We have a new outreach director

In mid-November, the Rev. Gary Jones ministries, as a partner with entities such as as Fairfield announced that Ronald L. Brown had accepted Court Elementary School and Peter Paul, and two we his call to serve as the new outreach director for helped found, Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School the parish. Ron’s first day at St. Stephen’s will be and Rework Richmond. December 1. This welcome news was the result of an extensive search by a committee composed of Gary appointed a search committee earlier parishioners, vestry members, and staff. this fall to find outstanding candidates for this Ron has extensive experience in community the committee presented him several excellent outreach. Since 2014, he has worked for Pathways, a finalists. The committee, chaired by Thomas Goode, not-for-profit organization in Petersburg focused on community included Alice Goodwin and Jim Johnson, both active outreach revitalization. Formerly named Petersburg Urban Ministries, volunteers; vestry wardens Allison Koschak and Lynn Ivey; Pathways provides assistance to underserved communities in and staff members Sarah Bartenstein and the Rev. Will Stanley. such areas as education, employment, financial literacy, and Parishioner Sam Davis served as a consultant to the committee. health. Prior to that work, he was a neighborhood outreach director for Virginia Commonwealth University. He is Deep thanks go to Erin Townsend for her service during the accustomed to working with diverse groups of people, and interim period. Erin made sure that our food ministry, so much in managing volunteers. demand during the pandemic, continued to run smoothly during Ron has a bachelor’s degree from St. Paul’s College and received us, with such grace, commitment, and good humor. his master’s degree in urban and regional planning, magna cum laude, from VCU. Anna Jones, who serves so ably “The praise for Ron Brown from ‘The praise for Ron Brown from our is now coordinating our food our diverse search committee diverse search committee was unanimous. distribution, working with was unanimous,” said Gary. “No one had a doubt about the No one had a doubt about the depth of our amazing volunteers in the pantry and the fruit ministry. depth of Ron’s vast experience; Ron’s vast experience; his commitment Anna is familiar with this part his commitment to listening, networking, and healthy partnerships; or his compelling to listening, networking, and healthy partnerships; or his compelling of our food ministry through its connection to the market–many market vendors provide fresh combination of personal warmth combination of personal warmth and food for those we serve–and she and effective communication skills. And when I met Ron in effective communication skills.’ previously worked for Shalom Farms, a ministry that grows person, I instantly realized that GARY JONES and distributes fresh food he would be universally loved to those suffering from food and embraced by the people of St. Stephen’s, and that these insecurity. Anna is excited about adding this dimension of our feelings would be mutual.” comprehensive food ministry to her work.

Gary noted, “Like staff before him, Ron will generate enthusiasm among our fantastic volunteers, and I know he will be respected by our many outreach partners. I don’t think it’s possible to spend a little time with Ron and not be excited about the future of outreach ministries at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.”

Ron also expressed his excitement to begin the work, saying, “I am looking forward to meeting each of you personally as time allows,” and saying he views this as more than a job: it is, he says, an opportunity to serve and to build bridges. “I am passionate about building lasting relationships,” Ron said. This approach fits perfectly with the way St. Stephen’s has engaged in outreach crucial position, and after an extensive search, a transitional time. We are grateful for the fine work Erin did for as our farmers market manager, During the interim period when we were searching for just the right person to fill this vital role, we were also coming to terms with what it means to reach out to the community in a time of pandemic. It’s true that in a sense, the future of these efforts is murky. We don’t yet know when we’ll be able to return to many of the activities—locally, nationally, and internationally—that we had pursued before. At the same time, we know that the needs have only increased during this time of fear, job loss, and economic uncertainty.

This is all the more reason that we are blessed to have someone of Ron’s abilities leading outreach for St. Stephen’s Church, and helping us navigate where God is calling us. ✤