Posted 11:18 pm Saturday, February 04, 2012
CORe, Relationship-Focused Church, Celebrates First Anniversary
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
California native Jarret Myers doesn't mind when East Texans point out the obvious: he's not from around here.
Maybe it's the East Coast accent, or the flip-flops he wears in the dead of winter or the T-shirts that sport his favorite team: Los Angeles Lakers.
In the three years since Myers moved his family to Tyler, he's learned a lot about the town, the people and also, himself.
During the work week, he teaches math at John Tyler High School, showing students how to convert fractions to decimals.
Staff Writer
California native Jarret Myers doesn't mind when East Texans point out the obvious: he's not from around here.
Maybe it's the East Coast accent, or the flip-flops he wears in the dead of winter or the T-shirts that sport his favorite team: Los Angeles Lakers.
In the three years since Myers moved his family to Tyler, he's learned a lot about the town, the people and also, himself.
During the work week, he teaches math at John Tyler High School, showing students how to convert fractions to decimals.
But on the weekends, Myers works his second, unpaid job, converting souls to Christianity in a small, Biblically-based church his family started, The CORe, Centered On Relationships.
The church is celebrating its first anniversary today with a special gathering immediately following its 6:30 p.m. service — a time viewed by some as unusual, but not to Myers, who says Saturday night services are a great time for his target audience: 20- and 30-somethings.
“I have a heart for this age group,” he said. “I started teaching at 22 and my students were 18 so I've been with them, all of us growing up together … I've just learned to communicate with them.”
So many of today's young people need structure and someone to take an interest in their lives, Myers said, noting the congregation is a mix of ages and backgrounds.
“They (young people) are searching for stability, anywhere they can find it,” he said. “That's why we are here.”
Myers, the son of a youth minister, said he was just a boy when he felt a tug to lead wandering souls to Christ.
The church is celebrating its first anniversary today with a special gathering immediately following its 6:30 p.m. service — a time viewed by some as unusual, but not to Myers, who says Saturday night services are a great time for his target audience: 20- and 30-somethings.
“I have a heart for this age group,” he said. “I started teaching at 22 and my students were 18 so I've been with them, all of us growing up together … I've just learned to communicate with them.”
So many of today's young people need structure and someone to take an interest in their lives, Myers said, noting the congregation is a mix of ages and backgrounds.
“They (young people) are searching for stability, anywhere they can find it,” he said. “That's why we are here.”
Myers, the son of a youth minister, said he was just a boy when he felt a tug to lead wandering souls to Christ.
He served in a puppet ministry and by the time he was a student in junior college, he and a couple of friends were leading a children's ministry.
Myers went on to pursue a career in education and coaching, at both high school and university levels.
He became actively involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as area director for the great San Gabriel Valley and starting clubs in schools and on college campuses.
Some of his work was published in both the FCA's magazine, “Sharing the Victory,” and the FCA Competitor's Bible.
As much as he enjoyed those experiences, there was always a tug he could not shake.
In 2009, he decided to follow his heart and accept work as a youth pastor in Tyler, but when things didn't work out as planned with his new employer, he found opportunity in disappointment.
The family prayed for direction: stay in Tyler or head back to California?
Myers' wife and high school sweetheart, Sheri, said the family's decision to remain came after days of soul-searching.
“We believe God did send us to Tyler,” she said. “We feel like this is just the beginning.”
She admits that when her husband first suggested starting a church, she leaned on the side of caution, as there was a lot to learn about their new home.
“Yes, I was nervous,” she said. “But then I saw things working. God does crazy things sometimes and it's hilarious.”
To make ends meet, the Myers gravitated back into education — he teaches in Tyler while she serves as admissions recruiter and counselor for Lon Morris College in Jacksonville.
Weekends are devoted to building the family's ministry.
It proved to be a lean first year.
The CORe's services were initially held in a community meeting room that looked and felt suspiciously like a converted auto garage.
The tiny congregation sweated in the summer and shivered in the winter while offerings were collected in a decorated coffee can.
There was no choir, but the music was cutting-edge Christian rock played on a laptop computer and displayed on a large video screen.
The Myers' daughter, Maddison, supplied the vocals while son, Nick, handled the technology.
Fresh donuts and steaming hot coffee in the lobby provided a homey welcome for those attending church services.
As the weeks passed, the family and their new congregation drew closer, the siblings said.
“My parents were trying really hard,” Maddison, 18, said. “We really had to learn to trust our parents more. We always had a good relationship, but we are a lot closer now.”
Nick, 15, a student at Robert E. Lee High School, agrees.
“I have more respect for my parents,” he said. “It takes a lot of guts to start a church. I wanted to go back to California, but God gave us a place and a vision.”
In spite of the “no-frills” arrangement, the fledgling church stayed together.
“This church is focused on community and friendships and less on having an amazing experience,” Tyler Junior College student Michelle Wiese, 22, said. “You really get pulled into it … it's a really warm environment.”
