Interim Children’s Director – Stacey Greene

My name is Stacey Greene. My husband, Zach, and I have been members of Christ Community for about 4 years. We were active at the church from 2010 to 2013 while my husband was in medical school at the University of Florida. Residency took our family to Columbia, SC for the past year. We returned to Gainesville in June for the remainder of Zach’s residency in Anesthesiology at Shands. He has three more years of training. We also now have a son, Jacob, who is almost 5 months old. I most recently enjoyed volunteering during Vacation Bible School and have loved reconnecting with families and meeting new ones! My educational background is in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Leadership Studies from Mississippi State University.

Just as our personal season of transition and change is coming to an end, our church family’s season of transition and change is just beginning. When deciding to derail Zach’s professional training in switching his specialty from Orthopedic Surgery to Anesthesiology, we prayed that the Lord would make our path clear and definitive. The path was paved back to Gainesville, and the Lord provided a smooth transition. For the past 6 months, Zach and I have been praying over what our time will look like in Gainesville. There are many opportunities, small groups, Bible Studies, etc. to dive right back into, but we wanted to be discerning in what God was actually calling us to. My personal tendency is to over commit and spread myself thin, but I knew that God was asking me to pray and to take time before committing to too many “good” things. For that reason, I have been intentional with my prayers and with the people who I have consulted regarding this particular need in the church.  I am reminded of Timothy who was a young leader in the church:

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15

I am so encouraged by the church members who are willing to come along side so that this important ministry has direction and manpower this year. While I always knew that I would be once again be an active, participating church member at Christ Community, I could not have envisioned that the Lord would call me to such a formal role. The seemingly different paths God takes people down are all for His singular purpose. I feel that the Lord has placed me and my gifts in this church at this time and is asking me to use them for this specific purpose. I am excited for the plan’s God has for Christ Community during this season of transition and change. It is my prayer that the church will be refined and that God will raise up leaders. I am humbled when I acknowledge that I am one of those leaders.