Meet the Team: Paul Whitfield

This post is part of a series called "Meet the Team" introducing you to our Generation LINK staff. We hope it will help you get to know Generation LINK staff members serving around the country a little better.

·         Where did you graduate from and what did you study?

o   I graduated from The Baptist College of Florida in 2008. I graduated with a BA in ministry.

·         What led you to do Generation LINK?

o   When I heard that there was an opportunity for greater discipleship and service at Open Door I was immediately interested. I had my “yes” on the table before I knew very much about Generation Link. As I learned more about the program I knew this was just what I needed.  

·         Which location and what areas of ministry do you serve with through Generation LINK?

o   I am serving at Open Door Church in Raleigh, NC. My primary area of ministry is pastoral assistant to our lead pastor, Dwayne Milioni. I also led the first Summer Link at Open Door, administrated the NACPF Unite: 2013 church planting conference, and I have the joy of leading a Care Group.

·         What are you most excited about in your area of ministry?

o   The best part of my job is working with Pastor Dwayne. It has been great to learn from a seasoned pastor. I have gained much wisdom from serving at Open Door under his leadership. I also have really enjoyed serving NACPF church planters at the Unite conference. I am thankful for their hard work and sacrifice for the sake of our great Savior and his glory.

·         What 2-3 books have been most formative in your walk with Christ?

o   Let The Nations Be Glad—John Piper

o   The Enemy Within—Kris Lundgaard

o   Humility—C.J. Mahaney

·         What are your favorite things to do in your free time?

o   I love to spend time playing with my kids and hanging out with my wife. My sweet wife and I love to have friends over to our house for fellowship and meals. I also enjoy playing golf when I have the opportunity.

·         What is your typical coffee shop order?

o   I like light roast coffee. Black.

 
  

Meet the Team: Krystal Brummitt

This post is part of a series called "Meet the Team" introducing you to our Generation LINK staff. We hope it will help you get to know Generation LINK staff members serving around the country a little better.

Where did you graduate from and what did you study?

I graduated from Clemson University in 2010 and studied Psychology and Sociology. 

What led you to do Generation LINK?

During my junior and senior years at Clemson I attended Crosspoint. It was during these years the Lord began a work in my heart involving the local church and my love for children. After graduating college, I planned to go overseas. It was during April of my senior year that the Lord closed that door. I was a month away from graduation without a job and a plan. (But the Lord had plans!) I worked for about nine months after college (living in Clemson and attending Crosspoint) and it was then the idea of Generation LINK was brought to the table again (my love for the local church and ministry to children were colliding). I really enjoyed teaching in the two year old class at Crosspoint and from that a desire to serve with Generation LINK in the area of preschool ministry began to grow! I applied for Generation LINK and here I am, three years later!

Which location and what areas of ministry do you serve with through Generation LINK?

I serve at Crosspoint Church in Clemson, SC. I am the Assistant to the Minister for Family Equipping and Children.  (I serve in Family and Children's Ministry.)

What are you most excited about in your area of ministry?

So much! My first year of Generation LINK I served as the Preschool Director, the second year I began giving oversight to all of our Children's Ministry on Sunday mornings (infants-2nd grade), and this year I still primarily give oversight to Sunday mornings at Crosspoint, but I am able to help and serve in several other ways! 

Each year the Lord has grown my responsibilities in this area of ministry. My philosophy of ministry to families and children is growing each day. It is exciting to come alongside parents as they disciple their children in the home. At Crosspoint, we encourage parents in their role, while seeking to encourage them and invest in their children as well. In August 2012 we launched two new curriculums (The Gospel Story for Kids and The Gospel Project). Both of these are Christ-centered and walk children through God's Word chronologically. It's exciting to see the children grasp God's plan of redemption and see that all of God's Word is pointing to the coming King. The King that will not fall or be defeated. It's exiting to see them hope for the coming of Christ. And we at Crosspoint pray daily that they would see their need of Jesus as their Savior. 

Being a part of this ministry in this local body is a blessing. And it's been made possible for me through Generation LINK. The Lord has used it to put within me a desire to continue serving in this area of ministry in the local church.  

What 2-3 books have been most formative in your walk with Christ?

So many. 

A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent
Knowing God by JI Packer
Humility By CJ Mahaney

What are your favorite things to do in your free time?

I enjoy anything I'm doing with people! I enjoy baking (particularly during this time of year because I love all things pumpkin!),  Zumba/ dancing, spending time with babies and children, playing games (board games and card games), rockin' out to T-Swift, hiking, reading, and making people laugh (which happens to often be at my expense... but I still enjoy it!). 

What is your typical coffee shop order?

