A New Chapter In God’s Story

Every writer knows that each line written builds upon the previous one, and every new chapter is birthed out of the rich history of the past. God is writing a new chapter in the life of the First Friends “family”.

What’s unique about our heavenly Father, however, is that he is crafting each of our personal stories at the same time, and combining them into the beautiful ongoing story of God. Most of the time we don’t see how our stories intersect until he reveals it through our relationships. While God has been leading Pastor Mark into new ministry territory, he has been preparing me behind the scenes for a new chapter as well.

My Journey to “Lead Pastor”

It’s hard for me to believe that this Summer 2008 will mark my twenty-fourth year on the pastoral staff of First Friends Church! My roles have included ministry to Jr. High, Sr. High and College students, Single Adults, Parents, Married Couples, and leading our contemporary Worship Ministry. I have found great fulfillment in outreach, discipleship and counseling, teaching, training leaders, and building teams in each of these areas.

The most recent chapter in my life began five years ago during Sunday morning worship, June 17 of 2003. God interrupted me while leading musical worship and I became so overwhelmed with what he was doing inside my heart I had to stop singing…all I could do was cry. That morning I found myself on my knees at the altar. It was there God began to speak to my heart about obedience and change.

Less than two weeks later Betsy and I went to a Pastor’s conference in Colorado. While listening to a church planter speak about the joy of creatively reaching people for Christ, I could hardly stay in my seat. A whole range of emotions accompanied the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart. The pastor gave an invitation in closing to embrace whatever “new thing” God was doing in our hearts and Betsy and I both stood weeping. I clearly felt the Lord say to me, “lead and pastor a congregation.” We committed ourselves to watch for God’s leading in whatever the next step was for our future, thinking that it might be a new church plant.

Later that Spring of 2004 I felt God’s Spirit speak to me again in my personal prayer time with the same words, “lead and pastor”. In June of 2004 Betsy and I went back out to the same pastors conference in Colorado. Again God spoke to us clearly about leading a local body of Christ to creatively reach and disciple the lost. Now even more resolved to know where God was taking us, we ask him to show us the next step.

Additional confirmations occurred in 2005 and 2006. The first one at my annual prayer retreat in ’05 where God spoke to me about entering a new season of pastoral ministry, and in October of ’06 when received a prophetic word, and a dream, from two separate individuals about my leadership, preaching and teaching.

Many other confirmations have happened along the way, but none greater than the Elders asking me to teach and preach this past summer of 2007 while Pastor Mark was on Sabbatical. I had to put all of my questions about my own future on hold so that I could focus on the assignment God and the Elders had  me. In the midst of a very difficult time in the life of our church, I felt God’s anointing to speak into the lives of our people. Teaching and preaching has always been a part of my ministry assignments over the years, but the summer provided an opportunity to do so with the entire congregation.

 In December of 2007 God began to speak more specifically about my future assignment. For the first time God began to reveal to Betsy and I that it might be here at First Friends that I was to “lead and pastor”. We came to a place in our hearts where we could finally say, “OK Lord, if you are calling us to stay here, then you will have to confirm it through your people”. After Pastor Mark resigned the Elders approached me to find out if I was open to the possibility of becoming Sr. Pastor. Since God had been graciously preparing me for the last five years, I was ready with an answer. I shared the same story with them and asked them to pray with me for the Lord’s confirmation. There was a powerful manifestation of the Spirit’s peace as we prayed that night, and afterward we felt the miraculous gift of spiritual unity. We resolved to continue waiting and praying for God’s continued confirmations. The Elders counseled with our leaders in the association of Evangelical Friends Churches and received confirmation there as well.

In our discussions about this new role, I ask the Elders to consider a change in the title Sr. Pastor. In light of the specific words God had been speaking to me about leading and pastoring, I asked them to change the title from Sr. Pastor to “Lead Pastor”. They graciously agreed. After much discussion, prayer, informational meetings, and finally our congregational vote on March 30, 2008, God has confirmed this ministry assignment and I have begun my role as Lead Pastor of First Friends Church. It is a privilege and an honor and I am eagerly anticipating moving into this new chapter for all of us. In the upcoming months we will be praying together and sharing vision for the future.

Discovering the Next Chapter Together

            While none of us know exactly what God will be writing in these next few chapters in the life of our First Friends “family”, we do know it will be good! And we will continue to be committed to our vision of “Restoring people to the Father’s heart, growing discicples and training leaders in Christ-likeness, and reaching nations in the Spirit’s power.”

Any time there is a change in pastoral leadership there is usually change in staffing as well. Change is often uncomfortable but we know God uses it in all our lives for his glory. We are so grateful for the ministry staff that God has given us. Several of our staff have shared that God is moving them on to new things and we want to honor them. Many of our staff feel called to this next chapter in the life of our church and will be staying to help us write it. God will also be bringing new leaders to our staff and we are actively seeking his guidance. Please pray with us for our pastors in transition and for those God will bring us to serve on our team.