In this Update post we congratulate Eric and Pat Shaw on the occasion of their retirement from employment with GCI. Well done faithful servants!
Eric Shaw
Eric was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in the northern Appalachian Mountains on the family farm. In 1962, at the age of 19, he rode a bus from his home in Pennsylvania to Pasadena, California to attend Ambassador College. After graduating in 1966, he began working full-time in the church’s Mail Processing Center, becoming its manager in 1995.
Eric married Pat Melott in 1967. They have two daughters: Sasha who lives in California and Vicki who lives in North Carolina.
Eric entered GCI’s full time ministry in 1996. While working as a pastor, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Religion with emphasis in Theology and Ethics from Azusa Pacific University. For 15 years, Eric pastored Community Life Fellowship, the GCI congregation in Altadena, California. He then retired from GCI employment on August 31.
In retirement, Eric plans to do more writing, to spend time supporting those interested in the urban gardening movement, and to continue working with GCI’s Southwest Church Planting Network.
Pat Shaw
Pat was born Patricia Melott in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where she still has deep roots as a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. The Melott family moved to southern Missouri when she was in elementary school and Pat grew up in the beautiful Ozarks. In 1965, Pat entered Ambassador College in Pasadena where she met Eric.
In 1988, Pat began employment with GCI. Over the years she has served in the Festival Department and in Church Administration and Development (CAD). For the last several years in CAD she has served as an administrative assistant and budget analyst. She has also helped organize, serve and teach at CAD conferences and training events.
In 2005, Pat graduated from Azusa Pacific University, Haggard School of Theology with a Masters of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies with an emphasis in Church Development. Following graduation, and while working full time in CAD, she began teaching the Women in Leadership class at Grace Communion Seminary (GCS) and serving on the GCS board.
In retirement, Pat plans to continue teaching at GCS and serving on the GCS board.
Here is a picture from the retirement party held for Eric and Pat in the GCI home office on September 5. GCI president Joseph Tkach and CAD director Dan Rogers present a retirement gift to the couple.
Eric & Pat,
Congratulations, continued blessings & love!
Sniffens,
Community Of Faith
Memphis, TN
Congratulations, Eric and Pat! Pat, I’ll really miss interacting with you over the phone and at conferences. Not to mention our discussions on the Pennsylvania deer population! God bless.
Pat, thanks so much for your years of service. You’ve always been so cheerful and prompt in helping us in the field whenever needed! You’ll be sorely missed. Eric, thanks for sharing Pat with us!
Blessings,
Doug
Congratulations Eric and Pat! Thank you both for your years of sacrificial service to the Body of Christ and to
our fellowship. You labor of love will definitely be felt for generations to come.
Love you guys!
Mike & Juli
We will surely miss your warmth, your smile and your help at the conferences and in working at CAD. Thank you – and also Eric – for your years of wonderful service. Blessing to both of you, Jim and Marj
Congratulations, wishing you a blessed retirement.
Congratulations and God bless! Ray and Carol Meyer
Welcome to retirement…… it is fabulous. I know you will be missed but you will be really busy…it happens to all of us. Congratulations and enjoy your new life!!!
Thank you pastor Eric and Pat for the years of service you have given the church. You both are such a great couple and inspired many of us. Thank you for your faithfulness, hospitality and wisdom. May the Lord bless you richly as you enter a new chapter in your ministry and life.
Congratulations and “Happy Retirement”. If you are like me, ‘get ready to REALLY go to work. Thank you both for your many years of faithful love and service to the church and the ministry. You will be missed greatly.
God bless always,
Paul and Pat Kurts
Madison, Alabama
Dear Eric and Pat,
Thank you. You have given Nancy and me pleasant memories that include hospitality in your home and devoted service to our denomination as a whole. Nancy and I are learning to work in our “sweet spot” in retirement. It sounds like you are planning the same. We love you and look forward to the next time we can see you.
Ken and Nancy Williams
Dear Eric and Pat
God bless you for all your years of service. Now the NEXT chapter begins.
Congratulations,Pat and Eric, Thank you for your many years of service. The both of you will be missed. We will miss talking to Pat when we call Church Headquarters. We hope you will attend some of the conferences so we will be able to visit with you. Phyllis and I wish both of you a wonderful retirement.
Phyllis and James Humphries
Hey friends, glad you are starting another phase in your lives. Enjoy. Love you,
Rachel K.
Dear Eric and Pat, Thanks for your service to the church and ministry. We are going to miss seeing you at the conferences but we know that you will never retire from serving behind the scenes. God bless you and your family in all of your endeavours. Greatfully yours, Richard and Joyce.
Pat and Eric,
Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for your many years of service and I too will miss seeing you at the District conferences and thanks for being such great friends with my parents, Al and Marie Allworth. Your service and devotion is greatly apprciated through all the years of your work at Headquarters.
Take care,
Cheryl Cooper(Allworth)
Congratulations Pat & Eric. We pray that your retirement will be very happy and productive. Many thanks for your sacrificial service for so many years in our denomination. With love in Christ, Guy & Penny
Dear Eric and Pat, it has been great knowing both of you over these many years. Our time serving together in the Pasadena congregations is especially memorable. We know you will enjoy the change of pace. You still have many fruitful years ahead of you. CONGRATULATIONS! Love, Tom & Adrienne
Really happy for you guys! Always enjoy our talks and look forward to sharing our retirement “experiences.”
Thanks for the many years of service and example you two have set for us all.
Love, Bob & Ruth