Jorge Acevedo

Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas Jorge Acevedo

Brief Description: Become the hands and feet of Christ this Christmas.

Contributor Bio:  Acevedo, Jorge Jorge Acevedo is the Lead Pastor at Grace Church, a multi-site United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida. He is author of Vital: Churches Changing Communities and the World and co-author of The Heart of Youth Ministry, and is a contributor to Circuit Rider magazine, Good News magazine, and Our Faith Today. Contributor Bio:  Armstong, Jacob Jacob Armstrong is the founding pastor of Providence Church, a five-year-old United Methodist church plant in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, reaching 1,000 people each week. Providence s vision is to see those who are disconnected from God and the church to find hope, healing, and wholeness in Jesus Christ. Jacob is the author of Treasure, The God Story, Upside Down, Loving Large, Interruptions, and The New Adapters. Contributor Bio:  LaRosa, Justin Justin LaRosa is a licensed clinical social worker and Deacon who leads the new ministry of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in downtown Tampa, Florida. He served for eight years as the Minister of Discipleship, working with a team of leaders to facilitate the process of organizing, training, empowering, and supporting laypersons. Justin is co-author with James A. Harnish of A Disciple's Path and A Disciple's Heart. Contributor Bio:  Billups, Rachel Rachel Billups serves as the Executive Pastor of Discipleship and as part of the preaching team for Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel is an Ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds a Bachelor s Degree in Bible/Religion and History from Anderson University and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School. Before joining the Ginghamsburg team, Rachel served as the lead pastor of Shiloh United Methodist, a multi-site church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Contributor Bio:  Rouse, Lanecia A Lanecia A. Rouse is the author of numerous articles on Christian formation for Upper Room Ministries and Abingdon Press. She has held pastoral roles in the United Methodist and British Methodist Church, most recently as Project Manager of the Art Project, Houston, a therapeutic art ministry with those experiencing homelessness. Lanecia earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School and currently lives in Houston, where she continues her ministry as a writer, artist, photographer, and workshop leader.