the company’s USA ChildShare program. Business and Entrepreneurship In 1997 the couple moved to Nashville, Tennessee. From 1997 to 2002 they built Mass Media, LLC, a successful marketing company servicing individuals, churches and businesses around the US. John was credited with building the company from just over $5,000 annually to grossing over $555,000 in sales in just five years. Eventually, John closed the company and focused his attention on using his God-given gifts for ministry. He worked heavily in leadershp at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church and The Temple Church of Nashville, Tennessee. Under the mentorship of the late Bishop Michael Lee Graves, John’s spiritual maturity led to the development of the Alive International Ministry model and the founding of a virtual cell group ministry model known as TLC. In 2005 was ordained at both the Loving Missionary Baptist Church in Indiana and The
The Timeline Partial timeline
5. I believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the
..............
Christian is enabled to live a godly life. 6. I believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they who are saved unto the resurrection of life and they who are lost unto the resurrection of
..............
damnation.
7. I believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1976 Baptized - Christ Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana 1992 Ministry License - Loving Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN Pastor John E. Girton, Sr. 1992 Assistant to Pastor - Loving Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN Pastor John E. Girton, Sr. 1995 Associate Minister - Emmanuel Baptist Church - Colorado Springs, CO Pastor Benjamin L. Reynolds • Chair Christmas Fellowship Banquet 1997 Associate Minister - Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Nashville, TN
2002
2003
2006 2006
Temple Church and serving as Associate Pastor until founding The Loving Church in 2008. Today, after decades of business, civic and ministry accomplishments, the Girton’s are well entrenched into the landscape of their communites. John is a member of the Urban League, the National Association of Black Journalists, the NAACP and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. John is a freelance consultant, author, educator and empowerment speaker. The sacrifices he and his wife have made are a testament to their understanding of seed faith. The two have a sense of professionalism and a standard of excellence that is obvious in the ministry work they provide to the body of Christ. John and LaWanda Girton have a daughter named Faith Janez and two sons Edwin Lee and Elijah Odell. The Girton’s share in the work of ministry through The Loving Church a worldwide virtual ministry. While John no longer instructs on the college level he still finds time to speak to high school and college students as a certified speaker for Monster.com’s Making It Count Program. La Wanda spends much of her time serving and volunteering within the non-profit sector. John’s favorite scripture is II Timothy 1:7 which reads, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (KJV)
Pastor Joseph W. Walker, III • Overseer, Men’s Ministry • Overseer, Public Relations Ministry • Overseer, Media Ministry Director of Operations - The Victory Church, Nashville, TN Pastor Kenneth Dupree Associate Pastor - The Temple Church, Nashville, TN Pastor Michael L. Graves • Men’s Ministry Leader • Media Ministry Leader Ordination - The Temple Church Pastor Darryl A. Drumwright Ordination - Loving Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN Pastor John E. Girton, Sr.
2006 Associate Pastor of Mass Media The Temple Church, Nashville, TN 2006 Spiritual Advisor - Tennessee State University New Directions Gospel Choir in Nashville, TN 2008 Founded The Loving Church on January 20, 2008 in Nashville, TN • Senior Servant 2009 Thelovingchurch.org becomes one of the nations first global virtual ministries broadcasting live and on-demand services available 24/7. 2010 Joined with the Christ Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN • Assistant Pastor 2013 Re-plant TheLovingChurch.org in Indianapolis, IN Page 3
Ministry Biography J
ohn Edwin Girton, Jr. was born on January 17, 1969 to the Reverend John E. Girton, Sr. and Ann M. Girton. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, John began his life full of aggressive curiosity, inquisition and wonder about the world in which he lived. At an early age, he began to exemplify leadership abilities. John never received a challenge he could refuse. His parents never spared an opportunity to give him something that would keep him busy, until ultimately overcoming the challenge. He disassembled everything to figure out how it worked and what was on the inside. He drew and built models of cars, airplanes, motorcycles, trucks, helicopters, engines and anything else he could get his hands on. The Gift of Creativity After figurining out that Architecture wasn’t his passion, John went on to received a B.S. degree in Telecommunications from Ball State University in Indiana. He had a gift for history, math, science, and music. But, the creative arts is where his untapped gifts were. A consummate creator, no one realized the true creative gift inside him until his second year of college. Asked to create a flyer, John was sent to a computer lab in the Fine Arts Department on his college campus. Although he had never designed anything or used a Macintosh computer, he became immediately enthralled with the creative
opportunity the computer offered. He began to spend hours upon hours honing his creative gift as a designer and ultimately developed into a well known and sought after media professional. Called Into the Gospel Ministry John accepted his call into the ministry and preached his trial sermon in November, 1993. That same year, he accepted a job traveling the world as a concert tour manager. In 1994 began advanced studies in ministry at Martin University in Indiana. He later moved to Chicago, Illinois to find work, to further develop as a creative professional and to continue ministry studies at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. While in the Chicago area he accepted a full time position as the first African-American designer in the 150 year history of Sunday School Curriculum publisher David C. Cook. He found himself in the middle of the oldest and largest publisher of Christian education literature in the world. In July, 1995 John and La Wanda C. Lambert were married and relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado. In Colorado the newlyweds watched God move in mysterious ways. John accepted a position as the Artist Relations Manager for Compassion International, an International Christian child development organization. A few months later he was promoted to National Marketing Manager, managing the
Statement of Faith 1. I believe the Bible to be the inspired, the
life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and
only infallible, authoritative Word of
atoning death through His shed blood,
God.
