A Message from our New Lead Pastor, Doug Colby

On Sunday, August 26, Doug Colby was officially installed as Ventura Missionary Church's new Lead Pastor by the Missionary Denomination's Regional Director for the Western Region, Mike Livingston. Below, Pastor Doug shares how God wrote the story leading up to this calling and his excitement to see how God leads us forward:

 

I never pictured myself becoming a Pastor. In fact, I went to school to become an English Teacher. It wasn't until I was volunteering in the Children's Ministry department in my church as a young adult that I began to consider the possibility of full-time ministry. One day, after serving in Children's Ministry for about a year, one of our Pastors offered me the opportunity to join the church staff as part of the Children's Ministry department. I prayed about it for a few days, and then excitedly accepted the position. I made almost no money, but I didn't care. I had found my passion.

 

After ten years of full-time ministry working with children, youth and adults in two large churches, I stepped away from ministry and worked for a couple of Ventura-based companies, including the Barna Group, a world-renowned market research company specializing in faith-based organizations. It wasn't long before I received a call from my friend, Dave Teixeira, then the Pastor of Ventura Missionary Church, asking me if I would consider coming on staff to lead the Student Ministry program. After months of prayerful discussions, I joined the church staff as the Student Ministry Pastor here at Ventura Missionary Church in 2010.

 

Over the past eight years, I have fallen in love with the people of this church! It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the children, students and adults at Ventura Missionary Church, and I can easily say these have been some of the most enjoyable and fulfilling years of my life. During this time, my own children have grown up in this church, have attended and graduated from our amazing school, and have participated in our youth ministry, missions trips, camps, VBS , and just about anything else we offer. My wife Joann, an incredible teacher, has even joined the teaching staff at Ventura Missionary School and loves every minute with her precious first graders.

 

I am humbled, honored and excited to be the new Pastor of Ventura Missionary Church. I am committed to leading, teaching, inspiring and praying for this church and for the work God is doing in us and through us all around the world. Thank you for allowing me to serve you as your Pastor.

 

Doug

 

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