PENI KEHOE
CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR
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PENI'S STORY OF FAITH
I have been in Church Administration for over 38 years, beginning as part-time secretary to my own church for 22 of those years and 3 years at another Episcopal Church. I came to First Presbyterian in April of 2007.
I was baptized in the Methodist Church, but my parents were not church-goers. I do remember getting dressed up for Easter, but my most memorable times as a child are attending Vacation Bible School. That’s where I learned “Jesus Loves Me”! A bunch of neighbor kids would reenact VBS after the church Bible school was over.
When I was just turning 10 my family moved to the Florida Keys. We left all of our family behind. But somehow I knew that Jesus was with me…even in that traumatic time. We had to build a new community for ourselves. Even when my parents didn’t take me to church, I had friends who would invite me into their community. When I was 15 I was invited by the Episcopal Church to be the sitter for the nursery. That church made me part of their community and when I was 16 I was confirmed and took part in the life of the church. I developed in my faith with their love and support. When I left home for business school, I didn’t attend church much…but I never left my faith behind.
As a married adult, I joined a church in Decatur and with my family we built another community. That community helped me in deepening my faith. When our family grew, we moved to Conyers and it was at St. Simon’s that I developed an even deeper connection, not just to God, but to a community of faith. Through a painful job loss, cancer, health problems and a divorce, that community helped me by surrounding me with their love and support. I’ve never doubted that God was with me (although I have asked God to answer some pointed questions), but when crisis strikes, there is nothing like your faith community to support you through them. Good Shepherd is now my church home, but First Presbyterian is also part of my faith community and has been a great support to me for almost 14 years here. I am sure that, especially during this time, that they are to you, too!
I have been in Church Administration for over 38 years, beginning as part-time secretary to my own church for 22 of those years and 3 years at another Episcopal Church. I came to First Presbyterian in April of 2007.
I was baptized in the Methodist Church, but my parents were not church-goers. I do remember getting dressed up for Easter, but my most memorable times as a child are attending Vacation Bible School. That’s where I learned “Jesus Loves Me”! A bunch of neighbor kids would reenact VBS after the church Bible school was over.
When I was just turning 10 my family moved to the Florida Keys. We left all of our family behind. But somehow I knew that Jesus was with me…even in that traumatic time. We had to build a new community for ourselves. Even when my parents didn’t take me to church, I had friends who would invite me into their community. When I was 15 I was invited by the Episcopal Church to be the sitter for the nursery. That church made me part of their community and when I was 16 I was confirmed and took part in the life of the church. I developed in my faith with their love and support. When I left home for business school, I didn’t attend church much…but I never left my faith behind.
As a married adult, I joined a church in Decatur and with my family we built another community. That community helped me in deepening my faith. When our family grew, we moved to Conyers and it was at St. Simon’s that I developed an even deeper connection, not just to God, but to a community of faith. Through a painful job loss, cancer, health problems and a divorce, that community helped me by surrounding me with their love and support. I’ve never doubted that God was with me (although I have asked God to answer some pointed questions), but when crisis strikes, there is nothing like your faith community to support you through them. Good Shepherd is now my church home, but First Presbyterian is also part of my faith community and has been a great support to me for almost 14 years here. I am sure that, especially during this time, that they are to you, too!
