The following is shared from the North River Church of Christ newsletter:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist. – 2 Timothy 4:1-5 An evangelist in Jesus’ church is characterized as one who:

  • Makes and equips disciples (Matt. 28:18-20, Eph. 4:12)
  • Handles the Word of God correctly (2 Tim. 2:15)
  • Preaches boldly and effectively (2 Tim. 4:2, Acts 28:31)
  • Embraces the role of a servant (2 Cor. 4:5)• Raises up other leaders (2 Tim. 2:2)
  • Faithfully discharges his responsibilities in the church (2 Tim. 4:5)
  • Other church leaders have confidence in (2 Cor. 7:4)
  • Exhibits spiritual progress that is obvious to all (1 Tim. 4:15)
Jordan Massey was born and raised in metro Atlanta. He was baptized at Georgia Tech and graduated several years later as a civil engineer in 2013. For several years after graduation, Jordan worked part-time as a structural engineer while also leading the Georgia Tech campus ministry. LaToya Massey was raised in San Jose, CA, and moved to Atlanta in middle school. She was baptized at our sister church, the Greater Atlanta Church of Christ, before graduating from Georgia State University with a degree in Exercise Science. After graduation, LaToya served on staff for two years at Greater Atlanta. Jordan and LaToya met through the Campus Ministry and were married here at North River on March 14, 2015. They had their first child, Kamden, last October.

In 2016 Jordan left his engineering job to serve as a full-time campus minister. Since he was baptized in 2009, the Georgia Tech campus ministry has grown from five to more than 50 people. Under Jordan’s leadership, over 200 students have been baptized in the South campus community (Georgia Tech University, Georgia State University, and Emory) in the last six years. North River’s campus ministry has grown to over 220 students and is recognized around the world. This next generation ministry has trained and sent out 14 young men and women into the full-time ministry in the last five years. Additionally, hundreds of students have graduated, begun careers, and are serving in churches around Atlanta, the United States, and in several countries around the world. The Masseys have led mission teams and/or spoken at churches in Costa Rica and South Africa, along with a host of cities around the country, including being keynote speakers at conferences in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and New England. They have also taken a leading role in establishing the Southeast Campus Initiative and are members of the International Campus Committee for our fellowship of churches. Jordan and LaToya are distinguished by their commitment to the North River family and for their humble and grateful hearts. This is exemplified by what they asked to share with all of us on their appointment this morning. “We are deeply grateful for our salvation and the relationships we have with the North River family. We are humbled by all the ways God has continued to use us. Thank you for supporting us through hard times, loving us even when it was tough, and believing in us when we didn’t believe in ourselves. To God be the glory”! Today is a victory for all of us who are a part of the spiritual village we know as North River. God by his spirit has raised up a needed evangelist in his kingdom. He has worked powerfully in the life of a young woman who today will be recognized as a women’s ministry leader. This is not just a title or a celebration, but rather an acknowledgment of what the Holy Spirit has done among and through us. Let’s all pray for Jordan and LaToya and strive to make their work a joy. And most of all, let’s continue to thank God for his grace and the gifts he gives (Ephesians 4:11-13).