Ohh I have to say the Pumpkin Spice Latte! What's better than a grande, extra hot, pumpkin spice latte shared with a friend this time of year? Not much! 

Meet the Team: Sean Alford

This post is part of a series called "Meet the Team" introducing you to our Generation LINK staff. We hope it will help you get to know Generation LINK staff members serving around the country a little better.

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Where did you graduate from and what did you study?

I graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina where I studied Biology and Psychology.

What led you to do Generation LINK?

I became a Christian during my freshman year at CofC, which radically changed the direction of my life.  God slowly changed my heart and initial plan to attend medical school.  I knew I wanted to make disciples, which I thought would be best done through counseling, but later I was challenged to pursue pastoral ministry.  I knew that I should be theologically trained if I was to go into vocational ministry, so I planned to enroll at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary when my wife graduated from Clemson University.

However, while I was looking for work in Clemson prior to getting married, I heard about the Generation LINK program.  It was a no brainer to apply to be a Generation LINKer because it allowed me to start my theological training at SEBTS as well as gain ministry experience at a healthy church, be discipled by the pastors, and have gospel community within the church and with other men and women in the program.

Which location and what areas of ministry do you serve with through Generation LINK?

I am currently at Crosspoint Church in Clemson, SC.  I serve under Pastor Jason Finley with our discipleship ministries.  Specifically I assist in our Connecting Point groups, which is our small group ministry, and our Mercy Ministry.

What are you most excited about in your area of ministry?

This is a hard question because there are different things in each area of ministry that excites me.  For our Connecting Points it is our multiplication strategy of starting new groups.  It is so exciting to work with leaders and potential leaders and to walk with them as they seek to birth new groups out of existing groups.  Mercy Ministry is also very exciting because it is one of my most consistent opportunities to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Every week we have new individuals, who are hurting and in need, come to Crosspoint.  I have the blessing to minister to them and to testify of the mercy and love of God as well as his sovereign ability to work in their lives.  Also, another exciting part of my work at Crosspoint is my involvement in our yearly discipleship conference, the Restore Conference.  I get to help organize and plan this conference that ministers and equips hundreds of Christians in the Clemson area under teachers like Ligon Duncan, Bruce Ashford, and Brian Chapell.

What 2-3 books have been most formative in your walk with Christ and why?

Three books, that are very different from each other, but have played huge parts in my Christian life are:

o   The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges

o   The Fuel and the Flame by Steve Shadrach

o   Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Bridges taught me how to preach the gospel to myself daily and to be transformed by the grace of God.  Shadrach taught me how to make disciple-makers (his focus is on the college campus, but the biblical truths and methods are applicable to every ministry field).  And John Bunyan taught me that the Christian life is a journey with many difficulties and joys, but that Christ will bring us to salvation and that there is no greater destination then our heavenly Father.

What are your favorite things to do in your free time?

 I am a big movie and book lover.  I love viewing new movie trailers to see what is coming out as well as going to the movie theater.  I also love fiction and fantasy novels along with Christian literature.  Currently I am reading 4 books on top of my seminary requirements: A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan (think Lord of the Rings on steroids), Fuel and the Flame (3rd time reading it, yes it is that good), Masculine Mandate by Richard Phillips, and Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

What is your typical coffee shop order?

My typical coffee order is a simple dark roast coffee, but my favorite coffee shop order is a hot chocolate with a warm cinnamon roll.

By: Sean Alford

NACPF UNITE 2013

Each year the NACPF has a conference where churches from all over North America come to connect and encourage one another to continue the advancement of the gospel.  The NACPF is the North American Church Planting Foundation which exists to support and promote church planting efforts in North America. 

This year many of our staff were able to go to Raleigh, NC for the conference. This is a great time for churches to connect with one another and cast vision to see new churches planted all over North America. We believe the gospel is advanced through the planting and revitalization of healthy local churches. Through the NACPF we are able to connect with churches all over North America including places like Boston, Seattle, Miami, Columbus, New York, and New Jersey. This allows us to partner with these churches and send Summer Link teams  to these locations. This past summer we were able to send teams all over the world to see the gospel advanced and churches planted. 

The teaching at the conference was very encouraging. It revolved around the first 11 chapters in 1 Corinthians. We were able to hear from Andy Davis (FBC Durham), Bill Curtis (Cornerstone Baptist), Curtis Cook (Hope Fellowship), and Ken Lewis (Crosspoint). Each of these pastors encouraged us and challenged us from the Scriptures. 

I left this conference extremely encouraged at the work that is being done all over our country and world. The gospel is being advanced through the planting of healthy local churches. Let us all be united in this endeavor to see the nations reached with the gospel for the glory of God. 

