Notes from the Annual Business Meeting
February 20, 2009
We give thanks to God for an informative time of fellowship at last night’s annual business meeting. John Somerhalder did an excellent job of walking us through the 2009 budget, which was passed. The three items for vote were also overwhelmingly passed: the statement of faith change, the confirmation of Don Vander Giessen as elder, and the title change for Gabe Schmidt to Pastor for Administration.
During my time to share, I highlighted 10 significant events from 2008, some which were filled with sorrow, and others which were filled with rejoicing:
1. Leadership departures. Last year we grieved the resignations of two staff members: Renato, our Spanish pastor in March and Lindsay, our worship leader in July. These departures have caused us to evaluate how we in leadership can better attend to one another’s spiritual health. Toward this end we took a leadership retreat last month where the Elders, Administrative team, and wives got away for a few days of worship, vision casting, sharing of personal and ministry burdens, and ministry to one another through prayer and exhortation. It was a tremendous time of refreshing and one that we plan to continue twice a year.
2. Membership changes. In 2008, while we rejoiced to welcome many new attenders and members to Whitton Avenue, we mourned the departure of a number of families. At least one elder met with each of these families who are now worshipping elsewhere, and we have sought to grow in their areas of concern.
3. Sending out pastors. We also experienced the bittersweet departure of two couples-Dan and Anna Julian and John and Melanie Dickerson-who are now in pastoral roles. While we miss their small group ministry and presence on Sunday mornings, we rejoice that God is using these partners in the gospel to nourish congregations in Mayer and Prescott.
4. Small groups. Before he left, John Dickerson worked to multiply his small group into two groups that are being shepherded by Eric and Sarah Channing and Presley and Kelly Reader. Just this afternoon Gabe and I met with Eric and Presley and are seeking to establish an infrastructure for a church-wide small group ministry through support of the leaders, training opportunities, and the multiplication of groups so we can encourage more to participate.
5. Neighborhood outreach. In 2008 we hosted two very exciting neighborhood outreach picnics and began building a relationship with the leadership at Larry C Kennedy school, which is 1 block east of our church building. More than anything, we prayed for God’s help and direction, and we rejoice that God is answering those prayers in at least two ways. One is through the conversational English class that is going on as I speak, led by Tomas Barrera and Tom Fox. These brothers lead this class 3 times a week and are using the real ministry of English language teaching to build relationships for ministry and share the gospel of Christ. The second answer to our prayers are the ladies who have taken the initiative to ask us to donate food and clothing for our neighbors in need. When we were scratching our heads about how to distribute these goods, God woke Helen Germroth up to remind her that we could do this through Larry C Kennedy school. He has used this to strengthen our relationship with the school, get the goods to the families in greatest need, and bring glory to himself. We are thankful for the work that Helen, Jacque Vander Geissen, and others are doing to portray the mercy of the gospel to our neighbors.
6. Family Camp. We had a glorious time of fellowship, teaching, worship, and eating quite well in Prescott last September, and hope to continue this tradition in years to come.
7. Holding fast to the gospel. Largely because of conviction God brought in my life, we had an increased focus on the gospel in the pulpit in 2008, and hope to continue this focus in 2009 through our Christ-centered reading through the Bible and series on 1 Corinthians, where we see Paul apply the fact that the gospel changes everything to a wide variety of issues.
8. Putting our identity on paper. Though it may not seem invigorating to some, I rejoice that we were able to codify some of our priorities as a church and approach to church leadership in the form of our core values and the paper on eldership.
9. Ministry to abuse survivors. While we do not discuss this often for reasons of confidentiality, God has blessed us with a consistent ministry to abuse survivors, especially through Mending the Soul healing groups. We continue to seek his help, in the words of one of our core values, “to provide a safe environment in which the vulnerable can grow in the faith and in which the hurting and abused can experience God’s love and healing.”
10. Website. Thanks to the great work of Dan McCurley, we have a new, fully functional website where we can post articles, sermons, and documents for our members and give those considering our church more of a feel of who we are through the website.
As I shared with those in attendance last night, the privilege of sharing the greatest news in history with you week-in and week-out is an embarrassment of riches. I can only say “thank you” to God and to you for this privilege, and ask that he continue to give us grace to glorify him by reaching up in worship, reaching in to equip the saints, and reaching out with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Christ with you,
Pastor Chris