Assistant Pastor Update
After a number of conversations and prayer the elders have decided to offer Hudson Agudelo a position at JVC. I wanted to talk a bit about our search process and why we think he is the best fit, though he isn’t quite what we originally had in mind. Because of certain visa restrictions we’ve moved more quickly on a few things in order to allow Hudson to stay in the US.
We received a total of seven applications after posting the job on our denomination's job board and some associated seminaries. We asked candidates about their philosophies of ministry, interest in Utah, and how they think through ministry scenarios. Two top candidates emerged, and we set up a video interview with each of them. We unanimously agreed on Hudson as our top candidate.
Hudson showed humility, a history of and a willingness to work hard, and a desire to be in a church where he could be mentored and grow into ministry. Additionally, he is trilingual (Portuguese, Spanish, and English), and he has a passion for and formal training in biblical counseling. We thought these gifts could really complement and serve the growing needs in our congregation.
Unfortunately, Hudson will likely not be ordained for three years. The seminary he is attending offers just a few classes each semester, and his last required class won’t be offered for a couple more years. Fortunately, he will be able to take this class online. He also plans to retake his Greek and Hebrew classes to strengthen his understanding of the original languages.
Hudson won’t be able to serve the Lord’s Supper until he is ordained, so we will have to skip communion on weeks that I am gone and we can’t find someone to fill in. However, the elders believed the advantages of hiring Hudson outweighed these disadvantages, and we plan to hire Hudson as a Pastoral Intern/Ministry Director.
One of our biggest needs is someone who is able to coordinate and work with people in the many growing ministries that we have. We believe Hudson has the work ethic, energy, and attentiveness to really invigorate those ministries.
This job is a three year commitment, but could be extended to five. In the past our church has been blessed by investing in young men new to ministry and helping them prepare for ordination and future ministry. I look forward to us growing to love Hudson and his family and watching how God will continue to use them.
The biggest unknown at this point is with Hudson's visa. He has consulted with an immigration lawyer who gave him a few different options. We are currently working through those to decide on the best course. Because of the many uncertainties around immigration at this point, there is a chance his visa change will be delayed or denied. We want everything to be above board and trust God to work out all these details if Husdon is called to JVC. Please be in prayer about this.
I’m personally excited about the prospect of working with Hudson and really enjoyed getting to know him, Daniela, and his children. I was impressed by their resilience in times of difficulty, their trust in God to provide for them, and their missionary mindset to go wherever God is calling them, even when it’s hard. As you know, Utah is a mission field, and I think all these attributes will serve them well.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon