10 years on staff for Abbey Adcox.
Sunday, April 16, marks 10 years of working at Wilshire for Abbey Adcox. As a ministry assistant, Abbey supports Wilshire’s missions and advocacy efforts, including planning and implementing mission projects and activities, helping with logistics for trips and matching volunteers to opportunities. “I love learning about what our mission partners are doing in the community,” Abbey says. “I love seeing those needs met.”
Associate Pastor Heather Mustain says, “I don’t consider Abbey an assistant, but rather a competent colleague in ministry. She has a clear passion for the ministries she provides support and leadership to, so much so that this is not just a job for her, but a ministry and calling. I have been so proud of the way she has challenged herself to lead in ways she may not have considered in the past. God surely has gifted her and we are so lucky to have her as such an integral part of our staff. She is fun, vibrant and caring. Her heart runs deep.”
Abbey helps give logistical support to the annual Youth Choir tour, lining up mission projects in the destination city. She also serves as co-coordinator, with Carolyn Murray, of the Women of Wilshire ministry.
Her role at the church has evolved over the years. She began by covering children’s ministry while Minister to Children Julie Girards was on sabbatical, then worked as a “floater,” covering for various staffers taking time off and helping in the workroom. Eventually she settled into a part-time admin position supporting women’s ministry under Tiffany Wright, advocacy under Katie Murray and missions under Heather. When the staff was reorganized in 2020, Abbey assumed her current full-time role.
Abbey grew up at nearby Skillman Church of Christ and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in child and family studies from Baylor and the University of North Texas, respectively. After college she worked 6.5 years as child development coordinator for Bryan’s House, a nonprofit serving children and families impacted by HIV and AIDS. Abbey says, “Missions and advocacy is a good match for my family systems and social work coursework and my previous work with nonprofit agencies.”
She and her husband, Chris, met at Baylor and began attending Wilshire during their engagement, joining in 1999. Abbey says, “I grew up Church of Christ. Chris grew up Southern Baptist. We were trying to find a place where we would both be comfortable. Chris’s mom and [Wilshire member] Janice Jernberg have been friends since their time at Baylor, and that connection drew us to Wilshire as well.” For Abbey, Wilshire’s MOPS group served as another entry point to the church. Abbey and Chris have raised three kids at Wilshire — Carter, 21, Camryn, 19, and Collin, 17 — and Abbey’s mother, Melissa Conway, joined Wilshire’s staff in 2021 as a part-time finance assistant.
“Serving on staff gives me the opportunity to develop relationships with Wilshire members, and I’ve greatly appreciated the opportunity to grow with changing responsibilities,” Abbey says. “I love the people. Wilshire is home, and I’m excited about our future together.”