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I finished my first year of ministry at Calvary Baptist Church at the end of October, 2026- a year that truly flew by! During that time, my family moved into the parsonage at the end of June and experienced our first summer in Belmar.  Now we are enjoying the fall foliage, had fun handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and are getting settled in our new home.

When we first started a year ago, I had to commute from Haddon Heights to Belmar. Now, Janet has to commute to work in South Jersey from Belmar. At the end of July Andrew completed his internship in Wilmington Delaware with Agilent Technologies.  In the beginning of May Sarah began working with Samaritan’s Purse in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is now in The Ukraine. 

My main focus this year has been working at the Church.  I have tried to make sure all of you are doing well.  I have also tried to introduce myself to the people of the Belmar area. Together we at the church are continuing to build on the firm foundation established by our forefathers and foremothers established over 130 years ago when our church first started.

I have been trying to understand a little bit more about the Belmar culture. In the past, I was more of a tourist, coming to the Jersey Shore for vacation. I rarely thought about what it must be like to live at the shore year-round.   Now, I am starting to understand.

During this year my family has taken many walks to the beach and boardwalk. We purchased a couple of bikes from the Belmar Bike Shop and have been riding around the beautiful lakes and ocean roads.  One thing that is unique about the area are the drawbridges. Our family also took a sunset cruise on ‘Miss Belmar’ with scenic views of the Tabernacle in Ocean Grove, Asbury Park, Avon-by the Sea, and Shark River.

Sarah, Andrew, Arielle (Andrew’s girlfriend), Janet and I have been enriched by the many towns, shops, coffee houses, restaurants, and entertainment spots in our area.  Last week, we enjoyed a craft fair at the First Presbyterian Church of Belmar and also Belmar’s own craft fair on Main Street.  Recently, Andrew purchased a surfboard and wetsuit so that he can now try his hand at surfing in Belmar!

Thanks for having me as your pastor.  I am looking forward to my installation service on Nov. 22nd at 3pm at our Church. You are all welcome either in-person or by watching live streamed. Please pray for my family, for Andrew’s job search in the field of Film and Media Production, for Sarah’s safety in the Ukraine, and for my wife as she commutes to work.

I hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving and get to spend some time with family.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Dwayne

Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his  gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to the LORD and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.                                          Psalm 100 NLT (New Living Translation)

‘And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.’

Abraham Lincoln (www.goodreads.com)