Zachary Stout

Versatile, Approachable Leader with team skills and an ability to quickly learn new concepts and skills. Specialized in teaching and explaining Biblical truth. Well-versed in developing and deepening connections with colleagues and target populations. Successful history of overseeing different projects in Church leadership and discipleship. Adept at enhancing the lives of others through perseverance and active listening skills. Persistent and persuasive worker with lifelong commitment to Christ.

There are certain characteristics of ministry that I find indispensable for faithfully serving Christ and his people. The first characteristic is a genuineness before God and all people. If you are not honest before God nor open with other people you will never connect with people and your ministry will not reach its maximum effectiveness. All ministry is relational so a lack of openness will negatively affect your relationships with people. The second characteristic is a willingness to continue learning and seeking Jesus. If my personal time in the word and prayer falters, then my heart soon becomes cold to the needs of people and this hurts God’s ministry through me. Similarly, if I claim to know everything, then I become arrogant which will not produce the righteousness of God. Finally, and most important, all life is lived under the direction of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit uses Bible for guidance, wisdom, comfort, and encouragement for the believer. It is when my life is completely submitted humbly before Jesus that the Spirit works in my life to spur my affections for Christ that I might in turn stir up others to love for their savior and the good works God has prepared beforehand.

I understand local church ministry based on the text of Ephesians 4:7–16. Christ has given his people different gifts in the form of shepherds, teachers, prophets, and evangelists. These selected believers are leaders in local churches. The leaders do not perform the ministry themselves but equip, prepare, strengthen, and develop the followers of Jesus in each local context to better carry out the ministry of the church.

My goal is the continued teaching, discipleship, and growing maturity of those in the local church under my ministry care that they might obtain unity of faith and attain the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, living with the right doctrinal beliefs that produce godly living as believers are conformed to the image of the Son.