Like you, I am praying fervently for our next pastor. I am praying that we will be able to call him soon and I am praying that God will give him great wisdom as he takes up the ministry here at Calvary. I don’t know who this man will be, what his background is, or how many kids he has. How old, how tall, how affable, how athletic, and how experienced he is are all still unknowns to me. There are, however, a number of things I do know about him and I believe I know him well enough to understand some things he would want you to know about himself.
How do I know these things, you ask? Good question. First, I have been this pastor coming into a new church. I have had successes and I have made horrible mistakes. I have had some wonderfully kind and godly folk in my churches and I have had one or two Diotrephes (you know, the man in 3 John who “loved to have the preeminence”).
But experience alone means very little. The most important reason I believe I know this man is because I know what the Scriptures have to say about him. But not only about him, but about us as well—how God wants us to minister to him and help him have an effective and productive ministry.
Beginning with my blog tomorrow, I will be talking with you about some vital issues as they relate to our new pastor. As the title says, these will be things he will want you to know, but for various reasons he will be hesitant to tell you himself. I, on the other hand, will have no reason to hesitate.
Sandy and I have been members of Calvary for five years now. We have watched, learned, fellowshipped, rejoiced, and prayed with you. It is my prayer that during these five years I have earned the right to be frank with you as together we seek to build each other up in the ministry He has called us to at Calvary. Please check in again tomorrow as we begin to explore some of the things our new pastor will wish he could tell you himself.