Dear Grace Fellowship Family:

As many of you know, our foreign missionaries in Guatemala, Pat and Barb Dirrim, are planning their return later this month. We thank the Lord that they were able to schedule a visa interview with the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala this week!  This is a tremendous answer to prayer.  Therefore, if everything goes as planned (see Proverbs 16:9), the Dirrim’s intend on returning to the United States on December 23.

While in Guatemala, God affirmed Pat’s desire to enter into vocational pastoral ministry in the local church. After much prayer and discussion, the Elder Leadership Team of Grace Fellowship is pleased to announce that Pat Dirrim has accepted the position of Student Pastor beginning January 1. As you may or may not know, Pastor Pat joined the Leadership Team in 2007. He and his wife of 18 years, Barbara, are founding members of Grace Fellowship since its inception in 2003. Pat served in many ministry capacities in our church, and taught our children and students for almost 8 years. Also, Pat is presently working towards his Masters Degree in Biblical studies.Prior to serving in these ways, after college Pat was in the US Army for eight years and worked in the residential construction industry for 17 years prior to moving to Guatemala. Pat and Barbara have been blessed by God with seven kids-Jacob, Rachel, Ethan, Rebekah, Jonah, Pablo, and Ezra.

May God continue to bless our efforts to spread His fame by making disciples of Jesus Christ through the Student Ministries of Grace Fellowship.