When Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church was searching for and seeking God’s leadership on a Senior Pastor five years ago, they made an exhaustive search for their future pastor. A church deserves an exhaustive search after all, because they are after all seeking “God’s man.” In so doing, the pastor search committee at obtained dozens of resumes, including mine. I sensed God was calling me to become the pastor, but would the church even consider “one of their own” and someone that did not have a seminary degree? The church had resumes from men from all over the country and some who even had their Doctorate, I was later told.
However, after many months of prayer and deliberation, the committee and ultimately the church ended up choosing me…someone that quite interestingly and (almost unheard of) had grown up in the church and had served in all capacities as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher and having served on every committee in the church numerous times. In essence what they had with me was someone who grew up and was “raised” in the church by the very people I would now pastor. Therefore, I knew the people, the families, the community at large and had lived in the community for many years, (basically all of my life). Bottom line…the committee and ultimately the church decided to take a chance that someone from within their own ranks could “shepherd” them.
I’m still amazed that I’m a pastor at the church I grew up in as a child. And when I think about the committee of men and women who was willing to take the “heat” for me…because God had spoken to them…it still amazes me. Why do I say this…because when you consider a person from within the ranks of your “own” you may have the desire to immediately dismiss that man from consideration or if you do consider him, you may take “heat” from some for doing so, because it seems “easy” or too “convenient.” However, if the Lord is in it…then (as was the case with me and MPBC) He will take care of the questions with open and honest communication by the committee to the people as to what the Holy Spirit was doing in the search process.
Interestingly in Scripture, as was pointed out to me by Dr. David Black, professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (whom I travel with annually to Ethiopia to do mission work), pastors or “elders” as they are more commonly called in the New Testament were chosen from “within” the body of believers. In fact, as Dr. Black pointed out, if you read the book of Acts you will find the Apostle Paul went from church to church appointing elders from men already serving within the church. In essence, they were not parachuted in from another town or region. They were already known by the people and trusted by them and proven to be desirous to serve in that church and community. What we have today in many of our Baptist churches according to the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) is a situation where pastors are staying on average only about 3.5 years in each pastorate. Why? Because they have no roots in the community. I had never thought about this…but, Dr. Black shared with me from his perspective as a professor for many at a prominent seminary, that most churches have it backwards…instead of looking from within for their pastors (elders) as we see in Scripture…they go for the best resume, degree and educational backward and after a few interviews and a potluck supper or two later…voila, they have a new pastor. One that is often gone within 3-5 years when they receive or find a bigger or better offer from a bigger or “better” church dangling a higher salary before their eyes.
I must say that I am so excited about what God is doing and I have no plans to go after the money or the title or the bigger city or bigger pastorate. I’m excited about what God is doing at MPBC in Wilkesboro, a lovely little town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. I’m excited that we have seen over 75 people join the church in the last year. Amazing! I’m excited to see that we are growing not only numerically, but more important spiritually. We are mentoring, discipling and reaching out to our community. I serve with an excellent pastor, Brad Cordray and his gifts and talents are fantastically being used to equip or people for the glory of God.
Oh…enough already…yes…I know…it seems I’m bragging and that’s certainly not spiritual and I don’t mean to give that impression. I’m just ecstatic and overwhelmed to be serving and training and equipping folks and seeing lives changed and brought to Christ right in my own back yard and amazingly, with folks, of whom, some used to change my diaper. Ha!! Amazing indeed! To God be the glory…great things He has done!
I agree whole hearted with you Blogg. You are all I expected you to be and MORE. What a wonderful Pastor you are.
Joe
Thanks so much Joe! You chaired the committee and I will forever be grateful to you and the committee for taking a chance on one of your own.
Love that perspective. Nothing beats homecookin’!
I agree with Joe wholeheartedly!