in His bodily resurrection, in His ascen-
..............
2. I believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and
..............
Holy Spirit.
3. I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless Page 2
sion to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
..............
4. I believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
marketing efforts of the company’s USA ChildShare program. Business and Entrepreneurship In 1997 the couple moved to Nashville, Tennessee. From 1997 to 2002 they built Mass Media, LLC, a successful marketing company servicing individuals, churches and businesses around the US. John was credited with building the company from just over $5,000 annually to grossing over $555,000 in sales in just five years. Eventually, John closed the company and focused his attention on using his God-given gifts for ministry. He worked heavily in leadershp at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church and The Temple Church of Nashville, Tennessee. Under the mentorship of the late Bishop Michael Lee Graves, John’s spiritual maturity led to the development of the Alive International Ministry model and the founding of a virtual cell group ministry model known as TLC. In 2005 was ordained at both the Loving Missionary Baptist Church in Indiana and The
The Timeline Partial timeline
5. I believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the
..............
Christian is enabled to live a godly life. 6. I believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they who are saved unto the resurrection of life and they who are lost unto the resurrection of
..............
damnation.
7. I believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1976 Baptized - Christ Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana 1992 Ministry License - Loving Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN Pastor John E. Girton, Sr. 1992 Assistant to Pastor - Loving Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN Pastor John E. Girton, Sr. 1995 Associate Minister - Emmanuel Baptist Church - Colorado Springs, CO Pastor Benjamin L. Reynolds • Chair Christmas Fellowship Banquet 1997 Associate Minister - Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Nashville, TN
2002
2003
2006 2006
Temple Church and serving as Associate Pastor until founding The Loving Church in 2008. Today, after decades of business, civic and ministry accomplishments, the Girton’s are well entrenched into the landscape of their communites. John is a member of the Urban League, the National Association of Black Journalists, the NAACP and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. John is a freelance consultant, author, educator and empowerment speaker. The sacrifices he and his wife have made are a testament to their understanding of seed faith. The two have a sense of professionalism and a standard of excellence that is obvious in the ministry work they provide to the body of Christ. John and LaWanda Girton have a daughter named Faith Janez and two sons Edwin Lee and Elijah Odell. The Girton’s share in the work of ministry through The Loving Church a worldwide virtual ministry. While John no longer instructs on the college level he still finds time to speak to high school and college students as a certified speaker for Monster.com’s Making It Count Program. La Wanda spends much of her time serving and volunteering within the non-profit sector. John’s favorite scripture is II Timothy 1:7 which reads, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (KJV)
Pastor Joseph W. Walker, III • Overseer, Men’s Ministry • Overseer, Public Relations Ministry • Overseer, Media Ministry Director of Operations - The Victory Church, Nashville, TN Pastor Kenneth Dupree Associate Pastor - The Temple Church, Nashville, TN Pastor Michael L. Graves • Men’s Ministry Leader • Media Ministry Leader Ordination - The Temple Church Pastor Darryl A. Drumwright Ordination - Loving Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN Pastor John E. Girton, Sr.
