A Season of Gratitude and New Beginnings
Ministry is always moving. People come, people grow, people pour themselves into a place, and sometimes, after years of faithful service, the time comes for a new chapter. This summer, Pittman Park is navigating one of those moments, and I want to take a few minutes to walk you through it.
Honoring Jodi Atkinson
If you’ve been around Pittman Park for any length of time, you know Jodi Atkinson. For 17 years, Jodi has been the steady hand behind our finances, tracking every dollar, keeping our books in order, and doing it all with a genuine heart for this congregation. She hasn’t just managed numbers; she’s been a faithful servant of this church’s mission. August 31 will be her last day as our Financial Administrator, and I want to make sure we mark it well.
Jodi, on behalf of the entire Pittman Park family: thank you. Seventeen years of faithful service is a gift to this congregation, and your fingerprints are on more than you’ll ever know.
We’ll be celebrating Jodi during our 11 o’clock worship service on August 23, and I hope you’ll make plans to be there. It’s a chance for the whole congregation to say thank you in person for 17 years of faithful service. Don’t miss it.
Our Staff Transitions
With Jodi’s retirement, we’ve been thoughtful and intentional about how these responsibilities will be carried forward. Here’s what the next few months look like as we transition our staff into their new roles:
Wendy Doty – Financial Administrator
Many of you know Wendy as our Church Administrator. Wendy will be stepping into the Financial Administrator role, bringing her knowledge of our ministry and her organizational gifts to bear on this important work. She will continue to be a regular presence in the office, and while her responsibilities are shifting, her commitment to Pittman Park is not.
Ryan Heins – Church Administrator
Ryan has served as our Building Administrator, for the past year and he’s done outstanding work in that role. Beginning August 1, Ryan will step into the Church Administrator role, taking on broader responsibilities for the day-to-day life of our church including scheduling and coordinating resources to support our mission of “Making Disciples and Transforming the World.” Ryan’s energy and care for this place make him a natural fit for this expanded role.
Catherine McCooey – Administrative Assistant
Catherine needs no introduction at Pittman Park. As our organist, she has been a vital part of our worship life and ministry for years. We are thrilled that beginning July 6, Catherine will also be joining our office staff as a part-time Administrative Assistant, working Monday through Thursday. She also continues her work with the Wesley Foundation at Georgia Southern. We are grateful to have her gifts serving this congregation in even more ways.
A Word of Gratitude
Staff transitions always remind me that ministry is a team effort. Every person who serves on this staff, past and present, does so because they believe in what God is doing in and through this congregation. I’m grateful for Jodi’s legacy, grateful for Ryan and Wendy’s willingness to step into new responsibilities, and grateful that Catherine is joining us for the road ahead.
God bless,
Jonathan Smith