Erin Hvizdak

Through my journey here at Brunswick Church, which began in spring of 2001, I have come to appreciate so many passions that make up Brunswick Church.  There has been one however that captured my heart and influenced me in becoming a part of this staff.  I have walked through the doors of many churches, but was never offered so many ways to use my gifts and talents as I was here at Brunswick.  I enjoy singing and teaching and was offered ways to be involved, from worship team to leading small groups.  I found at Brunswick, leadership who saw my God given gifts and desired to see them used to the benefit of the Body of Christ.  Becoming a full-time member of the staff in fall of 2006 was a natural transition for me because of the discipleship and mentoring I had received in the prior years of using my gifts at Brunswick; I had every confidence that would continue as God called me into a new place in life as the Director of Children’s Ministry.

My husband, Todd, and I met at Roberts Wesleyan College and were married in fall of 1998 shortly after I graduated.  We moved to the Albany area a few months after that and made this area home.  We have two wonderful boys of our own, Tyler and Toby, though I find that each year of ministry to youth and children brings new “family members,” and for that we are extremely grateful.

In my early years here, I remember Harry saying “Children are not the church of the future, they are the church now.”  That phrase helped form my passion and goals for children’s ministries at Brunswick Church.  Children are leaders and have been given gifts and talents to use.  We seek to integrate them into the life of the church now -  not wait until they are older.  Children are capable of prayer, worship and having a developing relationship with Christ.  We are seeing the children of Brunswick embracing that, and taking the next step of inviting their friends to begin a relationship with Christ.  What a powerful movement the children are leading us in.  Thanks be to God!