Shurson intends to stop swinging door of pastors at Waypoint

Tennessean Andy Shurson moved to Maricopa with his young family during the summer to assume his first role of lead pastor at Waypoint Church.

Shurson, 33, relocated from the Seattle area, where he led a youth ministry for three years.

The Southern Baptist congregation meets at Maricopa Elementary School every Sunday. Its congregation has been eager for a “steadying presence” behind the pulpit since experiencing a transition period spanning years between lead pastors who seem to come and go, Shurson said.

For that reason, the young pastor plans to sow his seeds in the desert church long-term.

“Most research says it takes five to seven years for a pastor to really impact the culture of a church,” he said. “I plan to make an impact.”

Shurson grew up in Nashville. While attending seminary in Dallas, he paid for his education by walking dogs and performing odd ministry jobs. He was a hospital chaplain, a writer and a researcher for customized curriculum for mega churches.

While writing for a second company, Shurson married Lauren, a nurse practitioner, in 2013. Soon after, he felt an urge to be in church ministry.

That’s when the newlyweds moved across the country to the Pacific North West for Shurson’s youth ministry position in rainy Seattle.

After a few years, he felt the push to do adult and preaching ministries. He soon found Waypoint.

The couple, now a foursome, moved with their sons, 2-year-old Haddon and 1-year-old Lewis, to the sunny Southwest.

“They love being outdoors and going to the pool,” Shurson said of his tots.

For the new pastor, it was important for the family to live in the city where he leads church. Shurson said Waypoint’s kinship and passion was apparent from the first conversations he had with elders during the interview process.

“I really had fallen in love with Waypoint. Church is meant to be in the community that it’s in, so I want to live in the place that I’m doing ministry,” he said.

As his family settles into their new community, the young pastor is feeling the excitement – and the weight – of his new role.

“I’m shepherding a congregation of 70 people, many of whom are older than I am; Many of whom have been at this church for five or six years and have gone through a lot. It’s not something I take lightly,” Shurson said.

Attend a Shurson sermon at Waypoint, Sundays at 10:30 a.m., at 18150 N. Alterra Parkway. For more information visit the church website or Facebook page.