Jesus, Friends, Mission

Brian & Michele Adams

A Digital Resume Under Construction

Greetings!!!

Hi, I’ll try and give you some quick personal facts about what our journey has been thus far and our interests in no particular order.

I am middle age...not in mind, philosophy, perspective, energy or looks (☺)...just by chronology. Am a HUSBAND, a FATHER, a FRIEND who is blessed by many great friends that the world has to offer, and most importantly a FOLLOWER of The Way. Am more casual than formal, passionate than reserved…prefer relevant & effective over ceremonial and for LOVE to permeate all things.

Michele and I were married May 21, 1988 in my home church, Capital Assembly of God where at the time I was youth pastor. During that time Capital was a thriving growing church, with deep friendships practicing biblical community …think “where everybody knows your name”. Life was indeed good!

I have been part of the New Jersey Assemblies of God my whole life and ministry. My Aunts father was the 1st Dist Suprintendent of New Jersey (Richard Bergstrom; a long time ago), I grew up in the late Superintendents church, Bro. John Paproski, where my parents were married and attended up until the early 70’s, then moving to Capital Assembly because they had a thriving kids program. At Capital we were apart of everything… Royal Rangers, Missionettes, church plays, picnics, sunday school, VBS, youth group, choir, etc. My grandfather pastored in Lakewood, NJ in the 60’s into the early 70’s and had purchased property on County Line Road, now Calvary Lighthouse. I have a fond memory of him and I going to the hardware store to get a steel post to hang a sign advertising the church, as a new highway had been built and opened a exit…the Garden State Parkway. :)

Michele and I have three adult children, Jonathan, Ashley & Abigail, and one grand-daughter Kennedy who is turning 7 on April 20th. Our son Jonathan passed away suddenly in 2020, and Abigail was married in 2021 (they are Children’s Pastors in Buffalo, NY) The death of a child is a traumatic experience, to which we are still walking the journey of recovery, and seeing how God is using our experience to help others. Thru it all, God is indeed good!!

Michele is a wonderful mother and grandmother, home maker, and works full-time at our friends Law Firm. We have worked hand in ministry most of our married lives, even speaking to approximately 60,000 high school students in New Jersey regarding abstinence in the middle 2000’s. She also is presently taking classes with the NJ School of Ministry and is loving it, with a plan to co-pastor together in this next phase of life. We both LOVE a warm day at the beach, with our favorite being in the nationals oldest seaside resort Cape May, exercising, biking, etc. I am a self-proclaimed :) botanical horticulturist and semi professional landscaper (which means I love creating outdoor spaces to life life in) and have recently hosted two weddings in our backyard. I also love doing various construction projects. Michele and I can be found always trying to make it outdoors. We presently reside in Toms River, NJ since 2000, and are excited about what the Lord has for us in this next season.

Michele and I love the Holy Spirit, and desire to be Spirit Led in all that we do. This, and only this, brings us to the reason why you are reading this page.

To be continued…

A Brief Resume Overview

PASSIONS

Leadership development; Intentional Discipleship: personal & group; Able to discern and address needs for growth (no stagnancy); Builder of effective teams; Biblical cultural preaching, values transparency, vulnerability, teachability, faithfulness, integrity and clear open communication; World Missions focused - Led teams to 7 countries including India and Colombia (March,2023); Embraces and practices spiritual disciplines; Prefers personal relationship over distanced formality; Passionate about worship, prayer, prophetically sensitive ministry, and applying the Word to life; Able to effectively lead within demanding schedules, obstacles and difficulty; Learner & Visionary.

MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

Assemblies of God U.S. Missions — Missionary; 2000 - Present

  • Pastor/Director of Rutgers Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, 2013

  • Director of Youth Alive Campus Ministries New Jersey, 2000

Rutgers Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship — Pastor & Director at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; 2013 - Present

  • Re-Pioneered an effective and continually growing sustainable ministry in the midst of an environment hostile to the Gospel.

  • Developed Rutgers Chi Alpha non-profit, banking, social media & web presence, brand identity, ministry funding.

  • Developed Discipleship plan to maintain excellence - disciples who make disciples; Developed and Trained adult and student leaders: worship, outreach, missions, serve teams, social media, administrative

    • In the context of a yearly 60-80% student leadership turnover.

  • Developed student world missions program.

  • Developed a ministry distinguished as most diverse among 700+ student orgs at Rutgers University; Developed a Chi Alpha ministry identified as highest student involvement to staff ratio among Chi Alpha Nationally.

  • Chi Alpha Pastor Job Description

Searchlight Church, Long Branch, NJ — Church Planting Team; 2010 - 2012

Bethany Church, Wyckoff, NJ — Youth & Assoc. Pastor; 1993 - 1999

Evangel Church, Scotch Plains, NJ — Youth & Asst. Pastor; 1991 - 1993

Capital Assembly of God, Trenton, NJ — Youth & Worship Pastor; 1987 - 1991

EDUCATION

University of Valley Forge — Bachelor of Science - Bible, 1990

Southeastern University

ORDINATION

General Council of the Assemblies of God, 1993

References

Available upon request. On the list would be:

  • New Jersey District Suprintendent Donald James (formerly Pastor of Bethany Church)

  • former New Jersey District Suprintendent Carl Colletti.