Meet the New Shepherds
James and Melinda have four children, one son-in-law, one grandchild and three cats. James has served on the missions committee for a number of years and works as a civil engineer as Senior VP with Halff Associates. In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, playing golf and hiking.
What part of the vision excites you most?
Focus on discipleship, both internally and externally, and becoming more comfortable sharing our faith with others. I also like the focus on mental health and promoting open honest conversations in our church family.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
- It is Well (traditional), Well Done – Afters (contemporary)
- Philippians 2:1-16
What are your hopes for PV?
My hope is that we grow in unconditional love for each other and for those who cross our paths.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
I’ve climbed mountains on different continents.
How can the church pray for you?
I ask that you pray that I continue to grow in wisdom and discernment. Pray for the Spirit to give me comfort as I’m moved into areas of discomfort. Please pray that this imperfect person would more fully comprehend God’s grace.
Alan and Tami have been at PV for about ten years and have served and led in the small group ministry. They have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and one grandchild.
Alan is a retired football coach who is passionate about education and currently teaches Biology. In the off time, he loves to be outdoors, hunting and fishing.
What part of the vision excites you most?
A renewed emphasis on discipleship with a challenge for all of us to take on a more active role. I am excited about the opportunities that God is providing for us to show Jesus to the people in our community.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
Matt. 6: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.
What are your hopes for PV?
To be a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can find the real community that exists when we all seek to put others first. To stand out not because we are trying to or even want to… but because it is a natural consequence of being like Jesus.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
I really enjoy writing.
How can the church pray for you?
Pray for me to get out of my own way and let God use me not just in the ways I want to… but in the ways he needs me to. Pray for my wife and family.
Jason has been a member at PV most of his life and has most enjoyed serving through music, first as a song leader, and now in the praise ministry under Josh Kasinger’s leadership. He appreciates Josh’s heart for worship and loves to worship God through song.
Jason and Amy have two children and two dogs and his day job is selling accounting, payroll and utility billing software to cities and water associations. He also enjoys cycling, walking the dogs, attending kids’ sports and fine arts events, playing board games and the xbox, and spending time at the lake.
What part of the vision excites you most?
I am excited about building bridges and showing that unity doesn’t mean uniformity. We can be one in Christ in spite of our differences.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
The song “Lord, I Need You” resonates with me right now. With each passing year, I realize more and more how much I need the Lord.
What are your hopes for PV?
I hope and pray that PV can become a place where we can visibly see the fruit of the Spirit everywhere. A place where all of us are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
Amy and I couldn’t come up with anything that might be surprising about me! I’m fairly boring, and what you see is what you get.
How can the church pray for you?
Please pray that the fruit of the Spirit is visible in my life, so that others are drawn closer to God through their interaction with me.
Gil and Tracy has been at PV 37 years where Gil has enjoyed teaching classes and leading life groups. They have twin girls and Gil is a family doctor with CHI St. Vincent Family Clinic, Chenal. He loves to read, mostly current events and some non-fiction and says he’s “unfortunately addicted to the Apple News app.”
What part of the vision excites you most?
I’m excited about our vision to make disciples! As I get older I increasingly see this as the single most important message Christ was trying to convey.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
Ephesians 3: 20-21
What are your hopes for PV?
My hope for PV is that we as a body of believers truly come to understand the gift we have been given through Jesus Christ, and that this transforms us into a people that so much love God that we can help change those around us to be drawn to God too.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
I don’t like hospitals or going to the doctor either.
How can the church pray for you?
Please pray that I can be of benefit in helping to bring God’s love and mercy to those who need Him. That I can be useful to the Kingdom and its people.
Todd has been a long-time servant leader with our PV middle schoolers. He and his wife Leah have two children, one new daughter-in-law, one old cat and one obnoxious dog. Todd works for Baptist Health in medical real estate and also enjoys deer hunting in Waldo, AR and following the Razorbacks.
What part of the vision excites you most?
Discipleship, especially with our children. and the next generation.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
Philippians 4:6
What are your hopes for PV?
Big question, short answer: To always be willing to do the Lord’s work in this community, but not to be so busy with those outside that we forget about the needs of those inside. Our people hurt and lose hope, sometimes right under our noses. We can’t let that happen at PV. Our families are under attack. Let’s be the army standing with them as they show their kids Jesus Christ.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
My filters don’t always work. Sometimes I tend to say the wrong thing at just the wrong time. I apologize in advance.
How can the church pray for you?
