Scott Stewart recently joined Grace staff and will begin leading our first congregation of the multi-congregational model - in Polk County.
What is your job title?
Assistant Pastor, Polk County Congregation
How did you come to Grace?
Short answer: prayer. I was without a call for over a year (I had been doing Youth Ministry for the past 12 years) and was working in a logistics facility in Memphis. I came across an ad that Grace had posted on a seminary’s website and was floored by what I read. I applied and sent out a prayer email to many of our friends and family and one thing led to another and we were called to be the first site pastor for Polk County.
What will be your responsibilities?
I will serve the Polk County congregation as their Pastor. When we launch the first service down there (by mid to late Fall), I will preach each week and come along side the community of Polk Co. to extend the Gospel of grace to both believers and not yet believers.
How are you funded?
We are very fortunate that the core group in Polk has been preparing to support a pastor for the past several years, so we are entirely funded for the first year. We will raise additional funds for years 2 and 3. By the 4th year, the hope is that the site would be self-sustaining without any outside support raising.
How do you feel leading Grace’s first congregation of the “multi” model?
We (when I say we, I’m referring to my wife, Amy) are very excited about being a part of the multi-site model of ministry. My parents are members of a multi-site church in Charleston, SC and they rave about it all the time. Plus, if Tim Keller is involved in multi-site, then it’s gotta be cool. The benefits of doing ministry in a model that is based on relationships is very appealing as well.
What are you reading?
“Samson and the Pirate Monks” by Nate Larkin; “Through a Screen Darkly” by Jeffrey Overstreet; “The Jesus Storybook Bible” by Sally Lloyd-Jones (to my boys Luke and Jack at bedtime—the best children’s Bible I’ve ever seen).
What is in you Ipod?
I’m having a music crisis right now. Since I’ve had kids, I am no longer on the cutting edge of music, unless The Wiggles are cool (many college students actually are into The Wiggles, but for reasons I cannot explain in a church bulletin). With that said, I’m listening to The Counting Crows, U2, Carbon Leaf, and Steve Brown’s podcast (Steve Brown Etc.).
What are your favorite movies?
This year: Blood Diamond and Children of Men. Of all time: The Karate Kid (excluding part 3).
What is your most annoying habit?
Sometimes people mistake my sarcasm for authenticity (my above answer would be an example of that, although I do think Ralph Macchio is a wonderful actor—oops, I did it again).
What is your strongest gift?
I’ll talk to anybody.
What do you do to relax?
I like taking naps. When I’m not napping, I like playing Goldeneye on the Nitendo 64, riding my bike, eating at Moe’s, making movies on my Mac, hanging with my wife, wrestling with my boys.
Who are your heroes?
My wife, Amy, My Mom and Dad and Brother, Don Knotts, St. Augustine, Jerry Seinfeld, Jack Shepherd (from ABC’s “Lost”), C.S. Lewis, Steve Carrell.
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