First Christian
Church of Pomona (Disciples of
Christ)
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First Christian
Church of Pomona (Disciples of
Christ) |
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First Christian Church of Pomona is an open community of seekers, in covenant with God, Christ, and with one another
Pastors
First Christian Church Pomona is a congregation with a deep tradition of service. It is a privilege for us to serve among this community of faith as it seeks to be relevant to the needs, the questions and concerns of the 21st century. We appreciate the freedom in the congregation to engage our minds as well as our hearts in serving as leaders in the church. FCC Pomona is not a place of pat answers and faith by formula. Faith is dynamic and sometimes that means we are willing to struggle with the ambiguities presented by life and by our faith. Wisdom is, after all, the ability to live with ambiguity. The congregation started as a distant outpost in 1883, eventually was located in the center of the city, moved out to the "suburbs" only to find itself once again in an urban environment. Our involvement as pastors in broad based organizing (see One LA) has given us a greater excitement about ministry in an urban context. We have been part of building power in our community for positive change, along with members of the congregation. We believe FCC Pomona has a heart for the city and the people who live in this region. It has been energizing to be part of a transition toward a more multi-cultural community of faith. Sharing our vocational life as pastors has been a great learning experience and occasions for great joy. It can be both humbling and uplifting to serve God and the church. Having a partner, a colleague and friend to share that journey has enriched our lives. Julie Roberts-Fronk I was born three miles from downtown Los Angeles, and have all my life in Southern California, experiencing the dynamic and sometimes difficult change through which the region has developed. It took me years to figure out the freeway transitions and I’m a native. Music was my most intense interest so I majored in music, vocal performance at Chapman University, receiving a Bachelor of Music. My call to the ordained ministry was prompted in part by experiences as a camp counselor at summer camp. (see Loch Leven) It was a long process of discernment, perhaps an ongoing one, the call to ministry. Along the way, I received the Master of Divinity degree in 1988 and the Doctor of Ministry in 1993 from Claremont School of Theology. Because Church summer camp was formative in my leadership development, I have continued to serve as a counselor and director in the summer camp program over the last 23 years. I enjoy leading retreats for one of our women’s groups and for other churches, having a growing interest in Christian spirituality. I love to learn and read about a variety of topics: history, current events, spirituality, novels. Backpacking has become a passion which I discovered over the years of hiking with my husband, Mike. Our children join us now for our summer trips and we’ve had great fun taking church members on trips long and short. It sounds so domestic…I like keeping a garden, flowers and veggies and fruit, AND I really enjoy cooking and eating GOOD food. Maybe the table fellowship of communion is something I like to bring into my daily life. It is my hope that my ministry is deeply informed by a desire to share the transforming love of God in Jesus Christ with people. I'd love to meet you, drop me line at mailto:julierf@fccpomona.org or call me at church (909) 622 1144. Mike Fronk I was born here in southern California in Whittier but my family moved out of the city in my fifth year and I sent my formative years living in rural California, most notably in the small town of Lee Vining in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I was raised in the Presbyterian church (the only protestant church in town). When I came back to So Cal for college I drifted between several churches trying to find a match for my spiritual yearnings and intellect. It was in this search that I discovered the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at First Christian Church Whittier where I was later ordained in 1985. I attended Rio Hondo Community College for two years and transferred to Cal Poly, Pomona where I earned a B.S. degree in Social Science in 1982. I continued my education at the School of Theology at Claremont, earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1985 and continued at the School of Theology completing course work towards a Doctorate of Ministry. While in seminary, I spent a summer as a Disciple Peace Intern with the Disciples Peace Fellowship.
I began my ministry at First Christian Church, Pomona in 1987 as Pastoral Assistant. It was voluntary position in which I worked with different programs of church life and outreach. While I volunteered my time to the congregation, I worked as an executive in a manufacturing company in southeast Los Angeles. In 1997, I experienced a call to devote myself to full time ministry and was called to serve this congregation as one of its full time pastors. I have a deep passion for ministry in the urban context; the work of Christ calls us all to serve God where we are planted. There has been an ethos in southern California to flee to the suburbs and yet the urban world remains. I see ministry at First Christian Church as spreading the love of Christ in the urban world through Discipleship and deepening the Spiritual life. My ministry has involved me in developing and teaching Christian Education, developing nation building programs, serving on the fund raising committees, I have led retreats, and directed summer camps for children and youth. Currently I am active in the leadership of in broad based organizing effort (One LA). I am serving as a facilitator of congressional renewal for the Pacific Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and I am the treasurer of Inland Valley Council of Churches. I would like to know your story, write me mailto:mikef@fccpomona.org or give me a call at church (909) 622 1144.
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