2006 Associate Pastor of Mass Media The Temple Church, Nashville, TN 2006 Spiritual Advisor - Tennessee State University New Directions Gospel Choir in Nashville, TN 2008 Founded The Loving Church on January 20, 2008 in Nashville, TN • Senior Servant 2009 Thelovingchurch.org becomes one of the nations first global virtual ministries broadcasting live and on-demand services available 24/7. 2010 Joined with the Christ Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN • Assistant Pastor 2013 Re-plant TheLovingChurch.org in Indianapolis, IN Page 3
Reflections on Ministry • How I saw ministry (Past) • What happened to me (Present) • How I see ministry today (Future) How I saw ministry
In life, every circumstance is there to aid in your overall development as a human being. My life’s experiences and development have done much to prepare me for my present context as it relates to ministry within the Christian faith. As the son of a Baptist Pastor, it was not difficult to find biblical instruction to follow. Understanding how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit worked in relation to the human condition was something I heard a lot about. In addition, the proverbial “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction. . .” (Proverbs 1:8) was less of a problem for me than it was for my peers. I saw ministry in action. I saw ministry in success and I saw ministry in despair. I was able to witness the struggle of giving oneself fully to the meeting of others needs only to find an empty tank with no place to stop for a spiritual fill up. It was very difficult to understand God in the midst of so many ups and downs. Growing up and watching my own family cross deserts of confusion and spiritual apathy seemed to make God less of a force and more of a silent instigator. Yet, there was still that fear of God. In reality, I had hope in the power of Christ. That hope however, did not come from the preacher or the deacon or any other person(s) within the hierarchy of the church. My hope in Christ stemmed from a little old lady named Mrs. Cora Reed. She had little to show for her faith in Christ. She had no children that I knew of nor did she have material possessions to boast. Her husband was sick the entire time I knew him and I hated to walk to her house because, to me, it was
Page 4
F r o m
On one hand I was mocking her because it was the thing to do as a child. On the other hand I wondered, what is it that causes this old women to come back Sunday after Sunday and disturb every ones’ worship experience to let the Lord know that she knew who He was. It was this curiosity that threaded future encounters with the divine into something that God would ultimately use. Mrs. Reed’s decree continued to ring in my mind and still does to this day. She had her finger on the pulse and I’ve spent my lifetime trying to get in touch with what she knew. As I grew older and wiser it became clear that my soul was under constant attack. Like the ministry my father led, I could, now, understand how challenging and frustrating life could be. I began to grasp the concept of knowing God and the power of Jesus’ life, his death, burial and resurrection. Therefore, I could never let God get too far from me. Mark 8:36 reads “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” I saw the ups and downs of ministry first hand and at the same time God was instilling within me the importance of knowing who He was in the presence of tragedy and triumph.
d e s k
o f
John E. Girton, Jr. ..............
filthy and un-kept, with antiques I thought should have been thrown away. The thing about Mrs. Reed’s life that impacted me most was that she would always give a shout during church services. I could never understand why. She didn’t need the choir to sing a stirring gospel song. She didn’t need the preacher to jump across a pew or a deacon to pray up a sweat to begin shouting “Oh yes, I know the Lord–Sho’ nuf, I know the Lord!” She did it so much that, as kids, we would imitate her even as she began working her way down the center isle.
t h e
To whom it may concern, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is with great pleasure that I submit my Ministry Biography, Professional Resume and personal Ministry Reflection in consideration of your pastoral search. We sincerely hope that you will find our information satisfactory and look forward to further discussion regarding our ability to join and serve your church family and community. Our ministry is that of sacrifice toward a future of healthy discipleship and spiritual maturity. In this document we’ve provided ministry information for your review. However, if required, additional information is available upon request. Lastly, we welcome the opportunity to share the Gospel at your church at any time. If you should have additional questions or requirements, feel free to contact me directly at 615-578-8000. You may also email me at anytime to: jgirton@me.com. May God continue to bless the committee in your search. We will pray for you as you pray for our steadfast adherence to the will of God. In Christ,
John E. Girton, Jr.
What happened to me. . .
In my eyes, God had a great challenge in bringing me to a place where I would freely give my life to the Christian ministry. After seeing everything that I’d seen, I questioned everything. I really felt as though God was for me, but, ministry wasn’t. I could take what the bible had to say about “. . .the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. . .” (Psalm 68:34) I simply didn’t want any responsibility regarding this power. In my view, this power didn’t give comfort as much as I saw pain.
wwwwwwwwww
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
I wondered, how is it that my father can bring someone into the body of Christ, baptize them, marry them to their spouse, dedicate their children, pray over them when they become ill, hold their hand as they slip away from this world and then bury them? For year’s that didn’t make sense to me. Why take yourself through that process?