Kerrigan Keele, 16, another Robert E. Lee student, agreed.
“I come here because of the people,” Keele said. “They are really centered on relationships.”
As it enters its second year, a new chapter seems to be unfolding for The CORe.
The church has a new partnership and meeting space with Friends Community Church, 12440 Texas Highway 155 South, Tyler, lead by Pastor Brian O'Neill and wife, Jackie, also from the West Coast.
O'Neill, 52, participates in a consortium of pastors from a variety of denominations who meet regularly to talk about how to support one another.
After meeting the Myers, O'Neill said it seemed logical to partner and share resources, such as lights, sound and temperature controlled surroundings.
“We're trying to be good stewards of what God has given us,” O'Neill said. “We're not the biggest church in town, but that's all right. With the economic situation, people are going to have to be real creative in how they use resources.”
The CORe may have a comfortable new place to meet, but the decorated coffee can continues to sit front and center at every service — a constant reminder that the value of a church is not necessarily measured in dollars.
Members seem to appreciate the simplicity.
“I enjoy the worship and everything about it,” Mike Jowers, 49, said.
Church elder Joe Wylie, 61, said he's grateful for the Myers and their desire to make a difference in their new community.
“I think Jesus really tries to reach people's hearts,” Wylie said. “I believe he wants churches to accept people, no matter what they look like on the outside.”
Myers went on to pursue a career in education and coaching, at both high school and university levels.
He became actively involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as area director for the great San Gabriel Valley and starting clubs in schools and on college campuses.
Some of his work was published in both the FCA's magazine, “Sharing the Victory,” and the FCA Competitor's Bible.
As much as he enjoyed those experiences, there was always a tug he could not shake.
In 2009, he decided to follow his heart and accept work as a youth pastor in Tyler, but when things didn't work out as planned with his new employer, he found opportunity in disappointment.
The family prayed for direction: stay in Tyler or head back to California?
Myers' wife and high school sweetheart, Sheri, said the family's decision to remain came after days of soul-searching.
“We believe God did send us to Tyler,” she said. “We feel like this is just the beginning.”
She admits that when her husband first suggested starting a church, she leaned on the side of caution, as there was a lot to learn about their new home.
“Yes, I was nervous,” she said. “But then I saw things working. God does crazy things sometimes and it's hilarious.”
To make ends meet, the Myers gravitated back into education — he teaches in Tyler while she serves as admissions recruiter and counselor for Lon Morris College in Jacksonville.
Weekends are devoted to building the family's ministry.
It proved to be a lean first year.
The CORe's services were initially held in a community meeting room that looked and felt suspiciously like a converted auto garage.
The tiny congregation sweated in the summer and shivered in the winter while offerings were collected in a decorated coffee can.
There was no choir, but the music was cutting-edge Christian rock played on a laptop computer and displayed on a large video screen.
The Myers' daughter, Maddison, supplied the vocals while son, Nick, handled the technology.
Fresh donuts and steaming hot coffee in the lobby provided a homey welcome for those attending church services.
As the weeks passed, the family and their new congregation drew closer, the siblings said.
“My parents were trying really hard,” Maddison, 18, said. “We really had to learn to trust our parents more. We always had a good relationship, but we are a lot closer now.”
Nick, 15, a student at Robert E. Lee High School, agrees.
“I have more respect for my parents,” he said. “It takes a lot of guts to start a church. I wanted to go back to California, but God gave us a place and a vision.”
In spite of the “no-frills” arrangement, the fledgling church stayed together.
“This church is focused on community and friendships and less on having an amazing experience,” Tyler Junior College student Michelle Wiese, 22, said. “You really get pulled into it … it's a really warm environment.”
Kerrigan Keele, 16, another Robert E. Lee student, agreed.
“I come here because of the people,” Keele said. “They are really centered on relationships.”
As it enters its second year, a new chapter seems to be unfolding for The CORe.
The church has a new partnership and meeting space with Friends Community Church, 12440 Texas Highway 155 South, Tyler, lead by Pastor Brian O'Neill and wife, Jackie, also from the West Coast.
O'Neill, 52, participates in a consortium of pastors from a variety of denominations who meet regularly to talk about how to support one another.
After meeting the Myers, O'Neill said it seemed logical to partner and share resources, such as lights, sound and temperature controlled surroundings.
“We're trying to be good stewards of what God has given us,” O'Neill said. “We're not the biggest church in town, but that's all right. With the economic situation, people are going to have to be real creative in how they use resources.”
The CORe may have a comfortable new place to meet, but the decorated coffee can continues to sit front and center at every service — a constant reminder that the value of a church is not necessarily measured in dollars.
Members seem to appreciate the simplicity.
“I enjoy the worship and everything about it,” Mike Jowers, 49, said.
Church elder Joe Wylie, 61, said he's grateful for the Myers and their desire to make a difference in their new community.
“I think Jesus really tries to reach people's hearts,” Wylie said. “I believe he wants churches to accept people, no matter what they look like on the outside.”
