In 2007, Summit Woods Baptist Church adopted a new Constitution and By-Laws which implemented an elder-led form of church polity. In 2009, the first elders were chosen by the congregation and began serving. Building on this necessary and biblical approach to church polity is a constant prayerful mindset and quest for the existing elders. One of the most important priorities of virtually every elders’ meeting is our seeking God’s direction in recommending men who would serve as new elders.

After much time in prayer and conversation, the elders of Summit Woods joyfully recommend Adam Naler to be affirmed by the congregation as a new elder.

Adam has been a member of Summit Woods since 2006. Adam and his wife Sarah (and their one year old son, Brogan) have been actively serving our congregation in a variety of ways. In addition to their numerous overseas mission trips, Adam has served Summit Woods in teaching Equipping Classes, serving on the Personnel Team, Finance Team (of which he now serves as chairman), the choir ministry, small group leader, and nursery ministry. He has demonstrated a solid character that exemplifies the qualities called for of an elder in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. His commitment to the local church is evident. Sarah has served faithfully at Rachel House Pregnancy Resource Center, and has been serving on Wednesday evenings as a women’s small group leader. She also regularly meets with women for discipleship.

We have spent an extensive amount of time with Adam and his family in both formal settings for discussion of his potentially serving as an elder and informal times that have allowed us the opportunity to get to know them more personally. We are confident in this recommendation. Adam exemplifies the qualities of a solid shepherd and will serve our congregation with both Christ-like humility and biblical strength.

Available for you to download from this post is material that introduces Adam more formally and provides his answers to many personal, family, doctrinal, and ministry questions.

To give you opportunity to get to know Adam better and see him serve publicly, he will lead the mid-service prayer time and Scripture reading in the Sunday morning gatherings in November. Adam will be available for questions and interaction between Equipping Classes and the Worship Gathering (10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) for the first four weeks of November at the Welcome Table in the foyer. On Sunday, November 23, Adam will give his testimony, preach and conduct a Q&A session at 5:00 p.m.

We will call a special members' meeting on Sunday, December 14, following the Morning Gathering, for the express purpose of having the congregation formally affirm him.

As always, the elders are available to you at your convenience to discuss with you any questions you may have. Please let us know how we may serve you.

We are thrilled to present Adam to you as a potential elder and are confident he will serve Summit Woods with personal humility, Christ-like character, and biblical strength.

Also know that we eagerly invite your recommendations of men in whom you see the qualities of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and who would serve Summit Woods well as an elder. Thank you to those of you who came to us recommending Adam.

We thank God for the privilege of serving as elders at Summit Woods and are excited with the potential of Adam joining the shepherding team. We are available to you to answer your questions and personally talk with you further about Adam and why we believe he is uniquely qualified and ready to serve Summit Woods as a new elder.

Yours for Christ’s Church,

Todd Arnold, Bret Capranica, Brandon Ferguson, Brett Harris, and Mark Krystyniak