I, along with our entire family, tend to be anxious people. We struggle a bit with anxiety. Pray for peace and perspective.
Jay and Vicki have been at PV since 1983 and enjoyed leading and serving. in the small group ministry. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren and two dogs.
Jay is a lawyer who is currently finishing out his career as Executive Director of the Arkansas Risk Management Association. He loves rooting for the Razorbacks and St. Louis Cardinals.
What part of the vision excites you most?
Becoming a disciple of Jesus and making disciples.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
Isaiah 26:3: “God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in Him.” Or as the Message puts it: “People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole; Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.”
What are your hopes for PV?
That its doors will be wide open to all and that each member will become wholeheartedly devoted to PVCC’s mission of Following Jesus, Building Bridges and Making Disciples.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
I’m at my very best in the capacity of “J-Pop” to my grandkids. While not a particularly talented guy, I do consistently exhibit notable skills in that role!
How can the church pray for you?
That I’ll pay attention to God and specifically how He’s asking me to grow, and change my heart enabling and empowering me through His Holy Spirit to:
- Put my faith into action;
- Share the Good News; and
- More fully submit, trust, give and love
Ben and Sheila have served in the foster care and adoption ministry at PV for decades. They have four children, a son and daughter-in-law, one grandchild and soon to have another son-in-law. Ben is a contractor and enjoys golf and spending time with the family.
What part of the vision excites you most?
Growing God’s kingdom in this place.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
- How Great Thou Art
- Ezekiel 22:30
What are your hopes for PV?
I hope that PV will grow to be a beacon of hope to people who are unchurched.
How can the church pray for you?
Pray for wisdom, courage and my family.
Guy and Beverly have been at PV for 47 years where they have served together in the Golden Years ministry and Guy on the Guest Services Team. They have three children. Guy is retired from the Veteran Administration where he worked in general patient care and with substance abuse patients. He loves to travel, work around the house and hunt diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park.
What part of the vision excites you most?
The diversity and love that is shown here at PV and around the communities of this city. Plus hearing the gospel and following Jesus.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
What are your hopes for PV?
My hopes are, to be successful in completing the 10-year vision that has been set and be a model congregation for this city and others.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
I’m somewhat of an introvert.
How can the church pray for you?
That God gives me the strength and knowledge to be a good shepherd.
Randy and Vanesa have worshiped at PV since 1990 and they have two children, one ill-tempered Maltipoo and one granddog who is the joy of Randy’s life. He works in construction and fire and water restoration.
Randy has enjoyed teaching classes at PV over the years but says he really learned what servanthood is through his ministry and experience with overcoming additions. Randy also enjoys snow skiing, the occasional round of golf and solving the world’s problems with a mower and weed-eater, when it’s not too hot.
What part of the vision excites you most?
Without question, our task as members of our Creator’s family is to let everyone around us know the joy and peace that is available when we try to emulate Jesus in our lives every day of the week. I believe this community of believers sincerely desires to let as many people as possible know about our Creator & His Son and the incredible life He offers. All “life” problems can either be solved or greatly minimized when our goal is to “be Jesus.” That is something everyone needs to hear & we’ve been given an incredible platform to be His voice.
Share a scripture or worship song that resonates with you in this season of life:
I love the message in Eph 2:10. The Mabelvale translation (I was raised in Mabelvale) reads something like….”Our Creator made me a whole like Himself. I am His masterpiece. Because He made us in His image, it is literally in my DNA that I am at my absolute pinnacle of happiness when I am helping others.” The NIV, ASV, KJ, and other versions are much more poetic, but I can look back in my life and this scripture is Absolute! There is no better feeling than the one you get when you’ve truly helped someone.
Favorite song: SOMEDAY….if I had my way Josh would have that song as either his “y’all get in here and get ready to worship” or “let’s go home y’all” song each week.
What are your hopes for PV?
To be a conduit between those who either do not believe in God or have lost their faith. We have the privilege of connecting them to the Creator.
What is something that might surprise us about you?
That I am a classical pianist… ha-ha, that would even surprise me. I hate to say it but I’m pretty much what you see is what you get kind of guy; other than I am a sucker for shows like Saved by the Bell.
How can the church pray for you?
OFTEN! I have learned that if I listen for the Spirit, I will know how He wants me to be, act, think, or feel. The problem is the “Randy” voice will sometimes drown out the Spirit’s voice. My prayer is, and I would greatly appreciate the church’s prayer, that I hear the Spirit’s voice!