Pastor Christine Cappetta. Dakotas Conference file photo.

“I have always worked in the church. That has been my life,” she says. “I think I have had about every type of ministry job, youth leader, worship leader, but never thought I would be a pastor!” These are the words of Pastor Christine Cappetta who is serving at ARK.

Christine Cappetta, a mother to six children under the age of 12, is on a path to be an ordained elder in the Dakotas Conference. Lots of networks are feeding her ministry journey.

She began her journey three years ago as a licensed local pastor serving ARK Church in North Sioux City, South Dakota. ARK stands for acts of random kindness, the mission of the congregation.

As a married young adult with a family, Cappetta found herself searching for a church home that would help her grow in her love for God. She and her husband traveled to Sioux Falls, from Sioux City, and attended Embrace Church at the 57th Street campus.

“It was the right fit for us,” says Pastor Christine. “We connected through small groups and outreach projects.”

Embrace was looking at Sioux City as a possible site for a campus. One thing led to another, and soon she found herself assigned to be the pastor at ARK in North Sioux City.

“I did not know if I should take this leap of faith,” says Cappetta. “My husband told me, ‘this is so you, you need to do this.’ So here I am.”

The Ark is a part of the Embrace Church Network. Embrace Network was created with the purpose of coming alongside other churches to encourage and support them in reaching the next person for Jesus. Each church partnership is different, but the hope is the same, for people to love and know Jesus.

The network is the source of sermons, live-streamed in as part of the weekly worship at ARK.  The congregation also participates in small group leader training. Pastor Christine is a regular part of training and discussions with other Embrace Network pastors.

“It has been a tremendous boost to our church. The connection has been a support for me and so many others in our congregation,” Cappetta says.

Ten churches are part of the Embrace Network, including these Dakotas Conference congregations:  Ark in North Sioux City, South Dakota; Impact in Aurora, South Dakota; Unite in Salem, South Dakota; United Methodist Church in Parker, South Dakota; and the United Methodist Church in White, South Dakota. There are five congregations in Minnesota that are also part of the Embrace Network.

Capetta is working on a Master of Divinity degree through the Kairos Program. The degree program is a collaborative effort of the Dakotas Conference, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and Sioux Falls Seminary framed around outcomes or competencies. The program’s flexibility, which combines online plus in-person learning experiences, was a fit for Cappetta. Her goal is to become an ordained elder of The United Methodist Church. 

“I love the combination of practical learning on the job and the coursework of the Kairos program. I am a mom to six children. So, there is no way I could leave and go to seminary,” she says.

The Kairos Program is affordable and fits Cappetta’s budget. She receives some scholarship funds from the Dakotas Conference and the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation.

Members at ARK church load up bags of food for the Backpack Program. Facebook photo.

“I like the networking and connections I make with other students. It is beneficial,” says Pastor Christine.

The Embrace Network and the Kairos Program are networks that have shaped Christine Cappetta’s ministry journey. 

Resources:

How does a congregation become part of the Embrace Network?

A church joins voluntarily because they want to receive the weekend message and/or worship plus the other content and materials that Embrace provides. Each church signs an agreement with Embrace, purchases a streaming device, and pays an annual fee for the services that are provided. Contact: Pastor Rick Post at rick.post@iamembrace.

To learn more about the Kairos Program visit the Sioux Falls Seminary website.