Triad’s members voted overwhelmingly Nov. 24 to give the church’s longest-serving paid staff member his first full-time assistant.

Executive Pastor of Children and Ministries Tim Gerber said the hiring of Austin Needham as his assistant children’s ministry director (children and chapel) positions the church to fully realize a host of opportunities in 2014.

Gerber

Those include:

• Moving Kids Street Church into the sanctuary when the Worship Center/Gym opens next fall and transforming the space into an inviting, kid-friendly worship experience.
  
  
• Making all the staffing changes required to accommodate the church’s move from three worship services to two.
  
  
• Implementing the children’s portion of a church-wide plan to equip families to assist children in their journeys of faith.

“These are major initiatives that will involve a great deal of effort and planning, and having Austin aboard will make these plans not only a reality but a success,” Gerber said.

Needham officially joins the staff Jan. 1. He’s been serving under Gerber on a contract basis since last summer to help meet the needs of a growing ministry of nearly 300 children (infants to grade 5).

Needham

A 2012 graduate of Piedmont International University with a degree in biblical studies (pastoral program), Needham joined Triad with his family in November 2012. In addition to Kids Street Children’s Ministry, where Gerber credits Needham with the successful introduction of the new Kids Street Welcome Center, website, logo and other branding, and the Checkpoint security system, Needham has taught a Grade 1-2 Boys Sunday School Class, led the Sunday night program for Gerber, and directed programming for Triad Baptist Christian Academy’s chapel services.

About 20 percent of the money for Needham’s funding will come from the Academy budget. The rest will come from the church to match the division of responsibilities. Needham will work one day a week for the Academy.

Hiring benefits other ministries

Along with expanding the Trunk or Treat he’s led into a community event in 2014, Gerber said that Needham’s hiring will also allow him to devote even more time to the other part of his position: overseeing new and existing outreach ministries, from Upward sports to MOPS, Harbor of Hope and more.

It’s a role that includes helping new ministries go through the application process, determining the level of church involvement required, connecting ministry leaders with the relevant deacon, and serving as the key liaison for them through budgeting, calendaring, staffing, marketing and all other ministry aspects.

“As I get older, with Austin aboard it frees me up to focus on all the ministries of Triad that have an outreach component to help make sure the ministries are as successful and impactful as possible,” Gerber said.

“Having the support from Austin will definitely allow more time to devote to the ministry administration piece here at Triad,” he said. “We hope to further enhance the opportunities for involvement and ministry support, and I think you will see a greater emphasis on this area over 2014.”

Other voting results from Nov. 24

In addition to approving Needham’s position, members also voted to approve:

• Triad’s proposed $2.42 million 2014 budget, which is up 10.57 percent over 2013. Much of that is due to increased utility and other costs for the Worship Center/Gym and is in line with previous increases after campus additions. Read a breakdown of the 2014 budget.
  
  
• The recommended additions of Daniel Nifong and Joe Thompson as apprentice deacons to serve one-year terms. Read more about both men and Needham and their backgrounds.
  
  
• The recommended appointments of members to serve in the Baptismal, Benevolence, Church Clerk, Decorating/Special Events, Estate Planning, Finance, Flock Care, Food and Fellowship, Lord’s Supper, Men’s Fellowship, Missions, Nominating, Creative Communication (formerly called Publicity), and Wedding ministry teams.