Pastor Transition Updates
Good News!
An update regarding the progress we’re making bringing Pastor Alistair and his family to the US, and Hopewell.
The United States Customs and Immigration site visit was done Friday morning June 3 here at Hopewell. Two agents from the US Customs and Immigration Service, a part of the Department of Homeland Security, were here on campus verifying that we are indeed a religious organization that is meeting regularly. Very fortunately, Lillian Barnette and Sarah Scoggin were here at the church preparing for the Graduation Breakfast and could greet the two agents, showing them around the campus and answering questions about our church. This site visit is a month earlier than anticipated.
What does this mean? This means that the visa application is being worked and we could be approximately 2 months from a decision from the USCIS, based on what we are seeing in other cases similar to ours. That gets us to a August date when Pastor Alistair can schedule his in-person interview at the US Embassy in South Africa. After that we are hopefully less than 6 weeks away from the family arriving in the US.
So we may be welcoming Pastor Alistair and his family to the US in September or October! Of course, this timeline is a guess. It could be faster or slower, depending on the US Government timeline.
What can you do to help prepare for their arrival?
Next Saturday June 11 at 8:30am, we are meeting at the manse for a yard maintenance clean up morning! There are weeds and shrubs that have taken advantage of the sunshine and rain and need some pruning! Please come dressed for work, and bring yard tools, ready to do some work in the flower beds and yard.
If you have not already, please sign up to meet our new pastor through a Zoom call. You can see any member of the PTC team to get help signing up or with doing the actual Zoom call. (Or ask your grandchildren or children to help!) Please do not miss this opportunity to begin your relationship with our new pastor.
Thank you all again for your continued support of this effort. Please continue to pray for Pastor Alistair, Joanne, Samatha and Matthew, St. Columba in Johannesburg, and the USCIS.
We will continue to keep you updated as things move forward!
We have called a new pastor!!!
Rev. Alistair Anquetil from Johannesburg South Africa.
Press Release
After several months of thoughtful, prayerful, and diligent search and discernment, Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Huntersville, NC has called a new pastor, the Reverend Alistair Anquetil of Johannesburg, South Africa. Reverend Anquetil has accepted the 23 January call, and in conjunction with Hopewell Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery of Charlotte, and the Presbyterian Church (USA), is currently pursuing the necessary R-1 Immigrant visa through the US State Department process.
Reverend Alistair Anquetil currently serves as Minister at St. Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Parkview Johannesburg, a member of the Uniting Presbyterian Church of South Africa. He will be coming with his family who includes his wife Joanne, his daughter Samantha, and son Matthew upon receipt of their visas.
Founded in 1762, and one of the seven original Presbyterian churches in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region, Hopewell Presbyterian Church is currently pastored by Rev. Dr. Lynn Thompson Bryant. Sarah Scoggin is the Director of Children and Youth Ministries.
Located at 10500 Beatties Ford Road in Huntersville, NC, Hopewell Presbyterian Church offers a Sunday 9am Non-Traditional Worship in the Family Life Center and 11am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary. To learn more, they can be reached at 704-875-2291, or hopewell@hopewellpresbyterian.com. Visit their website hopewellpresby.org, and you can find them on Facebook for more information.
Pick up information handouts in the church office.
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