A Faithful Friend and Answer to Prayer
- thrive-admin
- Mar 24
- 5 min read
This past weekend, with much laughter and a few tears, we celebrated the retirement of one of our elders, our Pastor of Discipleship, Norm Kight.
The Lord brought Johnathan and Norm together when they both were students at Union University in Jackson, TN. The two of them became part of an incredibly tight-knit group of friends (Johnathan speaks of these friendships with much fondness). After graduating from Union, Norm and Johnathan went their separate ways for seminary - Johnathan to Memphis and Norm to New Orleans. But they stayed in touch and, lo and behold, after Johnathan and I moved to Ohio to plant a church, Norm decided he’d come too.
Our church would not be what it is today without Norm. His impact simply cannot be measured.
Here are five words that come to mind that describe our friend.
1. Godsend
Before we moved to Ohio, the local Southern Baptist association gave us a list of people in the Dayton area who might be interested in being part of a church plant. So we moved, trusting the Lord would put together a leadership team. Johnathan started going through the list and one by one, crossed off each name as he discovered people had moved away or gotten plugged in at another church. So….our church had only 3 people: Johnathan, Jeni, and Joshua (still an infant). How were we going to get this church off the ground?
As Johnathan knocked on (so many!) doors and started meeting people, the Lord brought together an unconventional crew; we began meeting weekly for Bible study and then launched Sunday morning services in September of 1999. This team of four families (including the Newmans, although Joshua wasn’t super helpful!) served in the areas of worship, sound, children’s ministry, leading life groups, and more. What a blessing! Thank You, Lord! And within about a year and a half, those three other families - whom God in His good providence had used to launch this new church - all moved on, for one reason or another. It felt like we were back at ground zero. We were discouraged and needed help.
We prayed earnestly, Lord, we cannot do this on our own. Please send people to help us grow this church. God answered that prayer in more and better ways than we ever imagined (Eph. 3:20) but one extra-special answer to that prayer was Norm Kight. He left a thriving church in Virginia, where he was serving as youth minister, to support this fledgling church start. We couldn’t pay him, so Norm happily worked a variety of jobs – substitute teaching, mowing grass, working for the county – to make ends meet. It encouraged our hearts so much to have him with us in Troy – a friend and fellow worker in ministry to help build up and grow this new church.
He was a Godsend for the cause of the gospel and the growth of the kingdom. But we can’t miss stating the other supremely important reason God sent Norm to Troy - to meet his dear wife Rita, who is devoted to the Lord and to him, has diligently served by his side, and is truly a treasure.
2. Loyal
Norm moved to Troy in 2000, so he has been with us 26 years!! How many people do you know who stay at the same church for 26 years?
I wouldn’t say Norm’s loyalty was to the Newmans, even though he has been a faithful friend to our family all these years. His loyalty first and foremost is to Jesus, to building His kingdom by making disciples. And He knew God had called him to Troy to do just that. So he moved to Troy, sunk his roots in deep, put his hand to the plow, and has not looked back. Despite many ups and downs and the trials and tensions that inevitably come over 20+ years of ministry, Norm has remained here, fully engaged, faithfully building up the body of believers at Koinos. He has been the friend who sticks closer than a brother. He has been “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (I Cor. 15:58).
3. Servant
After Norm got settled in Troy, he hit the ground running. Norm is a worker and has a true servant’s heart. If Norm had a dollar for every person or family he has helped move, he could easily achieve his goal of visiting every MLB stadium across the US! He and Rita have brought countless meals and baked and shared probably hundreds of loaves of the best banana bread you’ve ever tasted. They’ve hosted and led life groups. Norm developed a discipleship curriculum, taught evangelism classes, prepared new believers for baptism, planned parties, set up and tore down hundreds of events, made hospital visits, celebrated at weddings and offered comfort at funerals. Norm’s smiling face and warm welcome bring many visitors back to Koinos a second and third time.
Also, when God brought Norm to us, our church’s fun factor grew exponentially! He has brought silliness and laughter through hilarious skits, games, and other shenanigans.
4. Family
Before Tom and Nikki Batty (another Godsend couple) came to Koinos and started using the term “forever family” to describe the special bond we have at our church, Norm was family to us. Our biological families were 8 hours away – in Atlanta and Memphis – but Norm was here. He was Uncle Norm to our kids. He came to their birthday parties, bearing gifts. He babysat them. He always greeted them with a smile and a hug. Our kids all have a soft spot in their hearts for Uncle Norm. (Let’s face it, kids love him.)
5. Kind
This word should describe all Christians and for sure all pastors - but there’s something special about Norm. Over the last 26 years, I can’t think of a single time he gossiped or spoke critically of another person. He just has a kind heart and a gentleness about him that is precious in a godly man. Both he and Rita are joyful, friendly, compassionate, and gentle.
He has been an encourager like Barnabas, a trusted partner like Titus, a valued co-worker and fellow soldier like Epaphroditus.
Norm, we “thank our God in all our remembrance of you always…because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:3-5).
Happy Retirement! You’ve earned it. And we’re so glad you are sticking around.
Jeni and Johnathan….for all the Newmans
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