2002-2003. Our first year in Vero Beach, Florida was a great one to
remember. We were getting to know our new church and the kids in the youth group and letting them get to know us. We were also getting to know each other better, as we'd gotten married and moved down here within the same month. It was a time of a lot of transitions for us and the church, but lots of good memories. Matt introduced a new name to the youth group--S.P.L.A.S.H. Ministries--Students Praising, Loving, and Serving Him. The kids have really taken that new name on and grown into a group of teens that live it out.
Our youth group is AWESOME, and even though we were just getting started, we had a lot of fun activities that first year here. Like for a few examples: our first Mission Encounter weekend to Miami, FL, Going Against the Norm (the first year was like none since!), Naz Cafe nights, Senior and Junior High Camps, and of course, NYC in Houston. Here are just a few pictures from that first year here in FL. The kids all look so young! They're going to hate these photos!
Ordination Day, May 3, 2004. Matthew was ordained into the Church of the Nazarene at the Central Florida District Convention in Lakeland, FL. In preparation for this day, he had to complete 3 full years of full time service in ministry, in addition to appearing before a credential board and his religion coursework at Trevecca. It was a very special day for us, as we got to share it with Matt's whole family, Melanie's dad -Pastor Howard Hays, and a large group of our church family from Vero Beach. We are all very proud of Matt's passion for God and his dedication to the ministry. We feel it is such a priviledge to be serving as youth pastors at the Vero Beach Church and continue to look forward to where and how God leads us in the future.
