Brett Poynter’s pastoral journey began right here in the Southern California Conference (SCC) in 2001 as the youth and young adult pastor at the Temple City church. After nine years, Poynter was called to serve as the senior pastor at the Hacienda Heights church, where he served for eight years. Upon receiving an invitation to return to Temple City, Poynter served for six years as the senior pastor.
During his transition into the senior pastor role at Hacienda Heights, Poynter had the opportunity to join the missional church cohort at Andrews University and pursue his doctorate specializing in the missional church. Since earning his degree in 2017, he has explored what a missional church looks like practically. “It boils down to friendship evangelism, making connection with people,” he said. “And as the church is reminded that creating friendships and building those friendships is the way to people’s hearts, just as Jesus did*, that makes the difference.”
As for his favorite thing about being a pastor, Poynter couldn’t pick just one. “Definitely when people accept Christ and get baptized, and also, as the church or the newly baptized get involved in new ministries, get excited about applying the gospel and helping share the gospel,” he shared. Poynter also appreciates the unique opportunity he has had to be connected to churches for so long and in the same conference, allowing him to be part of milestones like graduation and marriage as the young people he pastored grow up.
He’s now stepping into the role of SCC Los Angeles Metro Region director, bringing the missional church focus with him. “Because of the new position, I still get to use and maintain my mission muscles in helping pastors in this direction as we’re all committed to being missional,” he said.
*See The Ministry of Healing, page 143, on the methods of Christ.
