Community Updates from Dr. Bob 6/14/2023
I am reflecting on our town hall meeting ten days ago, as I hope you all are as well. We have much to sort through these next months. In some ways it’s like a big move. We have to take time to sort through all of our belongings, deciding what to take with us, what we don’t want to take with us, what we want to be the same at our new home, and what we want to be different. The more intentionality that is involved on the front end—instead of just throwing everything in boxes and saying you’ll deal with it later—the better.
One of the important items discussed at our town hall meeting is the three areas we need to be intentional about before bringing in senior pastor candidates: mission clarity, ministry engagement, and financial stability. (If you’d like to hear the whole town hall meeting, you can find that link here.) But any senior pastor candidate is going to ask about these three areas as they assess whether they want to take on this role. They will be asking:
1. What level of clarity does this congregation have about their mission? Do they know what they want and what God has called them toward? Or do they want me to come in and do that for them?
2. To what degree are the people currently engaged in living out that mission? Are the people active and involved? Or are they waiting on the sidelines for paid staff to come in and do the work of the ministry?
3. Does the church have a reasonable amount of financial stability and a clear budget for moving forward? Are they being responsible stewards? Or are they funding various initiatives that have little to no return on investment? Are they spending wisely and strategically or just throwing money at problems hoping it will help?
If you are able to look at these questions from the point of view of a potential senior pastor, you can see that how we are really able to answer these questions—and what evidence we have to support our answers—makes a huge difference in whether that new senior pastor will be able to be successful in this environment.
How are we listening to God about these areas?
These three areas– mission clarity, ministry engagement, and financial stability—are particularly significant in light of this past Sunday’s sermon on Discerning God’s Guidance. How are we listening to God? What are we hearing from him? What questions are we asking him?
And—critically—what are we doing in response? One point I made in the sermon was that when we don’t know specifically what God’s will for us might be in certain areas, the best starting point is to do what we already know God is calling us to do. Start with what is clear. And what is that? Serve others, use our gifts, build redemptive relationships, pray, engage in kingdom ministry, encourage your neighbors, show up. This season of transition is important: what we choose to do (or not do) now matters.
So here is the question: Will you pull back or lean in? If you pull back and watch from the sidelines, all will come to nothing. If you lean in and begin by doing what you already know God is calling you to do, I believe we have a bright future ahead of us. I know many of you are tired and discouraged, but your choice right now—to engage or disengage—is what will make the difference.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Prayer Ministry Opportunities
One of the most critical actions we can each take right now is to pray. Our prayer ministry is expanding. We offer individual prayer during the services. You can email us with prayer needs at prayer@findcommunity.com. And our Wednesday prayer walks are growing! We meet every Wednesday morning from 8:30am to 8:50am; you can see a link here. We also encourage you to pray individually and together with your small groups or in your families. Prayer is an important work for the future of the church.
Student Ministry Celebration
God has heard our prayers for our students. We now have six new leaders to work with our middle schoolers! We also have some existing high school leaders who are getting involved with the middle schoolers as well. This is important so that every student can feel seen and heard in our church body.
When we pray and are faithful, we can see God doing amazing things. Much bigger than we can even ask or imagine right now.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
