Tom Schumacher came to the Southern Maryland area for school in the late 90s and returned with his family in 2003, joining Pax Pres in early 2004. Leaving the service in 2010 he has remained in the area working for the Navy at NAS Pax River. A native Minnesotan, he has adapted well to being in a “kind of southern” area with his wife Patsy (a native New Yorker) and their son, Peter, who was born in California.
He has to laugh a little at finding himself involved in Youth Ministry. God touched him during some challenging times as a freshman in college and he came to have a personal relationship with Jesus at that time. Involved in various campus ministries such as Navigators and The Great Commission Church he saw how God transformed lives when people met with Him regularly. Those experiences led to varied involvement with churches and small groups ever since. After marrying Patsy in ’95 they have regularly hosted small groups & Bible Studies and have been active in music and teaching ministries. A recent conversation with Patsy should have been a harbinger, as they were talking about future plans and Tom quipped, “I’d like to teach, but definitely not Middle School”. God must have laughed because Pastor Mike soon after asked Tom to help with 6th and 7th grade Sunday School; 6 years and a couple of Great Escape Retreats later, Tom is having a great time doing stuff with the youth, especially the last two years helping with Youth Group. He is excited for the foundation that is being formed with the Youth Ministry team.
Current hobbies are spending time with Patsy and Peter, and this year their exchange student Aliya; learning guitar and general sound production, and seeing God touch our adults-in-training through the Youth Ministry.
His life verse has been Prov 3:5-6 since coming to the Lord, and still is his foundation today:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”
As a life mission he would quote the Navigator’s moto as he learned it: “To know Christ and to make Him known.” With the current Youth Leader, Kate, moving on to her family’s next military assignment, Tom is excited to see what God in mind for our youth ministry.
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