Due to the COVID-19 shutdown, Jason Thoman had to discontinue many of his usual ministry undertakings. So, he has taken advantage of opportunities to witness and serve in other ways.

Jason, a graduate of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS), is an intern at College Hill RPC in Beaver Falls, Pa. Since church started meeting in-person again in June, he has preached there monthly.

When the coronavirus first hit, Jason was finishing his studies at RPTS, interning, and serving in the Indiana Army National Guard. Jason is involved in several ministry opportunities around Beaver Falls. While juggling different ministry events, he has found each act of service needing his attention; oftentimes he has to choose which one is more important at that moment.

Jason considers individual and group Bible study to be his main outlet of ministry. He, his wife, and a few other helpers from the congregation meet bimonthly with the youth group. A mixture of kids from both of the College Hill worship sites, as well as First RPC (Beaver Falls, Pa.), regularly attend. Because of restrictions brought about by COVID, Jason has not been able to meet with the small groups for quite some time. Jason says that he has a heart to see the youth of the congregation rooted and growing in their faith: “This is an important ministry that I hope to be involved in for years to come. I love to see young people grow in their love for the church and find ways to serve in Christ’s kingdom.”

He misses having the youth group in his home and keeping in touch with each person; Jason is very invested in the youth at these churches and in other groups.

One such group, which up until now had met almost every week for the last three years, is a jujitsu class that Jason teaches. It has grown, starting out with two to three people and recently consisting of 12 to 14 people from the congregation, community, and Geneva College. In addition to teaching practical and extremely cool defense tactics, Jason begins the training with God’s Word and ends it with prayer. Jason has missed seeing his class. “The group brought people together from various walks of life, most of whom would never have met each other if it were not for jujitsu. These interactions provided opportunities to develop relationships with the express intent to proclaim the good news of Jesus in word and action.”

Although he hasn’t been able to meet with this group either, the Lord provided a different way for Jason to pursue ministry and serve in the community. While still at RPTS, he had an assignment to conduct a short-term evangelistic Bible study with an unbeliever. Jason asked a friend from his jujitsu class if he would be willing to do the study with him. To his delight his friend agreed, and they began a study of the Gospel of John twice a week.

After their Bible study ended, his friend expressed interest to continue their video call meetings. He is grateful to be able to say that his friend has “expressed a belief in the gospel, and I am seeing fruits of repentance.” As a result of this friend’s interest, Jason has been given the opportunity to start a group study at a local gym. He is especially hopeful for the salvation of several young men there who are leading difficult lives.

Although the pandemic threw a wrench in his ministry plans, Jason’s time away from these groups gave him a greater appreciation for serving. Most of all, he is overwhelmingly glad to be worshiping the Lord once again at church. Jason remarked that he hopes “this has created a longing to be in God’s house for worship for others like it has for me. Psalm 122:1 keeps repeating in my head: ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” ’ ”

Audrey McMahan is a junior at Beaver County Christian School in Beaver Falls, Pa. She attends College Hill RPC and the youth group that the Thomans lead. She enjoys reading and writing as well as playing sports (mainly volleyball), and painting.