Overview

leadership

In the New Testament we find four titles used for the officers of the local church: Elder, Overseer, Pastor, and Deacon. The first three terms are used interchangeably to refer to the same office. Elders (Pastors), then, were appointed to oversee and shepherd the overall direction of a local church. Deacons, on the other hand, were appointed for the efficient functioning of the local church.

Since there are only two lists of qualifications for church leadership in Scripture, it would seem that only two offices were intended. Also, Scriptural references to church leadership within a local church are always plural, indicating a group of Elders and Deacons. Except for our Lord Jesus, who is called "the Chief Shepherd," no single person in Scripture is referred to as "THE Pastor." Therefore, CCC does not have a Senior Pastor other than Jesus, but a board of Elders who pastor the church.

Our Elders, then, are our Pastors. Our Deacons are those who help the Elders meet the needs of the church. Decision making on the Elder board is done only when all the Elders are in agreement regarding a particular issue. Each Elder has the same amount of authority as any of the others. However, this is not to say that each has the same role or specific ministry to fulfill. Depending on their spiritual giftedness and availability, our Elders will vary in their time commitment or public ministry.

Qualifications for an Elder are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; and, 1 Peter 5:1-3. Persons may be considered for leadership when they have demonstrated by their life and witness those qualifications and agreement with the doctrine and philosophy of CCC.

Eric Grald

Coming Soon

CRAIG JOHNSON

Craig grew up in Michigan (suburb of Detroit) and in Tennessee (suburb of Knoxville). He spent 4 years in South Carolina earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Counseling, and then began seminary at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary while he was working at Phoenix Wire Cloth. After one year he moved to California to complete his Master of Divinity at The Master’s Seminary while working as a driver for FedEx. While completing his seminary degree, Craig also did graduate work in Biblical Counseling at The Master’s College. Currently, he is pursuing an MA in Biblical Counseling from Whitefield Theological Seminary.

While in California Craig met and married Tiffany (July 2000). Upon completion of seminary, Craig and Tiffany moved to Windsor, VT when Craig became a pastor at CCC. Craig enjoys reading (his favorite authors include Jerry Bridges, Paul David Tripp, Wayne Mack, John MacArthur, Jim Berg, Kris Lundgaard, Louis Priolo, and many puritans), maintaining his personal website (www.CafeBiblia.com), lifting weights, watching movies, drinking coffee, and spending time with his family.

Tiffany grew up in a Christian home in Fresno, California. Tiffany has been blessed with the opportunity to earn a bachelors degree in Bible from The Master's College, and she is eager to use her training to help others grow in Christ-likeness. Tiffany enjoys keeping the home, training her children, and caring for her husband. She also enjoys reading (her favorite authors include Martha Peace, Elizabeth George, and Jerry Bridges), drinking coffee, building relationships with the church family, and home decorating.
On March 8, 2004, Craig and Tiffany were blessed with a son, Silas Nathaniel! Silas enjoys going for walks, going down slides at the park, reading books, and being a good helper to mommy and daddy.

Craig and Tiffany were blessed again on February 14, 2006 with a daughter, Mercedes (“Mercy”) Patience! Mercy enjoys sleeping, eating, and walking.

In January of 2008 they were blessed with twins, Ruby and Justus!

In August 2009 Craig was sent out by CCC with several members of the church to plant a church in Keene, NH. Since then they have bought a house in Keene and are now enjoying seeing the Lord's work through the body of believers in Keene!

BRIAN SAYERS

Brian and Michelle grew up in Southern Michigan, and met at Grand Valley State University, where both majored in Mathematics (Brian was her calculus tutor—that is how they met). They were married in August of 1989. Brian graduated in 1990 with a major in Math, and a minor in Applied Statistics. He worked four years at Foremost Insurance Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, first as an actuary and later as a marketing research analyst. They have had four children (Abigail [‘91], Alisha [‘93], Austin [‘96], and Adelyn [‘00]). Abigail passed away in 1994 from complications related to cerebral palsy. Later in 1994 they moved to California where Brian attended The Master’s Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1998. After working as a church business administrator for two years, he came to Christ Community Church in the fall of 2000. He desires to learn how to more effectively counsel and disciple others, so he is presently working toward an MA in Biblical Counseling from Whitefield Theological Seminary.

The Sayers like to play games and sports, and you will usually find them playing a game, or watching a movie and eating pizza on Friday nights. Brian loves to golf, tend to his lawn (death to dandelions! broad leaf weeds beware!), and read good Christian books (his favorite authors are Jerry Bridges, D.A. Carson, James White, John MacArthur, and Donald Whitney). Brian is also a fan of all Michigan athletic teams (Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, Pistons and the University of Michigan Wolverines). Michelle keeps the house and flower gardens in order, and has been influenced greatly by reading books written by Elizabeth Elliot, Martha Peace and Elizabeth George.

JON WEIDMAN

Jon grew up in East Meadow in Long Island, New York. He received his Bachelors of Arts in Geology from the University of Vermont in 1981. Jon attended the New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1984. Jon is a Real Estate Attorney and the owner of Connecticut Valley Title Services, Inc. in Newport, NH and is a licensed attorney in both New Hampshire and Vermont. He is also a licensed title insurance agent in Florida.

Jon loves to read from Puritan writers such as John Owen and John Bunyan. He also enjoys books from Wayne Mack. Jon loves the outdoors and especially loves creating a beautiful yard dressed with many glorious flowers which the birds appreciate as well. Jon loves his wife and family and loves spending time with them. He also loves attending and leading home fellowship on Tuesday nights as well as Sunday mornings spent worshiping with his church family at CCC.

Jon and Nancy have been blessed with six children and eight grandchildren. Nancy has been a "keeper at home" ministering to her husband and younger children. All but one of their children are now “out of the nest.” Nancy has begun to use her time and gifts to minister to the women at CCC as well as enjoy time spent with her precious grandchildren. Some of Nancy’s favorite authors are Martha Peace, Elizabeth Elliot, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth George. Nancy has enjoyed leading women’s Bible studies such as “The Excellent Wife” and “Damsels in Distress” - both based on books by Martha Peace. Nancy has also thoroughly enjoyed attending (with Jon) NANC Biblical counseling training sessions which have fueled her passion to help others grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.