Dear Christ the Redeemer Family,
During my first year as Senior Warden, one of my greatest privileges has been getting to know the members of our parish better. I continue to be amazed by the incredible disciples of Christ that the Lord has brought to Christ the Redeemer. I have the privilege of introducing one of these disciples to you now. With the departure of Kerry and Carter Crockett for a new adventure in California, Vestry was in need of a new Junior Warden. At our last Vestry meeting, there was a unanimous vote to bring on Meah Hearington Arakaki as new Junior Warden. As the Vestry considered different people for this position it amazed me that whenever Meah’s name came up the response was always a smile and “oh she would be perfect!” It is truly our privilege to welcome Meah as our new Junior Warden. Fr Tim and I asked Meah to write a short bio blurb that we could share with you, and which she has kindly done.
Although I’m not a New England native, New England now feels like home. I moved to Danvers, MA from Tennessee almost 14 years ago. I attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and completed a Master of Arts in Counseling. I intended to leave after that chapter was over; however, connections, community, and friendships blossomed more than ever after graduation and it seemed that God was creating a place for me to stay.I worked for almost six years in community mental health in Salem, MA. During that time, I also sensed a call to be trained as a spiritual director and enrolled in Selah (Leadership Transformation Inc’s spiritual direction certificate program). In 2015, I left community mental health in order to start my own practice. This allowed me to focus my work in counseling and spiritual direction on holistic care for women who have anxiety, depression, and/or a history of trauma, as well as couples and relationship work.
My journey to CTR has been marked by God’s guiding hand since the first service in 2009. Since I grew up in the south as a Baptist, becoming an Anglican is one of the last things that I ever imagined would happen. I came to faith at an early age, and my relationship with God and the life of the church has always been important to me for as long as I can remember. After coming to New England, I had a time of frustration with God and the church, and I felt a bit disillusioned by churches that I attended. My spiritual director was on the founding vestry of CTR, and she had told me about the anticipated opening. My church at the time was a small church plant, which was actually meeting in the current CTR building (renting from the Nazarene church that owned the building). The church plant wasn’t able to sustain itself and closed. I was then visiting other churches for a couple months, waiting in anticipation for CTR’s first service. On that first Sunday at CTR, I felt like I had found my spiritual home–the place I had been searching for for years. I loved the people, I loved the message, and I loved that I could feel the spirit of God alive in a church.
Since that time, CTR has continued to be a place of growth in my life. I was confirmed in 2014. Then, in 2015, I had the privilege of marrying my husband, Brandon, right here in our home church. We now live in Danvers and are expecting our first child early next year. As I step into the role of Jr. Warden, I hope that I can use the gifts and skills that God has given me to serve Him and his church body at CTR.
Blessings and peace,
Meah Arakaki, Jr Warden
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