Welcome Summer Intern Jack Holloway

One of Jack Holloway’s heroes: Reformed theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968). Among the many things for which Barth is remembered and appreciated: in 1934, he wrote the Barmen declaration, which rejected the influence of Nazism on German Christianity. 

“It was through Barth that I started getting into the Reformed tradition,” Jack says. “so I thought, maybe I’ll get ordained in the Reformed Church of America. I thought I should introduce myself to Pastor Meeter, and I did. We had lunch and a conversation. And a few weeks later, he offered me this job.”

The job: summer intern, which Jack has accepted and has since wasted not a moment in getting right to work. Not only will Jack keep a number of plates spinning this summer, he’s going to need some helping hands, so be sure to reach out.

More about this soon — first a little background:

Originally from Seattle, Jack attended Regent University in Virginia Beach. He and his wife, Debbie, married in 2013; they moved to New York so that Jack could attend Union Theological Seminary. That’s when they discovered St. Lydia’s in Gowanus; he and Debbie have attended there for a few years.

“Our [St. Lydia’s] Easter vigil last year and this year was here at Old First,” Jack says, on how he initially discovered our church. “Our space in Gowanus is very small. At Easter, a lot of people come, so it’s more than we can fit in our tiny space.”

Jack has quickly become an integral part of our Old First space. Among his responsibilities: preaching, as well as helping to run our summer respite shelter for men, along with Michael Bagnulo.

Jack is coordinating with the other partner churches involved in the project, including Greenwood Baptist, St Francis Xavier, St John’s Episcopal, Resurrection Park Slope, and Park Slope United Methodist.

“I’ll be getting the slots filled so that we have all the volunteers that we need every day,” Jack says. “And I’ll be here every Monday night as the official coordinator.”

Although he doesn’t have experience with homeless shelters in particular, Jack has done a lot of coordinating — rounding up volunteers, making sure positions are filled on time and that everything runs on schedule.

“I’ve found that even though there are times that it looks like it won’t come together, it usually does,” he says.

Jack is also grateful to Pastor Daniel Meeter for helping him feel welcome at Old First and for getting him up to speed quickly.

“He’s wonderful,” Jack says of Pastor Meeter. “He’s a theologian like myself. He’s very great to talk to on that point because I think about things theologically and so does he. I’m learning a lot from him. He’s very hands on and helpful and passionate about all he does. All of that helps. He has been very kind.”

Jack is equally looking forward to his opportunity to preach this summer; it’s his first time in an official capacity.

“Preaching is very important to me,” he says. “There is a reverence there for preaching. I take it very seriously.”

He’s given his sermons — and the reason for his sermons –much reflection.

“There are different thoughts behind what a sermon should be,” he says. “I understand that preaching is based on the forgiveness of sins, so as a preacher, I’m still a human. There is a lot of forgiveness that comes with saying anything about God, but, at the same time, I am speaking as the Lord’s representative to the church, which is very important to me. I take that very seriously.”

Click here to contact Jack.

Click here to read more about volunteer opportunities at the Respite Shelter this summer.

Click here to read about the joys and spiritual benefits of volunteering for the shelter.