Name: Michael Pierce
Email: mpierce@cocalicocommunitychapel.com
What is your role at CCC?
I’m the Pastor of Student Ministries, which means my primary focus is
youth (grades 7-12), but that I am involved in the leadership teams of the
children’s & post-high school ministries.
What do you do at CCC?
I set the vision & strategy for our youth ministry, and am one of the
large-group teachers in that ministry. I also lead our teen shepherds
& student leaders. In the children’s ministry, I do
"consulting" on direction & curriculum planning, as well as
some teaching.
How and when did you come to CCC?
We came to Cocalico after finishing my master’s in June of 2001.
What is your educational and ministry background?
Education:
-BS in Bible, Piedmont Baptist College (Winston-Salem, NC)
-M Div., Baptist Bible Seminary (Clarks Summit, PA)
Ministry:
-Youth Pastor (PT – 1996-2000), Maranatha Baptist Church (Sinking Spring, PA)
-Pastoral Intern (2000-2001), Calvary Baptist Church (Norwalk, OH)
Tell me about your spiritual journey-how did you become a follower of
Christ?
I thank God so much for my parents, who loved God and taught me and my
brothers about Him. We attended a great church, and the Way of Christ was
a foundation of my childhood. My parents recall that at the age of 4, I
prayed to give my life to Him. However, as I grew older, I could never
remember that experience – what I had been thinking, my motivation, my
depth of understanding – and I feared that I had not really become of
follower of Christ. But I was always to proud to admit my doubt.
At the age of 16, I decided that what others thought about me was not
worth risking my eternal destiny and an intimate relationship with God and
the joy that brings. I made certain my commitment to Christ and my
dependence on Him for forgiveness of my sin.
What is your favorite section of the Bible?
If you’re asking what part of the Bible I’d want if stranded on a
desert island… well, if I could only have one section, I would probably
chose the Gospels. When we read of how Jesus lived, we see God "in
action" (John 1:18). After that, I’d probably take the letters of
Paul (because they’re so practical), and then the stories of the
patriarchs in Genesis (because they mess up almost as much as I do).
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What kind of music do you listen to?
Anything that will annoy Ben, Jon, and my wife. No, really… Celtic
music (I really like the bagpipes), world music, New Age soundscapes
(although I don’t believe in the philosophy of the New Age movement),
pop, Michael Card…. But I’ll choose talk radio (even Mandarin) or book
on tape over music any day.
What is your favorite thing to do, besides serving at CCC?
Sleeping, playing with Ethan, reading, doing crossword puzzles, listening
to books on tape, watching Junkyard Wars, the Red Green show, Poirot, Lord
of the Rings. Does eating count?
Tell us about your family.
Keri was crazy enough to marry me in January, 1999 (in upstate NY in a
snowstorm). We met at BBC. Keri grew up in Clarks Summit and likes to play
and coach soccer and basketball.
God gave us Ethan in 2001. He has "trains on the brain"
(thanks a lot, Thomas the Tank Engine), and fills the rest of his time
attempting to master soccer, basketball, racquetball, baseball… anything
involving a ball.
And in January 2004, we expect #2.
What is your dream for CCC?
For CCC – I envision that we become a place that is known in our
community as a place where people are loved and cared for, and then can
meet God; a place that is known as a place that lives radically (just like
Jesus would) and where God has done radical things (that only He could).
For our youth ministry – I pray for a place where teens live by
faith, are known by love, and are a voice of hope to our world (1
Thessalonians 1:3).
Michael’s Links
Ask
Jeeves
My School Sites
Piedmont Baptist College
Baptist Bible College & Seminary
Bible Sites
Bible Texts online
The Unbound Bible
The NET Bible & articles
My favorite prof’s (Rod Decker) page
Christianity Today
Pomodernism (pomo) Sites
Ginkworld
The Ooze
Emerging Church
Leonard Sweet
Stuff for PDAs
Palm Gear
Olive Tree Bible Software
Churches
Mosaic
North Point Community Church
On the Radio
Hearts of Space – New Age
The Thistle & Shamrock – Celtic
Car Talk
A Prairie Home Companion
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