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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are delighted to share the news that Reverend Dr. John D. “Jady” Koch has accepted St. Luke’s call to be our next rector! We know that with your continual prayers for us along with guidance from the Holy Spirit, God has truly blessed us with this decision! Jady's initial letter to us, which accompanied his application, stated “my passion to bring people to the love and knowledge of the Lord and to help strengthen and encourage the faithful has only grown, and I gladly and with great joy bring that experience, knowledge, and passion to any position I have been called to serve.” This bold statement certainly intrigued us as it aligns directly with St. Luke’s mission statement “to know Christ and to make Him known.” We invited him to answer the Written Response questions as to his next step. In those answers, he addressed such issues as his interest in St Luke’s being a place where people are hungry for faithful, consistent, courageous Bible teaching, and preaching. So many of his personal qualities, skills, and ministry priorities support our expectations of a new Rector and the desires that YOU expressed in the listening sessions, surveys, and in our Parish Profile. The search committee was struck by the powerful depth of Jady ‘s relationship with God. His faith is obvious and authentic. During the Zoom interview, his wife Liza joined him in responding and expressing their priority in ministry. It was clear from the Zoom interview that building relationships are central to their ministry. Invariably, when answering different questions, they both would return to the theme of growing a stronger, wider faith community by building individual relationships and that hospitality is a prime force in forming bonds between brothers and sisters in Christ. They each recognize that we at St. Luke’s are a family not only seeking this with one another but also seeking it within our community and beyond into the world. In other words, missions and outreach are critical to us. You may remember that after the Zoom interviews, several members of the Rector Search Committee visited candidates at their home churches to hear them preach. During the visit to Jady’s church, Christ Church in Mt. Pleasant, Search Committee members not only heard Jady preach the Sunday sermon but also sing with the Worship and Praise team after he finished his Sunday morning Bible study. They had the opportunity to meet all five of his lively and beautiful children! Following that wonderfully blessed time, the Search Committee decided to invite Jady and Liza to visit St Luke’s and meet the staff. This 3-day visit was very insightful for many reasons. There were several meet-and-greets and question-and-answer sessions with different groups. We were impressed not only with how Jady answered our many questions, but more importantly by the questions that he asked of us and how intently he listened to our responses. He has an approachable and inclusive style able to discern the gifts and strengths of each individual that he meets and desires to empower those people to an even more effective ministry. We believe that Jady will bring us strong leadership and guide us to a renewal of faith in God and in each other. Our welcome and transition team will now swing into action to be ready for the arrival of the Koch family on August 1st to settle into our island community. As the time gets closer, we will have more details on how you can meet Jady, Liza, and their family. You may want to learn more about Jady’s background and faith by visiting www.jadykoch.com or www.standfirminfaith.com In His Holy Name, Your Search Committee, John Evans, Chair Norm Galloway, CoChair Judy Pugatch, Communications Coordinator *Beth Meeder *Nancy Henty *Bill Peacher Keith Tillman Mike Blackshire Sarah Brigham Partlow *Robyn Zimmerman *Denotes Vestry Member as well as RSC Your Vestry Members (see above) Jim McGuirk, Rector’s Warden Kent James, People’s Warden Elizabeth Glick Mike Mitchell Jim Legg John Austin Sarah Tillman Gleaves Rhodes |
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The Rev. Dr. John “Jady” Dunbar Koch, Jr
Mt. Pleasant, SC jadykoch@gmail.com June 7, 2022 Dear St. Luke's, It is with humble gratitude and heartfelt thanks that I have accepted the call of your Vestry to be your next Rector. I have long been an admirer of this church and her leadership and look forward to continuing the tradition of faithful, courageous, life-changing discipleship and evangelism for which you all are known. Many parts of this process have confirmed to me and my wife, Liza, that the Lord was moving us in this direction and we have felt His guiding hand each step along the way. From the outset, the written prayers from the different ministries in your parish profile indicated to us the type faithful, praying people to whom we might be called. Prayers from the search committee, the lay readers and chalice bearers, the counseling center, Sisters in the Sand, flower guild, greeters, intercessors, music team, the children--even the Hog Heaven BBQ Team!--instilled in us the confidence that the Lord would bless this process and through it His will for us and St. Luke's would be made known. So, don't stop now! Please keep the prayers for us and for the church coming as we all navigate this exciting transition. We have already been so blessed and encouraged by your vestry, staff, and search committee that we can't wait to meet the rest of you soon! With all blessings, Jady (and Liza, Tucker, John, Carrington, Garland and Davis) |
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50 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Office Hours: Mon-Thu 8:30AM-4:30PM; Fri 8:30AM-12PM
Ph: (843)785-4099 Fax: 843-785-2359
Email: stlukes@stlukeshhi.org
Office Hours: Mon-Thu 8:30AM-4:30PM; Fri 8:30AM-12PM
Ph: (843)785-4099 Fax: 843-785-2359
Email: stlukes@stlukeshhi.org
Greg Kronz's Big Announcement! Retirement!