To update the neat things that have been happening at the
coastal church I have been pastoring since October, there have been two more
baptisms and it looks like at least two addition baptisms for the end of April
or May. It is thrilling and humbling to
see so much growth. We also have seen
more growth in the month of April than at any other time.
Last Sunday night, I shared with the church my observations
and recommendations regarding the future of this church and the potential
impact upon its community.
I shared with them five areas that, I believe, should be
invested in and that would strengthened and help make this little “light” in
the community more effective.
- Have aggressive outreach and ministry programs. (To reach the residents of the community)
- A quality Children’s ministry expansion. (There are more young families with children than realized)
- Develop quality new servant-leadership. (Have younger and more leaders to effectively do ministry)
- Have worship services conducive to all ages. (Blended, focused, smooth)
- To strengthen current youth ministries. (To reach current teens and develop for future teens)
After presented facts, data, ideas and thoughts on all of
these matters, I was asked my thoughts on how that all could be
accomplished. Simply put, I told them
that we should engage in a discipleship strategy for growth and service, to
grow our own leadership, and there is a need for a full-time on site pastor.
But, that pastor is not me.
While we have been blessed serving here in our circuit riding
experience, while the church has experienced physical growth and spiritual
growth, and while there is an expectant excitement that is the pulse of this
church now, I am uncertain if I am the one who could successfully lead them
into the next phase of their ministries.
This is a difficulty thing for us, as my wife and I have
gone over the pluses and the minuses of serving here. We see avenues of opportunity and possibilities being full time
at this coastal church. And the draw
and desire of living beside the ocean is quite attractive. Not to mention the friends that have been
made here.
Ultimately it will boil down to where God is leading the
church and us, and what He wants to do.
I believe that this church benefits from a humble, wise, energetic man
of God, who sees the same vision that is being formulated and discovered by
this church.
And I am good with that.
Living in two places has seemed to hone us in wanting to be where God
wants us and we realize that we can serve Him anywhere. I do wonder what role I will find myself as
we leave here and “come home”.
But part of this whole life of ours and the writing of this blog, was the "search for the elusive dream", and an "attempt to take a risk and live out in faith". So off we go. Time and time again.
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