Staffing Update
FAC Family,
As our church continues to grow, we remain committed to providing intentional care for people. Given our size, care must happen simultaneously in two crucial ways: first, through the leadership of our staff in developing specific care ministries and teams, and second, through the active, intentional care you provide to each other.
I am immensely grateful for your enthusiastic Worship + 2 engagement in Growing and Serving Groups. Time and again, we witness how needs within your groups are met through each other. You truly embody the hands and feet of Jesus, from providing meals and hospital visits to offering prayer support and practical assistance. I consistently hear beautiful stories of how individuals at FAC feel known and cared for.
Simultaneously, more complex, long-term, and life-stage challenges necessitate staff-led ministries, teams, and presence. It is for this reason that our Leadership Team believes a full-time staff member exclusively dedicated to Congregational Care Ministry is essential moving forward.
I am thrilled to announce that Kensi Duszynski will be joining our staff in August as our new Director of Congregational Care. Kensi holds a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling and has many years of experience as a professional counselor and coach. She and her husband Evan attended FAC from 2011 to 2015 and are excited to return. Kensi’s first day in the office will be Tuesday, August 4.
In this full-time role, Kensi will provide leadership to Care Ministry components that we already deeply value, including GriefShare, the Keeping in Touch (KIT) Team, Benevolence Ministry, counseling referrals, and funeral support, among others. Beyond these existing ministries, we envision additional ministry teams equipped to serve in needed areas such as visitation, home communion, and companionship. Kensi will continue to collaborate with various staff members as needs arise in their ministry areas and strengthen the systems we have in place to respond to emergencies.
I am also excited to share that our vision for Congregational Care is expanding. In the coming years, in addition to these more traditional care ministries, we aim to introduce equipping classes, resources, and ministries specifically designed to address areas you highlighted in our congregational survey as needing support. These include areas such as marriage, parenting, addiction, mental health challenges, sexual integrity, navigating new life stages, and caring for aging parents.
Kensi will assess FAC’s needs while also collaborating with other staff and, most importantly, leaning into the guidance of the Holy Spirit to determine when and how to develop and offer new ministries, teams, classes, and initiatives. We are excited about the future and our ability to better equip and care for you through a biblical framework, community, and practical assistance. We are also eager to extend some of these resources to our broader community, introducing them to the One Who cares for them most: Jesus!
It is important to note that while Kensi has a background as a professionally licensed counselor, she will not be offering those services as our Director of Congregational Care. As always, should you require counseling assistance, our staff is available to listen to your situation and needs, pray with you, and then provide a referral to a trained Christian professional who can offer the one-on-one support you need for the duration of your situation.
The role of Director of Congregational Care is a significant undertaking, and it will require time to align the many existing ministries as well as introduce the new ones we desire. I ask for your prayers for Kensi as she steps into this role and for a warm welcome back to FAC. I will be bringing her up front this Sunday just before my message so you can connect a name with a face and hear a bit more from her.
Grace and peace,