Parting Thoughts

Parting Thoughts

Some of the Things I Learned at Spring Lake Wesleyan Church

On Sunday, April 15^th, we announced to our church that we will be leaving this summer for a new challenge in ministry. I’m being led to seek out executive pastor or senior pastor roles elsewhere. Check back to the site for more on that journey in our lives later.

For now, let me share with you some of what I’m sharing with my church. I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned here. Being on staff here for five years has felt like getting another master’s degree in ministry! This Church has what you might call a “development culture.” I am one of those who has been developed—and a lot of my journey these days is just thanking the staff and the church people for their investment in me and allowing me to invest in them.

Here are a few of the things I’ve learned at SLWC:

n I’ve learned to be a prayer warrior. You might wonder if prayer should be a prerequisite in becoming a pastor, not something they pick up 12 years into their ministry. Well, yes, I did pray before I came here. But my heart for intercession, for communing with God, and for gathering with his people to pray has grown ten times. Many people talk about our church being a “praying church”—I for one have had this incredible value “rub off on me.” This church is a house of prayer for all nations.

n I’ve learned to care for people. I’ve struggled sometimes in knowing how to express what I feel inside—I can appear like I don’t care. But through the mentoring of our Pastor, Dennis Jackson, in this area my heart for people has grown. This church flat out cares for people. Many in this church first came here in a painful stage of life. We did. Kathy and I came here feeling broken and “used up” in ministry—and the people here cared for us so much.

n I’ve learned to seek out stories. Pastors and boards often obsess about numbers and “the three B’s”: buildings, budgets and butts in the seats! But this place is different. We value stories over numbers. This church wants to see lives transformed, not simply transferred from other churches. Numbers can be fudged—but a story is worth a million belt notches.

n I’ve learned to do life together. We’re grieving this prospect of leaving behind all those we’ve done life together with. From those in our small groups to the wonderful staff here—everyone seems to enjoy simply being together. People in this church try their hardest to get away from work or other obligations and do life together in groups or ministry teams. For years I’ve dreamed of doing life together with the church—but until I came here I didn’t find many people that shared the same dream and lived it out so well.

n I’ve learned to be grateful. Pastor Dennis often talks about being grateful for what we have. This church is so very grateful for the staff, and I so appreciate that. I’ve had so many encouraging comments from people in the church over the years. I have a box of notes and cards full to the brim from them. I’ve been thanking them for being grateful—and for teaching me gratefulness.

I am so very grateful for what I’ve learned & experienced here. God has given me a great 5-year-gift called Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, and it’s wrapped up in the wonderful bow of the staff I’ve been privileged to work with. My wife and I have a bit of a heavy heart about this leading—but the Lord will provide all we need as he’s promised.

Comments or questions? Go to the comment blog here or E-mail David@DruryWriting.com

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