Dear Church Family,

All glory and honor be ascribed to the almighty God for a good start for our college ministry. I am honored to lead and equip young college students. My role as the Director of Contemporary Worship and Campus Ministry Evangelist at King University since my family and I moved to Bristol has been a joyful one. We are so grateful to God for our church family at First Pres.

Working closely with Rev. Dr. Sam Weddington, Dr. Brian Alderman (Chaplain at King), and Chase Arndt (Student Life) has been an experience of a lifetime. I am grateful for the enthusiasm and wisdom they bring to the table. As an employee of First Pres, I was humbled to lead the Opening Orientation Chapel at King this semester. I have actively led Tuesday rehearsal, and with three of my King student volunteers, Stephen Locket, Delaney Porter, and Jacob Reynolds, lead chapel worship every Wednesday morning. Together, we lead morning worship from 9:00 to 10:00 and College Worship nights every Sunday from 8:00 to 9:00. The rotation is for us to have two worship nights on the King campus and one here at First Pres once a month.

Thank you for the support from First Pres and for the MEF grant which has enabled the programming of my role, supported the propagation of the gospel, and strengthened the faith of the young people we have ministered to on the King campus. You are supporting the mission and education outreach activities of First Presbyterian Church of Bristol.

Working patiently with the Chaplain, King staff, and faculty these few months has helped me establish relationships on campus and build bridges of pastoral care with students and athletes. Usually, 25 to 30 students gather to worship, study, and pray every Sunday night. I am already talking to some of our college students and faculty staff about having an early Monday morning meetup Bible study and prayer. This will help in the faith formation of both students and faculty.

I am grateful to the lead shepherd of our church and to the session for their guidance and visionary leadership. I am grateful for the opportunity to influence the young leaders of tomorrow’s church here and at King. I am optimistic that our partnership with the university will give our students all the necessary tools and skills they need as we seek to glorify God and equip the next generation of Christian leaders for service. I am confident that our partnership with King will help evangelize students and create a welcoming environment in our church community.

In Christ's grip,

Jerry Swam Sidi