Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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| Jay Banasiak |
Banasiak grew up in the town of Harrison, Tenn. just north of Chattanooga. His parents lived, met and wed in North Carolina and moved to Tennessee shortly before his birth. He received his bachelor of arts degree in history with a double minor in music and French from Tennessee Technological University in 1997.
Banasiak had long felt a desire to work with young people, and he took a job as a history teacher at Sanderson High School in Raleigh. After only one year, however, he realized that teaching was not his true calling.
“I just quit my job, not knowing exactly what I was going to do,” said Banasiak. “I continued to substitute teach and worked with youth groups at churches in Cookeville and Raleigh.”
Banasiak loves to sing and play guitar and said he had always wanted to be a church’s “volunteer guitar guy.”
“Every church has one, the guy who brings his guitar to events or does special singing during service. I thought maybe I would be a music director or youth director, but then I really began to feel the call to ordained ministry. It was a late-in-life calling.”
Following a two-year period of discernment and spiritual formation, Banasiak entered the Union Theological Seminary & the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Va. in 2002. He received his master of divinity and master of arts in Christian education degrees in 2006.
“I learned how to combine my teaching and musical skills with my love of working with youth and use them to give young people a positive experience. Growing up, I enjoyed the youth group at my church in Chattanooga. It was a good experience for me, and I wanted to provide that same experience for others.”
In September 2005, Banasiak began serving as a seminary intern at the First Presbyterian Church of Gloucester, Va. It was there he began the search which would lead him to Clemmons.
“I started job searching in February 2006, and three churches jumped out at me because they had openings for a youth pastor. Clemmons seemed the most tailored to me because it involved preaching, worship leadership and pastoral care in addition to the youth ministry.”
Banasiak visited and interviewed with all three churches, and the Clemmons congregation, led by Rev. William Hoyle, extended the call to him in May.
“I prayed about it [the application process] and really felt called to Clemmons, and the members here did the same. I was approved on July 15 and started my job here on August 15. It’s what I wanted, and I like it. Rev. Hoyle and I work well together.”
Banasiak and Rev. Hoyle lead worship together each Sunday, and Banasiak delivers the sermon one Sunday per month. In addition to those duties, Banasiak is working to expand and enhance the church’s youth programming. The church has two youth groups- one for students in grades six through eight, and another for students in grades nine through 12- and approximately 40 total active members.
“An Associate Pastor generally has a specialized ministry, and mine is youth ministry. I want to maintain and create a positive place for ministry to happen, a place where the kids will want to come and where they can grow on their own faith journeys. I want them to feel safe here. They are a solid group already, and I am working on building my relationships with each of them and their families.”
Banasiak is responsible for coordinating and leading all youth activities, including mission trips, fundraisers, retreats and the annual summer conference. He is assisted by a group of adult volunteers.
“Our activities can range from Bible study to songs to games. I try to find ways to help the youth use their gifts. For example, our sound board on Sunday morning is run by two youth members. Others sing solos, play instruments or serve as lectors during the service.”
Banasiak said one of the things he most enjoys about his job is the unpredictability of his charges.
“When you’re working with youth, you never know what is going to happen next. You can plan and plan and end up doing something totally different. I think it’s exciting.
“Some people say they wouldn’t want my job, but to me it’s fun. I can’t imagine a better job than one where you get to play with the people you work with. [Working with youth] is what I enjoy doing, and it just comes naturally. It doesn’t feel like work at all.”
After years of searching and uncertainty, Banasiak said he is glad to have found a home at Clemmons Presbyterian.
“I definitely think this is where God wants me to be,” he stated.
Worship services at the church are held at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. on Sunday. The youth groups meet from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday evening, and a music activity for youth and children is held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Clemmons Presbyterian is located at 3930 Clemmons Road/Highway 158.