~ Luke 6:38 (KJV)
wwwwwwwwww
Table of Contents
1
Letter from John E. Girton, Jr.
2
Ministry Biography
2
Statement of Faith
3
Ministry Timeline
4
Reflections on Ministry
5
Ministry Highlights
6
Photos & Press
Then something began to happen to me. I saw visions of God using me to usher others into their God given purpose. I began seeing how ministry could be used and how God wanted to use me, even with my doubts and fears, to “empower” someone else. The benefits outweighed the investment.
Ministry Highlights At that time I recognized God’s call on my life to fulfill my fate as a minister of the Gospel. I didn’t have all the an-
How I see ministry
Today, after being licensed for nearly twenty years, ordained, traveling around the world, and working in and around ministries, I have seen various examples of God’s craftsmanship. I have seen ministry in full swing (all the bells and whistles) and I’ve seen ministry on it’s last leg. I’ve begun to have a more mature view of God’s people and God’s purpose for his people. Not through others experiences but, my own experiences. I see ministry as a reoccurring opportunity to see oneself as opposed to simply showing others who they are and where they are. Today, the ministry God has placed me in is about working through those issues that God has designed for my life and not trying to invade the challenges of others. At the same time God has gifted me to empower those who become side tracked and distracted by their situation.
92Q/Victory Church Come Together Day Gospel Stage and Youth Activities Committee 2002
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Crusade for Christ Committee 1999 and 2000
Girton Empowerment Ministries, Inc. New Mentality Men’s Fellowships 20022003
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Men’s Conference Chair 2000
National Council of Churches Advocacy Workshop Facilitator 2006
•
National Council of Churches/National Progressive Baptist Breaking the Silence Panelist/Presenter 2006
Colorado Springs City-wide Youth Mass Choir Concert 1995
•
Promise Keepers/Compassion International Artist and Athlete Representative 1995-1996
•
Still I knew that there were some things that were needed to set me in the right direction even though I had accepted the fact that ministry would be my ultimate vocation.
•
•
•
swers. But, I couldn’t deny that there was something in me that God wanted to deal with and develop. There were experiences that God wanted to build upon. There was a strength in me that even scared me a little. There was a fire in me that began to burn. I could have taken off running and shouting “I get it. Sho' nuf I know the Lord!”
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Sudanese Refugee Clothing Drive Chair 2000
•
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Prostate Cancer and Health Fair Chair 2000
•
Spiritual Advisor for the Tennessee State University Gospel Choir 2007
•
Certified facilitator for 8 Habits of Highly Successful Marriage 2008
•
Certified facilitator for 24/7 Dads 2008
•
Appointed as Director of Community Initiatives, Indiana Healthy Marriage and Family Coalition, Inc. (IHMFC) 2010
•
Lunched the Indianapolis Fatherhood Initiative of IHMFC which includes Fatherhood Forums, Baby Boot Camps and Fatherhood Conferences 2010
•
Served as a mentor with the Department of Corrections IREF facility 2011
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Facilitated Strengthening Family Classes with youth in Marion County Juvenile Detention Center 2013 Page 5
The message is clear. Your struggles and victories are designed for you and my struggles and victories are designed for me. The common denominator is that the same God who brings about tragedy can turn it into triumph and a valley into a victory. My ministry goal is to bring the weary biblical understanding and into contact with the God of Matthew 11:28. I understand that ministry is never intended to be a settlement. Ministry should never be on cruise control because of the dynamic nature of people as well as the landscape of our global community. And so, the plows move forward and the work of empowerment ministry continues to see God’s word constant in it’s ability to snatch an inquisitive boy like me from mocking Mrs. Reed to admiring her desire to know the Lord and His power personally.
Empowering Our Youth and Family
John Girton spends a considerable amount of time empowering youth and training couples throughout the community. His goals are to make a positive impact on youth, strengthen families and empower men.
Certifications and Training: How To Make Your Good Thing Better© (Married Couples) Skills for a Better Relationship© 8 Habits of a Highly Successful Marriage© The Man God Uses (Men’s Groups)* Making Good Choices (High School/College)* PREP 7.0 Inside Out Dad (incarcerated) BREAKOUT! Entrepreneurship* Leadership 101 (College) 24/7 Dad and more
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
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John E. Girton, Jr. Virtual Pastor • Organizer • Educator • Entrepreneur
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