A Duell Family Update
Anno Domini 2024
Reaching the end of another year, it seems fitting to update our friends who have an interest in our family, our work, and our faith. This year included a lot of plodding, some exciting victories that God won, and growth on several fronts.
FAMILY
First, family. Many of you won’t read past this section and it’s ok. I get it.
Stephie is knocking it out of the park as a full time mother and homemaker. Her dedication to her job makes me consider her a student of what I would call “Craft Motherhood”. She is constantly looking for ways to improve how our home functions, level up the quality of our food, and faithfully be Mom to three kids. I am exceedingly grateful for her and impressed by her growing skills in this vocation God has placed her in. She read 108 books this year and is plotting for next year. OPE, she just said to me “well I’m probably going to finish one more tomorrow.”
Ransom, our eldest will be 6 soon, and is growing in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and men which is what we pray for him. He has a mind that is geared for construction and our yard is frequently a maze of ropes, barriers, walls, and jerry-rigged contraptions. He loves to be read to and is currently in the thick of the Chronicles of Narnia. I haven’t read them in many years and they have made me ugly weep three times already while I try to struggle through reading it out loud. They’re that good.
Collette is 2 and is like the light of the sun shining on my face when you greet it at dawn.
Dane joined us this year and is a little fat man. We don’t know what he’s like yet. But his middle name is Wilberforce so we’ll where that takes him. When he smiles, his eyes shut from joy.
We enjoy a rich extended family situation here in Tucson with family on both sides, and cousins stacking up to the sky in a pyramid formation. Seriously, there’s so many Duells around here now.
CHURCH
I have been full time pastoring for 3 years now, and this year brought some very much needed strengthening moments.
The first came with our introduction to and pursuit of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches. Ever since we planted the Table Church, we knew we did not want to and could not remain independent. We sought a presbyterian structure that would afford us accountability and support. The CREC provides on both those fronts, while being an excellent fit for our church both in culture and doctrine. We have much to learn as a church and as leaders when it comes to these matters, but we feel confident we are in the right spot. The fellow pastors, deacons, and parishioners from churches throughout our presbytery that we have met have been the confirmation. These men and women are excellent.
WATCH: Anselm Presbytery celebrating the seating of two Philippine churches
The second great moment of this year was my own ordination. Despite having led as a pastor for a couple years up to this point, I had not been ordained, which was inordinate :) and needed to be resolved. The pastor of our mother church in Grand Junction, Colorado, pastor Mike Denna, traveled down to Tucson and ordained the officers of the Table church which included Jason Nissley, Archer Duell, and myself. This was a a beautiful day with family in attendance and pastors from across Tucson and Arizona who came to lay hands on us as we were given holy orders to serve Christ’s church.
The third and most exciting update is a truly marvelous tale of unity that God has wrought in our city.
For years I have gushed to anyone who would listen about the deep unity that the churches in Tucson are experiencing these days. Well, we got to experience some of that fruit.
Early in 2024, at the prodding of pastors who knew both our churches well, the leaders of the Table Church and Alta Vista Bible Church were encouraged to consider turning our two churches into one. Sparing you all the details, after much prayer and planning it was determined this was a wise move, and in October of this year, Trinity Reformed Church officially started worshipping together. Our two churches were uniquely poised to be together, sharing much in common. We can’t believe our own mouths when we say this, but to date, we have not lost a single family from either of the previous two churches as a result of this merge (wedding more like). We see this as an answer from God that we were indeed listening to His Spirit as we seek to faithfully shepherd the flock.
For me, this has meant a new and rich team of men and their families surrounding me who are loving and supporting our family well as I continue to lead, husband, and parent. Quite notably this has brought me a true partner in ministry, Jason Nelsestuen. Jason is my dear friend and I am so thankful for God placing him in my life as my pastor, elder brother, and co-laborer. I am thrilled to be a pastor at Trinity Reformed Church and I am excited to see what God brings in the coming years for our little embassy of the kingdom.
Come visit us some time; we sing loud, feast rich, and welcome the smallest among us to worship the biggest God in spirit and truth.
TENT-MAKING
As a church planter, I remain bi-vocational, leading the team at Duell Real Estate to offer services that bless and enrich our clients in a God-honoring way. Our business was recently featured in a local publication, you can check it out in these photos:
As we look to Epiphany Sunday and a new year, I pray that the love of our Lord Jesus Christ fills your hearts, and His glory gives light to your face. Magnify the Lord with me.
To the King!
Tucson, 7th Day of Christmastide, Anno Domini 2024