Chad Ferrell

Meet The Team: Carrie Lee

This post is part of a series called "Meet the Team" introducing you to our Generation LINK staff. We hope it will help you 

get to know Generation LINK staff members serving around the country a little better.

              

Where did you graduate from and what did you study? I graduated from Clemson University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

What led you to do Generation LINK? After moving to Boston in 2010 for Micah's job, we quickly got involved with Redemption Hill as they prepared to launch. During this time I worked as a full-time nanny, volunteering with the children and college students at Redemption Hill. After feeling the Lord's call to do more for Him I stepped down from my job as a nanny in February 2013 so that I could serve Redemption Hill full-time.

Which location and what areas of ministry do you serve with through Generation LINK? I am on staff with Redemption Hill Church in Medford, Massachusetts, primarily working with children and college students.

What are you most excited about in your area of ministry? Over the past eight months I have enjoyed seeing our children's ministry expand as the Lord grows our church. The Lord continues to encourage me by providing volunteers who are faithful to serve. I am amazed at His grace when He uses me to help equip, support, and encourage parents to train their children in the things of God.

What 2-3 books have been most formative in your walk with Christ and why?

   A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent

   Knowing God by J.I. Packer

   Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What are your favorite things to do in your free time? I enjoy scrapbooking, baking, and DIY projects from Pinterest. Micah and I enjoy going for a run on a crisp, fall New England afternoon or snowboarding during the winter. We have also enjoyed preparing our home for Baby Lee who is due to arrive in November. 

What is your typical coffee shop order? Almost anything that will keep me warm! 

Meet the Team: Jenna Wayment (Generation LINK Assistant Director)

This post is part of a series called "Meet the Team" introducing you to our Generation LINK staff. We hope it will help you get to know Generation LINK staff members serving around the country a little better.

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Where did you graduate from and what did you study? I graduated from Clemson University in 2009 with a degree in English. Since then, I have been attending Southeastern Baptist Seminary as an extension student and am working towards a Master of Divinity.

What led you to do Generation LINK? My senior year of college I was studying abroad in London and was removed from the Christian community I had formerly known at Crosspoint Church. By God’s grace, He provided a wonderful church in London that welcomed me immediately and pursued me. Through that experience, God continued to develop a desire in my heart to do ministry and to pursue people in and outside of the body of Christ the way I had been pursued. I was torn between going to seminary as a full time student or doing Generation LINK. As I began to pray about it and receive wise counsel, I saw the beauty of being able to do full time ministry in the local church and receive seminary training at the same time! How could I not take advantage of such an incredible opportunity to not only receive seminary training, but to put that training into practice by doing ministry at a healthy church? After realizing the value and uniqueness of Generation LINK, I knew it was what God was calling me to do and I have never regretted that decision!

What is your job role now? After doing Generation LINK for two years and working with international student ministry, college ministry, and mercy ministry, I transitioned into my role as Generation LINK Assistant Director. That means that I’m Jeremy Chasteen’s assistant (Director of Generation LINK) and I help him with all the areas he gives oversight to (that includes international partnerships, college ministry, and Generation LINK). A large part of my job is administrating Generation LINK, recruiting students to our summer and one year programs, working with church plants that are starting Generation LINK in their location, and shepherding women and college girls at Crosspoint. Some days I still wake up in amazement that I get to do a job that I often don’t feel qualified for but that, by God’s grace, I love so much!

What excites you most about Generation LINK? One of my favorite parts of my job is networking with church planters across the country. I love hearing about how the Lord is working in their location and helping them to contextualize Generation LINK to their church. I’m really excited to see where the Lord takes Generation LINK and how He, prayerfully, uses it across the country and world to equip the next generation of laborers for His kingdom and His glory! Another thing that excites me is seeing fruit from students who have done Summer LINK or our one-year residency. Now that the program has been around for 7+ years, it’s beautiful to see the impact that Generation LINK has made on the lives of our alumni as they are working in ministry and in the secular workplace. I pray that impact will only continue to grow as the program develops.

What 2-3 books have been most formative in your walk with Christ? It’s hard to narrow it down, but here’s the top 3 books that have had a huge impact on my walk with Christ:

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent
• Humility by C.J. Mahaney

What are your favorite things to do in your free time? I really love being with people and friends so I would say one of my favorite things to do is to have friends over for a game night or to grab coffee with a friend. I also love decorating, DIY projects (maybe I should add simple DIY projects because when they’re complicated I get just get impatient and frustrated!), cooking/baking, reading, photography, and going on runs and hikes.

What is your typical coffee shop order? It really depends on the season. I’m definitely a sucker for seasonal drinks so right now I’d have to say a pumpkin spice latte (I know, I’m a fan of the “girly” drinks)!

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