We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tyler Kerley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tyler, appreciate you joining us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

I am early into my ministry. Within two weeks, my wife, Jane, and I were married and moved to Woodstock, GA to serve at Resurrection Anglican Church, and that was just over 3 years ago. So we have enjoyed many of our “firsts” at this church.

We closed on our first home just last year. Before we moved in, the church generously took up a special offering to help us furnish our first home. They collected $8,000 for us. We have many considerate people who have done many other smaller acts of kindness like this one, and this gift is just one example of a church that has really cared for us deeply.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The two books that have most influenced my thinking on discipleship are “The Master Plan of Evangelism” by Robert Colemen and “The Trellis and the Vine” by Colin Payne and Tony Marshall.

To me, the best image from my own life I can think that illustrates the message of those books is the homeless mission at which I worked. The mission’s program was 9 months and included Bible and recovery classes, daily chapels, case management, counseling, and job readiness training. Just like an addict, all of us need loving relationships and rules which provide us with structure and accountability in our own recovery from sin.

In the end, ministry is about the people, not the program. The program serves the purpose of making a difference in the lives of people.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I recently succeeded my boss, Gene Prince, in December as the Rector of Resurrection Anglican Church. Gene has been not only a boss, but a friend and a father figure. Gene and I were connected through a mutual friend, who interestingly was the pastor of our church prior to Gene.

Near the end of graduating from seminary, I had a phone call with this mutual friend to ask his advice about how to get connected with churches. The following day, while I was sitting in my final seminary class, I received an email from this man saying that he had a friend looking for a part-time associate and more details were to come.

That friend would be Gene Prince. To this day, I still don’t know what Gene saw in me. When I asked him, Gene simply said, “Sometimes you just have a good feeling.” I feel Gene’s choice has been pure grace.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rezwoodstock.org
• Instagram: @rez_woodstock
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resurrectionwoodstock
• Youtube: Rez Woodstock

Image Credits
Tyler and his wife, Jane, serving communion. Group Photo: Confirmation class Three Ladies at a summer churchwide gathering at Fr. Tyler and Jane’s house: Faith Powell, Diane Smith, and Marissa Woodall Greg Owen showing a youth how to shoot a bow at the church’s weeknight family ministry gathering. Table Photos: 13 newcomers came to Fr. Tyler and Jane’s house for brunch.