Pray For The Transition!

Hey everyone,
a "Preparing for Sunday" post is on the way. But for now, I wanted to write down a few reflections on our transition between pastors coming up this Sunday, and a few ways you can be praying for our church as we go through this unique, joyous time.

First of all, what an encouragement to be a part of a local church that is transitioning its senior pastors the way ours is. Pastor John has been purposeful to keep a mindset of discipleship, and has been purposeful to line Jordan up, and train him, to take the baton of senior pastor of our church. 2 Timothy 2:2 says to "entrust [the Word of God] to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." John is doing this with Jordan, and the Word of God will continue to be taught faithfully in our church as Jordan takes the baton.

It's hard to believe we're already at the week where John will commission Jordan, but here we are. I came to Christ in our church's high school ministry. So on some level I feel like my faith is a product of the Holy Spirit working through John's 29 years of pastoring and shepherding. I know many of you feel the same way.

So first of all, I want to encourage everyone to be there this Sunday, and to stick around for lunch afterward. It will be a sweet time of celebration together. This shouldn't be a sad time - everything about this Sunday should be encouraging, and a testimony of God's faithfulness to His people!

Second, be in prayer for our church, and our pastors and elders. Here are a few ways you can pray:

1. Pray thankfulness to God for John's faithfulness to the preaching and pastoring ministries God has entrusted him with. Faithfulness is hard to find these days, but the Holy Spirit has enabled John to faithfully shepherd this local church. We're extremely blessed.
2. Pray for John as he changes his role at the church. He has asked for prayer specifically for this. Pray that God would direct him into the perfect avenues in the Body of Christ, to use his gifts of teaching and shepherding. 
3. Pray for Jordan, that God will give him full strength and encouragement as he takes the baton of leadership. Also pray for Jordan's own relationship with Christ, and that Jordan would continue to dive deep in his time in Scripture, into the glory of the Gospel. And pray that this would come to us by way of his preaching.
4. Pray for protection for our church, for Jordan, and our other pastors and elders. The evil one does prowl around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). We need to be in prayer that God will protect our church from the schemes of the devil as we move forward in proclaiming the hope and joy of the Gospel.