Hello and welcome to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. and I am excited to be joined today by Evan Moore, Vice President JP Morgan Chase Bank / Community Manager and Board member of the Modesto Stanislaus Chapter of the NAACP as the Religious Affairs Chair. Evan is a husband, a father, a pastor and a young man on mission. I was fortunate to join some pastors for lunch and met Evan there.  

Evan, welcome to the show, welcome to Joy City. I could not be more thrilled to have you make time for Joy City.

Evan shares about how it is to navigate his faith while working in the banking industry and the NAACP while being a youth pastor. Kingdom first is his attitude in tackling all his roles, he speaks about being led by God in all the areas of his life. Light shines in darkness but at times we want our light to shine amongst other lights.

Evan also shares how it is operating in these spaces as a Millennial and walking in humility is critical. He finds challenges in being young and wanting to flex your muscles, but he resists that by being a listener first. He is the youngest Vice President Community Manager in Northern California and one of the youngest preachers at his Church (Lighthouse in the Valley, Stockton, CA). Operating inside the walls of the church and within the community is his current calling. He speaks on “self-mastery” and the ability to truly read others, but find challenges in seeing their own flaws.

As a youth pastor, he engages his group and ask them, “what is the best way to reach your generation?” He goes even further by asking more challenging questions and talks about how that is even being done in the secular spaces. He shares on ways to speak and get the outcome you desire and it’s not talking “at them” but talking to them and addressing their sensitivities. Most leaders are opinionated and it seems like this is a generation of leaders.

Evan shares some of the hardships of his upbringing; from being hit by a diesel truck at 3 years old and being put in a body cast, to being homeless and attending continuation school to now being one of the youngest V.P.’s in Nor Cal banking industry. Evan’s father was not in his life and was a drug dealer and his mom battled a drug addiction but knew the Lord. And through it all, God watched over and kept them and healed them. Even in her addiction, she would protect and pray over him and was a staunch advocate for him and his well-being. Just an amazing life story that you don’t want to miss.

You can connect with Evan by email evan.moore@chase.com or Facebook or Instagram (evn.moore).

So, when God opens our eyes in Joy City we can clearly celebrate others for our differences, we can support one another in our efforts and we can cheer one another on in the spirit of unity and when One wins we all win. Every tribe and nation under heaven, worshipping God as one. As the Apostle Paul says, “may we fight for the UNITY of the faith in the bond of peace…”

No one can come face to face with what God is like and ever be the same. Welcome to Joy City. Seeing His true image, touches the depths of our soul and beholding His glory will renew our minds, transform us and give us strength to live this life for Him. Come on in, where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on. I want to invite you to be a part, a resident of Joy City. A place where the Body becomes stronger and our love for others only increases.

I’ve enjoyed being your host and you can comment below, or email me at pastorstuart@lifeconnection4christ.org or call me at (209) 522-3583.

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