By Claudia Loucks
Correspondent

Geneseo Evangelical Free Church has been home and family for Cole Hartman, who has grown up in that church where he now serves as Director of Family Ministries.

“I believe that it was a blessing to have grown up in this church, it’s my home, and this is my family. However, it’s more significant that my history with the church had nothing to do with my hire. I have sought diligently to obey Christ and to serve Him and I believe that He is the one who called me to take this position. As doors were opened for me to serve, God confirmed for me that this was where I was supposed to be.”

In his position, Hartman is primarily responsible for Youth Ministry, 6th – 12th graders) which involves weekly Sunday afternoon gatherings with teaching, fellowship, and games.

“With the youth, we try to as active as possible,” he said. “They enjoy being out in the community and I look forward to setting up some service projects and mission trips soon.”

He also began a Young Adult Small Group, ranging in age from 18 year-old high school graduates to 26 year-olds that meets at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays. The group was started when Hartman noticed people had begun to stay closer to home after high school, and he added, “This age group had no landing spot for solid Christian fellowship. This small group has brought in nearly 20 people from all different churches and backgrounds.”

In addition, Hartman also manages the church website and app which involves lots of graphics, videos, content updating and communication on those platforms.

When asked about goals for the youth, Hartman said, “I have thought about this a lot. It would be easy to desire growth in my ministry, but it’s bigger than that. It would be easy to seek genuine friendships and connections, but it’s more than that. My heart’s biggest desire for them is that they become a soul dedicated to a life in service and obedience to Jesus.”

He added, “I cannot overstate the affect of Jesus’ authority in your life and how amazing it is when He is in control. I want to see youth love God with their heart, soul, and mind, and love others as themselves. I want to see them go and make disciples of all nations. This goal for me doesn’t have a number on it, I want it for one just as much as I want it for 1,000.”

“I see a desire for more,” he said. ‘More answers, more joy, more relationship, more connection, more love, more peace, more truth. I see such significant potential that I worry they don’t always see for themselves. I see desires to change the world around them and I see very inward focused teens. Priorities are mixed up and truth is misunderstood with different opinions. I see their challenges, struggles and difficulties, even in not knowing where to turn for answers.”

And Hartman has lots of plans, he said….”More significant than events or programs, I am looking to be much more intentional about making disciples. Encouraging them to lead, grow and encourage others as they do the same for their own faith. As long as my desires line up with God’s plan, the plan is to lead them to Jesus.”

“The most satisfying thing is knowing that I am making an eternal impact on someone,” he said. “I have always valued people and the ability to provide healthy experiences; having been a Christian, I always tried to root that experience in God’s Word. God’s promises change my life and Jesus’ authority changes my action. For me, that action is in seeing people live according to God’s plan for their lives.”

Regarding a favorite scripture, the young man replied, “It’s been said that choosing a favorite verse is like choosing a favorite child. They are all great in their own unique ways. I am however consistently drawn back to the story of Moses as God called him to lead God’s people out of slavery. As I was beginning to take bigger steps into ministry, I constantly wondered how I’d be capable. Due to my past, and my lack of ability in certain areas, I struggled believing that God would call me to this. When you read the conversation between God and Moses, you find the very same thing. God tells Moses He will use him, and Moses’ reply is ‘Who am I…?’ Moses was looking for validation of his own ability to be used in a powerful way and God’s response was ‘I will be with you’. (Exodus3:10-12). That passage constantly reminds me that it’s a good thing that I am incapable. I am weak on my own and will fail if I tried without God. I don’t need confirmation of my ability, but only that God is the one guiding my steps along the way.”

Hartman shared that he is working on becoming a licensed pastor in the Evangelical Free Church of America…”Outside of that, this is becoming a more difficult question. I am making it my mission to only go where God leads me. That’s how I ended up here in the first place and I simply trust His plan and will more than my own. For me, I will serve this church until God says otherwise. I will serve in Youth Ministry until God says otherwise. My heart is for teenagers to live boldly and confidently in Christ right now. I don’t honestly see that heart changing any time soon, but God is in control.”

“I mean this as genuinely as I can state it; that I simply want God to be glorified through my life. If He is known more than me, then I guess you might be able to say I accomplished something.”

When asked where he would like to find himself in 10 years, Hartman said, “In 10 years, I would like to find myself serving God in whatever capacity He asks of me.”

Hartman, son of Ron and Tracy Hartman, Geneseo, is a 2019 graduate of Geneseo High School, and commented that his parents “are one of the most significant influences I have right now as I navigate unknown waters and try out new things. They have made these steps very easy for me.”

He also has a brother and two sisters.