Jessica Tatro Hired as Children's Ministry Director

We  are pleased to announce the hiring of Mrs. Jessica Tatro as our new Children’s Ministry Director, effective October 1. Jessica and her husband, Stephen, have recently moved to the Augusta area and are active participants in the Downtown Parish. Jessica is a 2010 graduate of Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. While at Valdosta she served on the Campus Outreach Student Leadership Team, and she has previously worked at Chick-fil-A’s Winshape Camp as a counselor. Interim Children’s Director Kay Harris will work alongside Jessica during October and November to ensure a smooth transition.

Jessica grew up in and out of church, thinking she was a Christian. During her freshman year at VSU, she was invited by some of her Christian sorority sisters to attend Bible studies and retreats. Through the witness of their lives, Jessica realized she wasn’t really a Christian. “I looked at them and thought ‘they are Christians, and I’m calling myself a Christian, and we are worlds apart,’” Jessica said. She came to understand that being a Christian involved having a love relationship with Jesus, and she surrendered her life to Christ. During her sophomore year she became involved in Campus Outreach, grew in her faith and learned to share her faith with others.

After graduating in May, and getting married in July, Jessica and Stephen moved to Augusta. Stephen is employed in the Accounting Department at AAA signs, and Jessica came to town with high expectations of securing a teaching job. At every turn it seemed, doors were closing because she was working on her own for what she thought was best for her, while God had another, better, plan, Jessica said. Through one of Dr. Robertson’s sermons, the Lord spoke to her and said, “You need to be okay with whatever I have for you,” and she surrendered her will to his. Shortly after that, she said, “God just seemed to drop this opportunity in my lap.” Jessica said as much she loves teaching, she feels like the job as Children’s Ministry Director is even better suited to her interests and that her gift of teaching is complemented by those of administration, planning and creativity. She is really looking forward to the opportunity to begin connecting with parents, volunteers and teachers.  Inspired by the example of Kay Harris, she looks forward to helping meet the needs of the families at First Pres.

John Franks, Associate Pastor of Family Nurture said, “I am very excited to have Jessica join our team. I believe that she is the perfect fit to build upon the wonderful foundation that Miss Kathy and Kay Harris have laid in our Children’s Ministry. Jessica is organized, creative, highly relational and passionate about ministering to children. Kay and I agree that Jessica is mature beyond her years and I am sure everyone will appreciate her professionalism in and zeal for her new calling.”