Henderson Joins St. Andrew By The Sea
Submitted to The Islander and published June 25, 2008

For the Rev. Jonathan Henderson, the fit of St. Andrew By The Sea Community Church in Gulf Shores couldn't be more perfect. 

"It is interesting how timing works out, " Henderson who was welcomed into the family at St. Andrew By The Sea as associate minister of children and youth on June 89.  " I couldn't imagine a place that I agree with more from a theological and missional standpoint than St. Andrew By The Sea."

While the journey to hire its first associate minister of children and youth has been a long one for the young church, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, it has been an equally long journey for the 30-year old Pace, Fla., native, who returns to the Gulf Coast with his wife of nine years Nashisha, and three young children, eldest son, Josiah, 6:, daughter, Mikaiah, 3, and infant son, Levi, 2months, after leaving for the seminary in Kentucky seven years ago.

It has been 12 years since Henderson felt the call to ministry as a high school senior.  "I was a preacher's kid who said I would never become a preacher myself, " Henderson said.

Henderson grew up in a small non-denominational church where his father preached, spending all of his young life in Northwest Florida and South Alabama.  Then at age 18, he reached a cross roads.

"I prayed long and hard about what I was going to do with my life," he said.  "I have a lot of military folks in my family, so I thought about a career in the military.  I also thought about a career as a blue collar worker in a large factory."

But despite his childhood promise, he felt drawn more and more to the call of the ministry.  After graduating from high school, Henderson went to Pensacola Junior College, then to the University of West Florida in Pensacola, where he received a degree in business administration with a focus on management.

At age 23, barely beyond newlywed status, he moved with his wife to Wilmore Ky., where he studied at Asbury theological Seminary.

"I looked at several schools and considered Asbury to be a good fit theologically," said Henderson.  Little did he know at the time that his choice of school would shape his future the way it did.  The traditionally Methodist school, while now accepting an interdenominational student body, remained true to his heritage of teaching the philosophy and history of the founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley.

Upon graduation, Henderson sent out more than 120 resumes.  But because he did not have a denominational background and did not hold any affiliations, many churches did not even consider him.  So he remained in Kentucky, using his business degree in working for a telecommunications company.  In the meantime, he ministered part-time, volunteering for a local homeless shelter and monitoring teens in his community.

"I believe spending time in the private sector made me more well-rounded where my ministry is concerned,"  Henderson said.  "But I knew that I would not be completely fulfilled until I was ministering full time."

It took seven years, but in January 2008 fate stepped in.  Henderson answered an online ad for a minister of children and youth for St. Andrew By The Sea, a nondenominational community church located on Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores.

As fate would have it, the Rev. Robert Warren, senior minister for St. Andrew By The Sea, was himself a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Jonathan and his family on board here at St. Andrew By The Sea" Warren said.  "I expect great things to come as a result of his ministry.

For Henderson, coming to St. Andrew By The Sea was not only an opportunity to minister, but also an opportunity to return to the Gulf Coast.  "I love it here," he said, "It's like being back home."

And Henderson has jumped right in during his short time at St. Andrew.  His first duty was to write the curriculum for the Vacation Bible School program, which will be held July 21-25 at the church. 

After a successful first year last summer, under the direction of Meredith Egbert, this year's VBS program has also received a tremendous response so far with Egbert's help and Henderson himself teaching the middle school program.  Henderson is also starting a ministry for middle and high school-age worshippers at the church, called The Undercurrent.  You can learn more about the program at Henderson's blog site, undercurrentgathering.blogspot.com

Henderson also has plans for other youth programs at St. Andrew which he will reveal in the near future.  When asked the importance of his role in the future of the church, Henderson said that cultivating the role of the children is important not only for St. Andrew, but for the community as a whole.

"Our children are our future" he said, "Children are being exposed to more and more at a younger age.  We have a responsibility as a whole to make resources available to help children be our future leaders and well rounded adults."

Henderson will join Warren, the Rev. George Myers and all the members at St. Andrew By The Sea n fulfilling that goal of the community lchurch.  "It is important that our children are prepared at every stage of life to handle different issues that they will face," Henderson said.  "It is only by working together as a community that we can make that happen."  And with three small children it is obvious that Henderson has a personal stake in that future.

St. Andrew By The Sea Community Church is a nondenominational ministry located on Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores.  Contact the church office 968-3900 and ask about attending W.A.S.A. (What About St. Andrew) class at the church, or go online at www.standrewbythesea.org for more information.

Submitted to The Islander and published there June 25, 2008. with photo.