Doesn’t sound quite right but it is precisely the case at Gateway Benton Church. Our Pastor, Brandon Morrow, is accepting a position in Iowa. While his time here seems relatively short (1 ½ years), he and his wife, Erica are certain that God is calling them to a new part of His Kingdom. We all love them and wish them Godspeed in their new calling and pray that God will use them mightily and protect them tenderly.
Normally, when there is a change in the pastorate, you have to get used to a new face, but not at Gateway. An old (well not that old) familiar face is accepting the senior pastor position at Gateway, Dr. K. David “Doc” Kenser, one of our elders.
Doc, who has more than 30 years of preaching experience in five states and 8 years working full-time as a hospice chaplain, has been active in this church since 2014 and one of our elders since 2016. Doc has been preaching, teaching, counseling, visiting, supporting the church wherever needed.
Doc is blessed with a wonderful partner in his wife Tandie, who is very talented in organization and administration. She has been very active as an elder’s wife and is already in the mix helping the church experience as smooth of a transition as possible as she works tirelessly to master our website and other administrative needs.
Additionally, Doc will be supported by a ministry team, including Cam Parsons, a fellow elder and member of our praise and worship band, who has agreed to serve as our worship pastor along with his wife Tonya, who is directing our multi-media and helping Tandie and Janet Johnson with the administrative needs of the church. Cam and Tonya have been and will continue to be invaluable servants of Gateway Benton Church.
Aaron Barger, who has been working with our teens for some time now, has agreed to take on the role of youth minister with the help of his wife Lindsey and the support of other key members at Gateway. The kids in our youth group love Aaron (a former teacher) and both he and Lindsey love them.
While Denny Johnson, another one of our elders, and his wife Janet, will not be taking on new positions, they will continue their loving and supportive service to this church and our community. Janet and Denny are long-time members and leaders in the church, providing a continuity in our family that dates back to the beginning years.
So, with all the changes going on, new faces in the leadership will not be one of them. Familiar faces with deep ties to the Gateway Benton Church will be working together and with the entire membership to honor God and serve Saline County.
Comments(2)
Janet Sharp says
September 3, 2017 at 9:38 pmJim and I feel so blessed to be a part of this family at Gateway. As everyone else, we love and will miss Brandon and Erica and their sweet boys so much. They have given so much of themselves to all of us at Gateway and we thank God for them and what they have meant and still will mean to us. Sometimes change, even good change, can be difficult. But knowing you are in God’s will makes it the right plan. We know God directed us to Gateway and there is no question that He has it all under control. In fact, I am excited to see what is in store next. For Benton and for Iowa. Keep us posted, Brandon. Love you all so much….
Pam Reynolds says
January 20, 2020 at 11:41 amAm looking for a home church been in AR for almost 3 years and haven’t found anything don’t have a vehicle anymore my older. daughter gave it to her son. Am 78 years young have been a believer for over 50 years need to get back into church