Changing Hands

AIM celebrates the service of Jason Thornton, welcomes Pat Sheaffer as new Staff Coordinator.

A transition has been taking place at AIM over the course of the past several months. In the fall of 2002, Jason and Heather Thornton announced that they had decided to pursue a new ministry with the Memorial Drive Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Jason was offered the position of youth minister. At the time, Jason was in his fourth year of serving as the Staff Coordinator at AIM. He and Heather graciously arranged to continue working with AIM for the remainder of the school year for this last class, until a new staff coordinator could be brought in.

Jason's history with AIM dates back to 1992 when he and Heather both became AIM students. After returning from their field service in Ecuador, Jason and Heather married and served for several years as AIM assistants. In 1999, Jason became the Staff Coordinator. During the four years since then, God has used Jason's wisdom, vision and heart to touch the lives not only of each AIM student who has come, but of many others as well. Truly, AIM is a better place because of Jason, and he and Heather are already greatly missed.

Prayerfully seeking AIM's next Staff Coordinator, Jay Jarboe, Dean of Missions at SIBI, and Kris Smith, AIM Coordinator, turned to Patrick Sheaffer and his wife Malissa. At the time, Pat (as most people know him) and Malissa were nearing the end of their 5-year commitment as missionaries in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico. They had been praying and considering their options, and this new opportunity with AIM seemed like a great answer to prayer.

Pat brings a unique combination of experiences to his new position here, having seen AIM from multiple perspectives. He is the first person in the history of AIM administration to have experienced AIM first as a student, then as an assistant, and most recently as a coordinator on the field. God has blessed Pat and Malissa in their transition here, and He surely has some great challenges ahead for them as well. For example, the number of AIM assistants on staff this next school year is expected to be nearly double what it has been the last couple of years. We request that you join us in praying for Pat and Malissa in their new service here, as well as for Jason and Heather in their new ministry in Tulsa.

Rob Hindman (AIM '98)