Hardesty leaves NYI for new assignment
NCN news has learned that Brent Hardesty, USA/Canada coordinator
for Nazarene Youth International (NYI) global ministries, has accepted
the position of senior pastor at the First Church of the Nazarene in
Norman, Oklahoma. Hardesty begins his new assignment November 21. Pastoral
ministry is not new to Hardesty as he spent seven years in staff ministry
in Council Bluffs, Iowa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NCN asked Hardesty
to reflect on his assignment as USA/Canada coordinator. He cited his
appreciation for the leadership of NYI director Gary Hartke, and their
shared partnership in facilitating a focus on things that matter in
youth ministry. He noted the elevation of discipleship themes associated
with USA/Canada's Nazarene Youth Conference 2003 as evidence
of this direction. He further elaborated the critical themes of investment,
empowerment, and modeling as the predominant features of his experience
in NYI ministries.
Hardesty, an Ohio native, is married to Amy and
they have two sons, Cameron, 7, and Dawson, 5. When asked about his
transition schedule,
he said, “My last official act will be to preach at a multicultural
convention in Pine Creek, Arizona. It is my conviction that we must expand
in our minds what the church really looks like. My privilege has been
to work with many of these global cultural groups right here in North
America. The recognition of the sacrifices made by these groups in order
to participate in NYI events is a rich influence on both my life as well
as the shared ministries of NYI."
Following his educational experiences at Trevecca Nazarene University,
Hardesty began as a volunteer in local church ministry, and then served
with Jeffrey Johnson at Council Bluffs First and Stan Toler at Oklahoma
City Trinity Church as Student Ministries pastor. He was a district NYI
president for five years, as well as a regional NYI president.
— NCN News
fs First and Stan Toler at Oklahoma
City Trinity Church as Student Ministries pastor. He was a district NYI
president for five years, as well as a regional NYI president.
— NCN News