A Massanetta Story: A Circle To Come Back To
“I was kinda terrified of graduating high school,” remembered Jarrett, now the Co-Pastor of University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, NC. For a teenager who hadn’t felt like he was good at any particular thing (sports, arts, academics), he found an early calling leading youth events for the Presbytery of New Hope in the mid-1990’s. Graduation would end that calling. “I was afraid what I was experiencing in church was something I was going to say goodbye to and never have again.”
He came to Massanetta for the first time on a youth leadership retreat in the fall of 1995. This led him to be an Enabler (now Advocate) for the 1996 Middle School Conferences. “I was so alive and in my element for those two weeks. The Holy Spirit just seemed to be flowing through me.”
Thirty years later, Jarrett still recalls moments that left an impression. “There was a kid in my first small group known to be a handful,” he remembered. “And in the second week, during a workshop, one of the middlers shared some heavy things going on in her life. I remember in those situations, thinking ‘someone should do something.’ It was the first time in my life that it occurred to me that someone could be me.” In both situations, he was able to reach out, make a connection, and lead.
A big part of the success Jarrett felt during those two weeks was due to the support he received from other leaders. “Fred Holbrook was directing the conference that year, and every night he circled us up.” They would share successes and have time to say “What about this?” or “I could use help with...” The adults didn’t “take over” and tell them what to do. Instead, he was encouraged. Comments like “We believe in you.” and “You’ve got this.” were common. It was empowering to lead, and then have a circle to come back to and talk about it.
Through Massanetta, God provided an opportunity to Jarrett to say hello to something new, even as he was saying goodbye to cherished leadership opportunities. Being an Enabler led to invitations to return as an adult leader. In a “full circle moment,” Jarrett returned to Massanetta Springs in 2007 as Co-Director. As a recently ordained pastor, Massanetta Springs became the first place he officiated communion. Even now, Jarrett is finding places to serve, learn, and grow at Massanetta Springs. The 1996 version of himself wouldn’t have imagined he’d be the President of the Board of Trustees, leading Massanetta through a transformational capital campaign and construction project. Yet here he is, leading, and still being encouraged by the Massanetta circle.
Because of the generosity of the Massanetta Springs community, Jarrett and so many others find a circle to come back to. Thank you for creating spaces where faith, leadership and belonging can grow.